2 man canoe / kayak for messing around on the river
Discussion
Not posted on this section before, so hello to all.
Just back from some winter sun and spent a fair bit of the time in the surf / rivers on a little canoe kayak type thing.
I'm thinking of getting a couple for recreational fun that are small and light enough to fit both onto the roof of the car.
Thinking of something like this - thoughts or suggestions for something else?
http://www.google.co.uk/url?q=http://www.kayaksand...
Just back from some winter sun and spent a fair bit of the time in the surf / rivers on a little canoe kayak type thing.
I'm thinking of getting a couple for recreational fun that are small and light enough to fit both onto the roof of the car.
Thinking of something like this - thoughts or suggestions for something else?
http://www.google.co.uk/url?q=http://www.kayaksand...
Winter sun...if only. I just got back from North Wales and we had sledges with us rather than boats so ended up walking.
As for boats it depends largely on what you think you'll do. Something like the sit on top you've linked to will be more fun as a beginner in moderately choppy sea as its easy to fall off/get back on but you don't really want to do that in moving water on a river with rocks etc. If you want to pootle along a flat river/canal it'll be fine but a proper indian type canoe would be better as you can fit more stuff/move around in it and stay drier- and still fit on the car , though be harder to get onto it.
Where abouts in the country are you? Availability of places to paddle will have a big effect on the type of paddling you can do. If you don't know where to go try a local canoe club as they should know (and may also have some boats for you to try before you buy- though shops will usually let you do this as well)
As for boats it depends largely on what you think you'll do. Something like the sit on top you've linked to will be more fun as a beginner in moderately choppy sea as its easy to fall off/get back on but you don't really want to do that in moving water on a river with rocks etc. If you want to pootle along a flat river/canal it'll be fine but a proper indian type canoe would be better as you can fit more stuff/move around in it and stay drier- and still fit on the car , though be harder to get onto it.
Where abouts in the country are you? Availability of places to paddle will have a big effect on the type of paddling you can do. If you don't know where to go try a local canoe club as they should know (and may also have some boats for you to try before you buy- though shops will usually let you do this as well)
I've got one of these for recreational paddling:
http://www.gumotex.cz/en/products/inflatable-boats...
...but they also make stuff for white water etc. too so you might find something you like in there. Key benefit of it for me is the portability..the whole kit fits in my Cayman with no problem at all and can be hiked off to a water entry point without too much difficulty.
I wouldn't call myself anything like an experienced canoeist but I expect the "solid" ones are probably more efficient to paddle though.
http://www.gumotex.cz/en/products/inflatable-boats...
...but they also make stuff for white water etc. too so you might find something you like in there. Key benefit of it for me is the portability..the whole kit fits in my Cayman with no problem at all and can be hiked off to a water entry point without too much difficulty.
I wouldn't call myself anything like an experienced canoeist but I expect the "solid" ones are probably more efficient to paddle though.
Edited by UVB on Tuesday 4th January 19:45
We have an RTM Ocean Duo, which having looked at your link is pretty similar in size - 60mm wider. Great fun for messing around just off the beach, and my 8 and 12 year old girls feel safe, and OTH and I feel happy, for them to spend hours each day paddling along, falling in etc..
However, when it comes to transport its size comes into play. It's too long to go on the fixed distance bars on my car - it wobbled too much, and I feared it damaging the roof. We bought a kayak carrier from Thule, and upright on a Passat estate it would have acted as a sail - so we transport it upturned. If you're thinking of two, make sure you have the ability to carry them. I now look enviously at the inflatable canoes on the beach!
However, when it comes to transport its size comes into play. It's too long to go on the fixed distance bars on my car - it wobbled too much, and I feared it damaging the roof. We bought a kayak carrier from Thule, and upright on a Passat estate it would have acted as a sail - so we transport it upturned. If you're thinking of two, make sure you have the ability to carry them. I now look enviously at the inflatable canoes on the beach!
If the boats wobbling on the roof you have two options: tie it down tighter (don't be afriad to let the plastic start to deform) or use rope to tie the front/back of the boat to the cars tow hooks. Its when the boats longer than the car and you need a warning flag that the boats really long 
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