New to solo paddling.

[jonelledoughty]

Hello!

I am new to solo paddling and am looking at purchasing my first boat. I'm having a terrible time deciding what I want and would love any advice/opinions I can get. I hear y'all are an awesome bunch of folks and that you're willing to help folks like me find their way.

I want a boat that's versatile. I'd like to be able to enjoy everything from the Buffalo and the Elk to more adventurous water like the Mulberry, Piney, Spring, etc. (there are lots of rivers I haven't been on yet!). Also, I love to camp, so I'd want to use the boat for camp-n-floats or day trips. (I'm a pretty light camper.)

I've demoed several kayaks and so far the Axis Dagger 10.5 is at the top of my list. I also like the looks of the LiquidLogic Remix XP but haven't tried it yet. Now a friend has turned me on to the idea of a solo canoe. The Mohawk Solo 13 and Odyssey 14 look pretty good, but I haven't tried either yet. I've talked to everyone I know to get opinions and have harassed several local outfitters for information via email. :) Most everyone says my top choices are very different and that it depends on what I want to do. At this point, I can only imagine what I might like to do but there's no way to be sure until I get out there and start paddling more.

My main concerns are that I don't want to end up with more boat than I can handle on my own (hauling and maneuvering on water), and I don't want to spend more money than is reasonable for a beginner. Something like the Remix XP may be more than I need at this point.

Any thoughts, opinions, advice, etc. are welcome and appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Jonelle

[tomOzarkVideo]

the Axis is very "clunky" compared to the Remix XP.

A crossover does sound like a good idea for you.. Unless you have rec boats laying around. then, do an all out WW boat.

The XP is a great boat and would likely last you decades of great trips.

Other options to consider:

Dagger Approach.. Smaller, lighter and more maneuverable than the Axis. the lowest cost option.

Pyranah Fusion.. one of the best crossovers on the market. less $ than the remix.

Jackson Rogue.. Very similar to the fusion and XP.

Liquid logic Coupe.. Sit On Top crossover. SOTs are VERY comfy. Not as proficient in bigger water. they tend to be slightly heavier than a sit in.

Don't be afraid of spending some $$.. They hold value pretty well. and you'll most likely end up with several boats in a short while.. We went from one canoe to 4 kayaks and a canoe.. I'm already looking at a few more.. Crazy obsession.

[Al Donaldson]

Jonelle:

A factor that needs to be considered is the match up between paddler weight and the size of the boat (whether you're talking of canoes or kayaks.) The bigger the paddler the deeper in the water the boat will ride and (usually) the less lively it will be. Lots of folks look at boat size and weight to make sure that the craft is small enough to handle easily out of the water, but some forget to consider one that is big enough to do what is wanted on the water.

When you first see a 350#, 6' 6" paddler trying to navigate around in a 13', narrow solo canoe, you'll get the picture rather vividly. (Does "Bear on a roller skate" ring any bells?)

HTH


al

[Crane]

Check out the XP... And, plan on outfitting your camping gear from the hiking section instead of the all-around camping section. Visit with Jeremy at Ouachita Outdoor Outfitters about fitting the boat/gear for extended trips. Then, plan on taking the Whitewater Paddling School the first weekend of May next year. Between now and then, paddle everything you can find that moves... or doesn't. Next year, you'll be a happy camper!:)

[jonelledoughty]

Crane, I have pretty compact gear as I use it for backpacking. I've got an awesome Hennessey Hammock tent that takes up very little space. And I've chatted with Jeremy once about the awesomeness of the XP, I will admit that the XP look pretty dreamy!! The WW school will for sure be on my list of to-do's if I end up with the XP!! Thanks for the advice!

Al, HA!!! Great visual! I will make sure weight of myself + my gear is a consideration! Thanks!

Tom, thanks for the other suggestions. I've looked at the Jackson Rogue, and it seems like a good crossover. I'll look the others up too.

Any thoughts on canoe vs. kayak?? It seems like a canoe is very versatile in regards to handling different types of water, and the obvious advantage would be that I could haul more gear.

[tomOzarkVideo]

Canoes are AWESOME!! I will always have one.. That said, Your portage concerns (off water) led me away from the canoe topic.

Al is right.. I accidentally missed that. Make sure that you don't go too small on a kayak (or too big on a ww or crossover kayak.) You can get a good idea from the manufacturers website on the PADDLER weight ranges of the models. Jeremy can help with the gear weight.. That's a different deal. Almost all kayaks are available in various sizes.

Hate to say it.. You really can't go wrong with the XP.

[Jim Krueger]

J,

I also think the LL XP series kayaks, 9 or 10foot ones (10 if you are a float-camper) will really please you. In addition,both of the club's paddling schools each year, WW and then Rec. school, are structured to teach beginning and more advanced students, however I,d certainly recommend the Rec. School if you are unable to attend next years WW school. Either way, you'll get the most out of yourself, new skills, and your new kayak or canoe.

