Finding the right kayak

Is the Impex Force 3 mostly a “go fast” boat vs playful? And any paddlers under 135 who like its fit?

From my wife’s years of experience with it (5’ and as close to same weight as I will hazard) it is a go plenty fast without leaving maneuverability by the wayside, provided you’re comfortable heeling it over into a skidding turn.

I do have a paddled once Demo that needs a home. Line seam is the F3, grey is a F4.

See you on the water,
Marshall
The River Connection, Inc.
9 W. Market St.
Hyde Park, NY
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Main: www.the-river-connection.com
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Thanks!

I’ve paddled all the rivers you mentioned in both canoe and kayak. Forget the rudder or skeg, they just drag and reduce maneuverability on the small rivers. I’m 6’+, currently ~225# and use an antique plastic 16’ Aquaterra Chinook, so I cant comment on your choices except to say “drag”. Shorter the boat, deeper it sits and those low water levels in the summer on any MO river means more gravel push time. Stay narrow as you can (you really don’t need to move L/R!), give yourself the toe/knee room to flex, and pack like an ultralight hiker. If in or near STL, the Alpine Shop Paddle Days event might give you a chance to actually try before you buy.

@Caver69 said:
I’ve paddled all the rivers you mentioned in both canoe and kayak. Forget the rudder or skeg, they just drag and reduce maneuverability on the small rivers. I’m 6’+, currently ~225# and use an antique plastic 16’ Aquaterra Chinook, so I cant comment on your choices except to say “drag”. Shorter the boat, deeper it sits and those low water levels in the summer on any MO river means more gravel push time. Stay narrow as you can (you really don’t need to move L/R!), give yourself the toe/knee room to flex, and pack like an ultralight hiker. If in or near STL, the Alpine Shop Paddle Days event might give you a chance to actually try before you buy.

Am thinking you meant to post in another thread. There’s been no mention of rivers. The OP is looking for a sea kayak.

Current Designs Suka is another good one for petite people. Very light and manageable.

Thanks Sparky, this looks like a good suggestion!

Thanks for all your comments, it looks like the Pilgrim lv, Avocet lv, and the Sukarno May be some of my best options but finding a used one at a good price might prove difficult!

Yes, I have not found many used kayaks in this category myself. But please report back if you do find any and get to try them!

@“Barbara H”

Since you summer in Maine, might not be all that difficult: http://maineislandkayak.com/boat-store/used-boats/

The have some really nice offerings in their used fleet:

https://www.maineislandkayak.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Used-Demo-Flyer-112018-v2.pdf

There’s a new Suka for $1,999 on ebay. That looks like a fantastic deal if you could get to it. I have both an older and newer Caribou (bigger version for bigger person) and they are well-built, very nice handling kayaks. That’s an incredible deal for a new kayak if it works for you.

Wow. I’d almost buy a Suka at that price… if it weren’t for the inconvenient fact that I could only get one leg inside. I know someone who bought one for about $CAD 4k new.

I’ve heard the Suka is super-small. How large a paddler do you think it would fit?

@Doggy Paddler said:
I’ve heard the Suka is super-small. How large a paddler do you think it would fit?

According to Frontenac Outfitters, optimum paddler weight is 95 to 150 pounds. The 150# max was confirmed by one of the reviews here. CD lists it as for small to medium paddlers.

https://frontenac-outfitters.com/single/current-designs-suka-kayak-16-6-kayak-81

Thanks!

I fit in the Suka fine at 130 pounds and 5’3 or 4". Sometimes comments are coming in from smaller paddlers who have become accustomed to sitting in barges, so they don’t understand proper fit.

@CA139 said:
sometimes it’s better to learn how to fit into things then it is to stay on a quest to find something that fits you because then you learn how to deal with stuff and become a better paddler.

I greatly disagree with this opinion. Having to learn in a too-small kayak might stimulate a big person into developing better skills, because that combination will be tippy.

However, a small person in a too-big kayak will feel too MUCH stability and not need to develop better skills. That boat will also take more effort to edge. And maneuvering SINKS relies heavily on edging finesse.

I am slightly shorter and lighter than the OP. I learned in kayaks that were too big. But I was highly motivated; the big boats were so stable for me that I could have settled for just piddling around and relying on a rudder for all maneuvering.

Demoing boats that were kindasorta successively better fits confirmed that I should use kayaks designed for smaller people.

I ended up with a Pilgrim Expedition, regular volume version. At that time, the LV version had not been made. The PEX is the best fit in my succession of boats bought, but I do wish it were scaled down a bit. The height could easily be an inch less for me. I will say that it is very comfortable without being unwieldy, so if longer trips are at all on your horizon, you may well want to demo the regular volume Pilgrim as well as the LV. It would give you a tad more cargo volume.

If I did not already own the PEX, I would test out the Echo. I would have to drive at least 1200 miles to do so, unfortunately.

Agree with Pikabike. A smaller person in a barge just learns to hate paddling in wind.

Thanks for the comments, I am definitely looking around, would check out the Suka if I can find one to try, I am 110 Lbs, so definitely not a powerhouse!

Hi Barabara, I know you are being inundated with information but here’s another choice. I have a Necky Manitou 14 which is fiberglass and not made anymore so it is lighter then the rotomold plastic ones. I have camped off this boat, had it in many lakes and rivers in Florida. It has a ske g for paddling in wind to keep it tracking straight, a comfortable seat, two bulkhead for storage and I have babied it. I am 5’ 2" and 1 15 pounds. The boat is so smooth on the water and very easy to paddle. Anyway just more information for yo u to make a decision.