I have no hatred for inflatables. If you have a problem with storage or transport they are great and there are tons out there to choose from. The problem I found with my inflatable was that the setting up and deflating it was really hard on my back. Advanced Elements doesn't recommend using an electric pump but if one can be found I suppose that would help.
I just found the whole process of dragging it into and out of the Jeep (even with a cargo rack off the bumper, which made life easier) and deflating it afterwards a giant pain. It exhausted me and I was always the last one to leave the parking lot after a club paddle. It got to the point where I wouldn't paddle for a just an hour or so because of the hassle.
Yes, there are other lighterweight inflatables out there but fact is you still have to blow them up, deflate them and put them away, unless you are like me and transport it or live right on the water and don't travel far and then why have an inflatable? I bought my mine before I got my trailer and thought it would work and soon found that it didn't and so I moved on. It was a great starter boat though..very easy to paddle and very stable.
I'm with the crowd that says go with a lighterweight canoe or kayak or as I said before, a sit-on-top set up for fishing with foot paddles. I still hold with my trailer. A good dolly will help you take it on and off the trailer and into and out of the water. I can't even begin to tell you how much easier it is!
Can't believe I didn't mention a club! DEFINITELY join one! You'll meet nice people, get to check out their kayaks and get a ton of feedback and you have access to classes and information. You can also check out other people's kayaks (Most are more than happy to let you paddle their kayak to check it out).
For you I'd say lightweight, shorter and wide is the way to go. Wide isn't fast but it's stable and that's a good thing! One nice thing about my inflatable..at 34" wide I can't tip it without real effort...no rolling in that baby! I can literally jump into it without tipping it over. Can't do that with my 22" wide sea kayak!
Nice to hear about so many older senior citizens paddling. My advice is just don't take on more than you can at first. Take it easy, paddle around and enjoy and you'll get hooked like we all are. :)
What makes Kayaks great? Exactly what makes this ungreat. You are sacrificing the ultimate, shallow water experience you crave from backwater swamps adventure photo ops. You cannot pedal this thing through a swamp, period. It has it’s place. Not the place you mentioned in your inquirey for a proper boat for your vision.
It seems kind of right at first thought. But think a couple more times.
don’t put the cart before the horse join a club and take a course in beginning kayaking–on a rented or borrowed kayak—try different boats and then decide—and BTW I wouldn’t go with a motor on a kayak—if you want motorized by a small boat or a canoe.
Yes, Find Club I definitely back you up on the value of joining a paddling club. I meant to include that. It depends on the club whether you need to have a “starter” boat. But definitely a good idea both for the information that is passed along, other assistance and camaraderie. It definitely opened up some other options and other worlds to me.
So far I did find a website of what looks like a good shop in town although they do look fairly whitewater oriented I’m sure they will be a good source of information. They open up in March.
I also checked for events to go as suggested, seems while I was posting here I missed the big Cinncy boat swap meet! I am taking the advice suggested here and rent and try some different things but it would have been a good place to walk around and talk to people and try lifting boats.
But there will be some sort of outdoor adventure event with some vendors next month and one of the brands recommended here is listed so I will try to make that.
A question about sit on tops - Am I wrong in assuming that you get more wet? Or is how wet you get related to design and skill?
Where in Ohio are you? I’m 73 and paddle a solo canoe. My wife is 10 years younger, kayaks, and we paddle all the time. We are in Athens County in southeast Ohio. If you’re anywhere close, we’d love to have you join us for a day trip. You could try out one of our boats to see how paddling suits you.
We’ll have to wait a bit however, since at the moment everything around here is frozen solid and as I type this we’re under a level 2 snow emergency. If you’re in northern Ohio, you won’t get hit till tonight.
Paddling possiblity If you are in NE Ohio, Cleveland Metroparks offers a lot of paddling opportunities during the summer months (of course, for a small registration fee). Kayaking and Canoe lessons, several day trips a month with their naturalists, the occasional camping trip, etc. They have kayaks and canoes. Their summer schedule isn’t posted yet, but it’s something to think about.
elder padle Welcome to paddling. I’m a 62 year oldd male and have paddled for several years. I also do some level 1 instruction. I can only repeat what has been said before, find a good dealer with a good selection and test paddle, and, if possible test lift and carry a bit to see if you can handle the weight. Also you might consider contacting a local paddle group. Usually they are anxious to help and talk kayak. You might want to try renting first. My only other advice at this point is don’t go with price as being your primary factor. A $500 kayak you don’t use is expensive. A $1000 you use a lot is a bargin.
Blowing up an inflatable I have a small, 12 volt air pump (about $10)that does the job fine. It’s not a compressor, so there is no danger of overinflating. It blows things up to about the same pressure you could do if you were blowing hard by mouth. Places that sell infaltable boats, float bags, etc. carry them.
Inflatable - don’t always have to deflat I started with an Innova Safari inflatable due to the same concerns that Mary has. I had a van, and was able to load it right inside my van (the front come up between the seats - but that means I didn’t have to deflate and reinflate every time I used it. I would keep it in the house, just letting a little air out so as to relieve the tension, and with a few quick pumps of the foot pump it was ready to go again. Very stable, and it only weighed 35 lbs. I didn’t change boats until I started doing open ocean kayaking with a local club and needed a sea kayak to keep up. Bought myself one for my 50th birthday.
foldaway trailer One thing not mentioned, there are a couple of nice easy-fold/easy-unfold canoe/kayak trailers on the market. Take little space to store, make it real easy on your back loading and unloading boat.
I don’t need one yet but I am waiting for the day. 64 years old, every so many years I get a lighter canoe and keep going. Go for it Mary!
Go For It!!! Sounds like you are a perfect candidate for paddling. My mom is 63 and has bad hips and difficulties getting around. We discovered kayaking as a great way for her to enjoy the outdoors when she was visiting me. As a result, I became a kayaker and a birder and my mom benefits from both when she comes to visit.
Please let me know how things work out for you and definitely if you ever want to come paddle and bird watch on the Mendocino Coast. Best wishes.
I seem to remember… …when I was looking through the photo gallery for one of the British boat builder’s websites seeing quite a few mature women out enjoying paddling…you might try to find the pics for a bit of inspiration and re-assurance. As a new paddler, it is a fun learning experience to see the pics, anyways. Try Nigel Dennis and Valley, among others…