Best Regards
Jim

[cdavis]

I bought both the Mohawk Odyssey 14 and the Solo 13 for my wife and me. Like you, I like to take camping gear along. Both are light weight and will give you the room for gear. I personnally prefer a canoe over yak to sit up higher and carry gear. Obviously the 13 with the shorter length will be more responsive which is great for my wife, but I am partial to my Odyssey 14. My advice is to try paddling both the solo canoes and yaks before you buy. The Rendezvous Camp coming up on the 16th of this month would be a great place to try out all kinds of boats, plus the fun of a weekend of camping.

[Cowper]

I want a boat that's versatile. I'd like to be able to enjoy everything from the Buffalo and the Elk to more adventurous water like the Mulberry, Piney, Spring, etc. (there are lots of rivers I haven't been on yet!). Also, I love to camp, so I'd want to use the boat for camp-n-floats or day trips. (I'm a pretty light camper.)

My main concerns are that I don't want to end up with more boat than I can handle on my own (hauling and maneuvering on water), and I don't want to spend more money than is reasonable for a beginner. Something like the Remix XP may be more than I need at this point.

I agree with Chris' comments.

You say you camp light, but there's light, and then there's "backpacker light", which can be different things. Camping out of a kayak definately takes more care in packing than canoe camping.

In kayaks, I'll put in a plug to go for the XP-10 - I see such a wide variation in potential uses, from paddling without a skirt as a "recreational" boat, to running any whitewater you'd care to run with a good skirt, especially if you learn to roll it. Spread over several years and many trips, the cost difference is barely worth talking about.

You mention concern about being able to handle and load the boat by yourself. Did you notice, the 10.5 weighs 50#, the XP-10 49#. A Solo 13 is only 41#, or 36# in Royalite. The Odessy 14 is 49#, or 43 in Royalite. Also, those bigger kayaks are a little bit like the proverbial greased pig; a canoe that is the same weight or lighter is actually somewhat easier for one person to carry and load because it is so easy to grab one edge, anywhere on the boat. I own a Solo 14; my wife has a Solo 13, and they are great for the flatwater touring that we bought them for. After reading the reviews over on paddling.net, I'd go for the Odessy 14 if I were getting one "do it all" boat. I notice it has an extra thwart compared to the Solo's, so I take that as a sign of a slightly more rugged design.

Canoes take a little more skill to paddle competently, but that comes to those can go more often because they own, not rent. Gear for overnighters is far easier to pack. They are a pleasure to paddle in cooler weather, because the single blade paddle is not constantly dripping cold water in your lap. They are more comfortable to be in all day, because you can move around and shift your position a little from time to time. The only "down" side is that yes, they are just a little bit "tippier", but upsets will still be rare with just a slight bit of care.

Those kayaks will cover distances a bit more easily than a canoe, with two blades and a skeg, you won't have to "learn" how to make the boat go straight with just the right strokes like the single-bladers do. If you do decide to move on to even more challenging water, that will be easier to do in a kayak. However, you should experience no difficulties handling any of the rivers you mentioned in either type of boat (as long as you avoid flood stage paddling).

[Edgar]

Jonelle, I started with the Dagger Axis and then purchased an XP9. I love them both, but the XP is the most fun. Where do you live? Maybe we could get together and you could paddle either one on the Remmel to Rockport.

[jonelledoughty]

Thanks for all of the great info/advice!! I do some backpacking, so a lot of my camping gear would cross over to kayak camping. Cowper, I enjoyed your description of handling a canoe vs. a kayak! And I will for sure be avoiding flood stage paddling no matter what I get!! I imagine I'll be spending lots of time on the Little Maumelle for the first little while as it's only a few miles from my house. And being fairly calm water, it'll be a good place for me to learn what the heck I'm doing.

Edgar, thanks for the offer!! I would for sure be interested (whether it's my boat our yours)!! I live in the LR area, but I'm in Fayetteville this weekend hanging out with my little brother. I talked to the folks at Pack Rat, and they have both the Axis and the XP, and they have both of them on sale. The Axis has the best price, and I know I like it, so I'm kind of leaning that way at this point. But I'm going to try them both out (and maybe a few others) today!

I am planning to attend Rendezvous. I may or may not have a boat by then. I'm getting antsy!! I'm ready to have something so I can get out on the water!! We'll see how today goes.

I really do appreciate all of you sharing with me!

J.

[Edgar]

Ouachita Outdoor Outfitters is very competitive, I got my for basically $900 after the in-store rebate. Give me a howler if you in this area.

[justanovice]

Here's just a little more information to keep you thinking. I am a 5'4" female that had been renting kayaks for about 2 years. I spent about half of that time researching which kayaks would be best for myself and my two kids. At Christmastime, we purchased 3 Liquid Logic Remix XP 9s and absolutely love them. Whitewater School on the Mulberry at a very high water level was the true test. It never failed me despite my novice paddling skills. Yes, they are a little more expensive, but thus far, it has been well worth it. Jeremy and the whole crew at OOO were (and always are) a huge help in choosing what boat, gear, etc you need for your purpose. My only concern is that I can't carry it very well by myself; I usually have to do a two-man carry. It's an awesome boat though. We are tickled with ours. By the way, we have a small lake behind us that is good for paddle practice. If you ever want to just try one out, we could arrange something on a weekend. I live in Sherwood. Great to have you on board; it's an awesome sport with a lot of fantastic people!!