Devon TRF Group Forum

Tigerman · Expert

Kayak advice.

Mike Wright · Clubman A

Looks pretty good for the price and the guy who owns the company is serious about his products inc quality. I buy alot of the dry bags and they are superb plus top service. That Kayak will do what you need and be a good all rounder although it wont fast of course. Ideal for a paddle and cruise around without spending £700 plus for something you want to try.

V Twin Funster · Expert

Not much experience of SOT kayaks, but have used LOMO for a lot of white water kayaking kit and they are a good, reputable dealer. The boat spec looks good. You may wish to buy your buoyancy aid, kayak boot, wet suit etc from them. I would go for a long john / sleeve less wetsuit for maximum upper body movement, and a windproof cag. A set of wheels and straps for the roof etc... Also, a fibre-shafted paddle as metal conducts the heat from your hands quite quickly, corrodes after a while due to the sea water and is heavier.

Finally, check out a local club for some tuition. Teignbridge Canoe Club will be starting pool sessions at Dawlish Leisure Centre from October, Fridays 9pm to 10pm.

If I can help out any more, just ask.

Craig

RichT4 · Champion

V Twin Funster wrote:
I would go for a long john / sleeve less wetsuit for maximum upper body movement, and a windproof cag. A set of wheels and straps for the roof etc... Also, a fibre-shafted paddle as metal conducts the heat from your hands quite quickly, corrodes after a while due to the sea water and is heavier.

That's what I did!

Thought TBH most times I just wear the long john with a cut down T-shirt under it.

The T shirt keeps you a little warmer, gives some protection from the sun and stops chafing!

I cut it down (or up) 'cus if you leave it full length it wicks water up from your seat and gets cold.

Wheels are a must as carrying the kayak plus kit saps energy, and the car-parks are rarely near the beach plus beaches can have a long walk to the water.

Have fun! smile

gaschef · Devon's Best

Great Fun, I have a two seater. Go hire one for a day and try it out. The angling shop at Axmouth Harbour used to hire out SOT's would be worth a call

Anything else give me a call

lazychubbs · Sportsman

Hello , I have a closed in kayak with spray deck , I've paddled a sot one before and
Find them much wider and seems to be a lot more work to get anywhere , so I would
Just say try both before you buy , also as above I would recommend joining a club .

hunter-gatherer · Novice

I've got a couple of sit in kayaks (SINKs) & a SoT. Both are fishing spec. The shorter it is the slower it is & less likely to track well. SoTs are heavier than SINKs. If fishing there's a lot more scope for carrying stuff on a SoT, you can also sit sideways. SINKs leave less room for wriggling about & tend to be less stable. You need warmer clothing, dry suit or semi dry trousers & a kagool for cooler days as you get wetter on a SoT. www.kayaksandpaddles.co.uk/ & www.aswatersports.co.uk/shop/index.php might be your closest dealers. Ebay as kayaks too, 2nd hand ones can go for nearly the same as new so be careful. Let me know if I can be any more help.

Tigerman · Expert

Thanks for for the tips/advice Guys, I am planning to give this a go once I have fully recovered from my shoulder injury! Eight weeks since falling off at Hazelwood and its still sore! Thank goodness for body armour or it would have been worse!

Wheely · Expert

You'll enjoy this hobby - its fun and addictive.

Comments are right about Lomo selling quality gear, but the kayak, as far as I know, isnt something this company is renowned for. Even if you google reviews you get very little info - unlike if you were to google one of the more common tried and tested makes (perception, trident, ocean kayaks etc). The shape of it looks a little unlike many others out there, kind of chunky but banana profiled. Compare this against the others and you'll see what I mean.

It depends on what you want this for and where you are going. If you are playing in calmer rivers (those without high tidal flows) or hugging the beach then this would be fine. However if you feel like to put in a few miles and venture a little more out to sea or faster rivers then I'd suggest raising the bar a little. Price may be a little more, however best bet would be to look 2nd hand as there's going to be plenty coming up soon as the season draws to an end.

I have 2 SOTs, a 9ft Perception Scooter which is great fun but wont track dead straight and tends to bang-bounce over messy seas. Saying that I've done over 10 miles in single outing and just ventured out past Berry Head (but it scared me so I turned around). As I wanted to up my game I also bought a 13' Perception Triumph and have done almost 15 miles in this, gone way past Berry Head and out to Ore rock etc. Cuts through the chop nicely and tracks well. Saying that if the surfs up the the little boats are uber fun on the beach.

I do have a spare Perception Scooter (well my girlfriends) and I'm happy to take you out for a blast one evening or weekend (from Goodrington). KwakaGeoff, Adamski and Rionz have all been out and had a great time.

Cheers

Mark

RichT4 · Champion

The Percetion Scooter Surf is what I have. I mainly hug the coast line and play in & around the rocks. If I have to cover a long straight line across a bay it is hard work to maintain heading and keep the speed up but you can with practise. I generally do 5 to 10 mile round trips, which feels about right in this kayak but if the conditions turn choppy it can be hard work.
Next year we may buy bigger kayaks or even a tandem one. Still SoT though as I like being able to dangle my legs over the side when hot, and also the feeling of not being trapped in.

Tigerman · Expert

PM sent Mark..

-- Edited by Tigerman on Monday 22nd of September 2014 09:21:15 PM

KronreifTrunkenpolzMattighofen · Devon's Best

Speak with Hans at Marine Bazaar in Plymouth - he runs the Kayak hire at Corsands beach.
At 2.67 metre that is a teenage / female kayak, better off going for 3m or a 3.3m
He has new and second hand ones for sale too, so worth a visit.

Simon D · Clubman B

Depends what you intend to do with it. If you are intending going any sort of distance then the longer the better. Wouldn't fancy doing more than a couple of miles in anything that short. But for messing about at the beach and short paddles it will be fine. Why not get yourself to AS Watersports in Exeter they have loads of different kayaks you can try on the canal right outside the shop.

aja2085 · Sportsman

hi I have one the same as above. very stable , great fun in 1-3 foot of surf and great for a gentle paddle on the rivers. totally agree with simon as I wouldn't want to go more than 3-4 miles. just do it, sell for good money on ebay if you don't get on with it.

-- Edited by aja2085 on Sunday 28th of September 2014 07:38:51 PM

hunter-gatherer · Novice

I have a Feelfree Moken 12.5 SoT, which might be a bit much for what you want. My Perception Sierra SINK is great on rivers as it tracks really well, but is also manoeuvrable & only weighs 19kgs so isn't heavy. It's fine a sea too, slightly harder to launch than a SoT & hasn't as much room for fishing. It's c0ckpit is one of the largest for a single, because it's designed to be able to manage a child too & become a short double. You use a spray if you are on your own

-- Edited by hunter-gatherer on Tuesday 30th of September 2014 07:24:49 AM