ThomasL

Forgot to mention, Suz asked. I'm 5'9" at 184 lbs.

Thank You all for the advice and information. Your passion and involvement in kayaking far exceeds mine. My 1st taste involved a Foloboat I had shipped to my USN duty station on Guam in 68. Long into canoeing with some open water racing in the Great Lakes it was natural to head over the reef during my 18 month tour in the Pacific. Upon returning from my next tour in SE Asia I purchased a 16'' glass Foloboat (my current ride) for $286, shipping included. The glass work is bad, and the gel coat was a joke from day one, but the fact that it has held up this long indicates that form may in fact follow function. My most up to date paddle is an Adventure Tech ERGO T-4 small shaft 220cm which Mom gave me for Xmas(hence the small shaft). So far I have chosen to use my old wooden Foloboat "scoop" of the same 220cm length. The metal armored paddle that came with my two ply coral resistant 16 foot boat on Guam is 269.25 cm! Still works, but awkward. Even if I never find myself with you folks on the water, my association with NSPN has already been, and will continue to be a great experience. I very much value and appreciate your willingness to give of your knowledge and experience to an old guy who is beginning to feel a bit younger. I'll post a picture of whatever I purchase. I am much better able to make an informed purchase thanks to you. Tom

I agree on the need for a functional interior . My old glass boat simply has rudimentary thigh braces cemented to the inside of the hull a 1/2" closed cell pad cemented to the upper inside rear of the cockpit and a minicell pad to sit on. The minimalist seating allows for a very nice LOW center of gravity and is not uncomfortable. Some thin padding allows for bracing knees against deck when pushing hard. Also for my type of open water day touring a rudder just looks like something else to go wrong. I am looking at a boat with a retractable skeg in the rear quarter however.

Thanks for the advice Jason. I agree that fiberglass holds up. My Kayak is over 40 yrs old, and the hull of my soon to be refurbished canoe is about 47. It's taken some maintenance, but both still perform well. Now if I can just resist my desire for instant gratification I'll be able to find a good used boat! Tom

Looked at a Point 65 XO 16 Composite Kayak with Rudder at REI that fits my budget(just barely). Is this a good rig if I choose not to do the used search? It seems to have a lower profile than some I've seen. Tom

Hi, I'm new to the group as far as participation goes, but recently, following a paddle with my eldest son realized that getting active in the sport again is a must for me. This past Sunday took my 40 year rig out to Misery off Salem with my 32 year old son in tow. A borrowed 10 ft Target $250 Pelican he managed for the full day with some difficulty, but no complaints, or capsizes. I found no problem dealing with 6 hours on the water other than enduring the lost yardage while john bailed his Pelican. (told him he should have used the skirt!) In any case, I am now in the market for a seaworthy boat to make his and my other boy Mark's kayaking experience less demanding. Not interested in a high maintenance cedar strip showboat or any such extravagance. A decent rotomoulded plastic rig for $2K or less would fit the bill. I live close to REI and some of the rigs displayed appear there fit the bill. My concern is the relatively high profile exhibited by many current "sea" kayaks. My old cigar doesn't get blown around in the wind much. And, since I'm a fair weather paddler a little water in the face is not an issue. Any suggestions? Tom .

Sounds like fun. Of course I'm thinking like a 25 yr old! A bit more "private sea time" is in order for this old "has been",me thinks, and a spray skirt for my old rig. Forget the flare gun and UHF. I've been warned about your "check lists!LOL Overhill