I live in Michigan and am looking at buying a kayak. I have rented for a couple years and can't decide what the best purchase would be. I mostly go down rivers, but I'm also interested in paddling on the Great Lakes. What do you think would be the best size, style, etc.?

Jarod Johnson
Michigan

Expert Answer:

Many of today's kayak are designed for specific purposes. Generally speaking, kayaks made for whitewater rivers are short and maneuverable, but also slow. On the other hand,"touring" kayaks suited to flatwater lake use are long, not very maneuverable, but fast.

However, by "going down rivers" you perhaps mean travelling straight down a flat, non-technical river with no desire to play in the rapids. If so, there are some shorter touring kayaks around that are suitable both for easy rivers and for moderate lake paddling. Examples would be the Dagger Savannah (base $749, Expedition model with neoprene knee pads, bulkhead and deck rigging for paddle float rescue system $849, rudder $165) and Dagger Callisto (base $679, Expedition equipped as above $759, rudder $165). Further onto the whitewater side of the line is the Dagger Cross-Over ($799) that blends the performance of a shorter touring kayak with Class I-III whitewater capabilities. Other models to look at would include the Prijon Calabria $849, rudder $150; Wilderness Systems Piccolo (for smaller adults) $649 or Manteo $679, rudder $150; Perception Acadia $549, $649 with hatch and bulkhead.

However, whitewater is very seductive, and you may soon find yourself lured by the sight of people surfing and playing in rapids. Similarly, you may realize that a long fast touring kayak ("sea" kayak) gives you far more scope on a lake. Its speed can mean safety - quicker retreat from those sudden Great Lakes afternoon squalls, and easier to get away from crowded areas where motorboaters have been known to refer to kayaks as "speed bumps!"

Consequently, two different boats might be better for you. You can buy second-hand river kayaks relatively easily because with whitewater being the "in" thing, new models are appearing quite frequently, and earlier (but still good) designs are sold off. Unfortunately "sea" or "touring" kayaks are not traded as frequently, partly because they represent larger $ outlays in the first place, but they can still be found.

Happy paddling!