Hi, I recently started kayaking, about 2 months in now. My first kayak is a sit-on tandem, 13.5 feet, it’s a Pelican, not sure of the model. I use it mainly to go out with my son who is 4 on the lakes around Southern NH.
I picked up a Walden Vista 12 foot kayak off of Craigslist, and after taking it out I regret it haha. The kayak is a pain in a butt (literally), and does not like to track straight. I usually find my tandem goes to the left a tiny bit and I am working on correcting that. The Walden however goes more to the right, and sometimes to the left. If I stop paddling and coast I end up with the kayak turning to the right on it’s own, and then I am sideways within a minute. Ok, rant over.
I am not sure what kind of kayak to go for really. I mostly kayak on lakes. There are speed boats and jetskis, so I deal with wake sometimes, but nothing huge. I’d like to be able to kayak in slower moving rivers, definitely not white water or anything, and potentially the Great Bay area on the seacoast in NH (for anyone familiar with the area). I’m 5’7" and around 175lbs. I’ve been looking at the Dagger Stratos 12.5S, Liquidlogic Inuit 12.5 or 13.5, or possibly the Wilderness Systems kayaks (like the Tsunami). Could someone give me some advice please, and point me in a direction maybe? Even if it’s just more things to consider before buying something else.
Thanks.