No problem here High_Desert. I just wanted the chance to follow him and see how his boat handle compared to mine. The truth is I wanted his boat, but piracy on the Bay is illegal. Uh, I didn’t mean that last part. I knew it wouldn’t fit me anyway, and he seemed a decent fellow. I’d rather destroy a stained glass window.
What kayak can you recommend on the rough rivers of Tennessee? I’m still thinking, I’m reading Old
by “rough” do you mean whitewater?
It is okay if you just want to see if you are comfortable on the water.
The problem is that too many think their rec boat doesn’t have limitations. Rec boats are only slightly grown up pool toys. Kayak companies, even the better ones, make beginners boats that anyone can paddle and that is all they are capable of doing.
Within six months many of them are bored with that and try to push those boats. That is dangerous.
You would be better off finding a boat that is at the edge of your paddle capabilities and grow into it. That boat will also be worth something on the used market when you move on, which almost all of us have.
Barnibonn- it might be a good idea to find a couple of locals to answer that question. Tennessee has a very wide variety of rough water. What is rough to you might be considered calm to others. You might also get a chance to try a couple different types by visiting some outfitters and asking.
Again there is a pretty wide range of what is called a rec-kayak we need to keep that in mind. Overgrown pool toy describing an OT loon IMO is a little strong.
Then I disagree that most people grow tired and start taking risks in them. I do agree that most people in them are poorly educated to water safety.
I don’t know about the rest of the country but around here most rec-kayaks stay in the creek or on a dozen or so man made small lakes and most people are happy doing slow lazy paddles or fishing. They for the most part took over what used to be canoes task and are roughly as safe as a canoe if you dump in cold or deep water out of swimming distance of shore.
People like them in part because it is what everyone else has and the box store ones are cheap.
Here you see lots of them piled up beside a garage and maybe a couple times a year their church or fire company will do a river float. Kids drag them over the bank and if they are smart paddle up and float back. Most float down and then try and figure out how to get home. Someone with a pickup will stop and give them a ride.
In our case we bought upper end and then made some flotation improvements and we use them a lot. There are a lot of people similar here and are not looking to progress into Lake Erie with them that’s in our back yard or go find wild WW for them. In fact most rec-boaters on the river pay attention to the reports and after a hard rain when the water gets high we stay home for a couple days. 
That’s the thing I was wondering too. The poster I quoted said sailing across the Atlantic on a pink flamingo and the article said they were rescued in the Pacific.
I kind of think the people on the flamingo were just stupid and got caught by wind and current and really didn’t intend to cross an ocean. Just as most people buying a rec-kayak are not planning on a ocean crossing.
Thanks!
Ahhh, waterwing sponsons! Who needs a roll!!!?
A flamin go
across Atlantic
needs more hot air
than the yak’d pedantic
So hot in pink
till on the great big blue
unstoppable stops unstoppered
to depths anaerobically unhued.
Besides, that PFD (preposterous flamingo device) isn’t Coast Guard approved - maybe add two of those prodigal Floridian sons and their hamster wheels de Fulton, in place of those wings, and the party might me good for as far as Jekyll Island?
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Excellent points CraigF. Sounds like guaranteed obsolescence. Introduce someone to the sport, then incrementally offer advanced features at a slight higher but still affordable price point. Most agree that rec boats are great within their parameters.
We’re a stange lot. Teach our babies to fear the side of the bed so they don’t fall and break an arm. It works for a while and you feel confident with your toddler snug in a high-sided crib, until you see said toddler as you peer over the top of a newspaper. Grinning because he or she crawled out of the crib and down a flight of stairs. Instead of applauding the bold accomplishment (wait until the school nurse hears you telling other parents about what your child learned how to do) you scold them and put toy snakes on the floor to scare them. If they don’t end up with a pet snake collection, you may end up getting selfies of your grown baby scaling El Diablo without safety ropes. You’re afraid to text “STOP THAT” because you think they need two hands to read the text . . . ? Makes you weep, when you think of the nice kayak kit you could have bought rather than raise an ungrateful whelp. Especially considering how their dear Mother restored their health so many times, and this the thanks . . . Eh, the insurance policy is current. That was a good decision . . . Maybe this sea kayak in red. With a white bottom. I’m partial to red.
My brother has an 18 ft power boat, his river boat that he uses in the Chesapeake Bay tributaries. He doesn’t go out in the bay with that. Instead he used his 24 footer to go into the channel for rock fishing. It’s funny how we came across him one day; I was in a 14.5 Tsunami, my 74 yesr old sister was in her 140 Tsunami. He scoffed, “What the blue blazes are you doing out here, its rough,” because the waves were 18 inches.
Its odd thinking about the rec boat issue and beginning kayakers pushing the limits. On the other hand, how can someone who negotiates the Rock Gardens of the Pacific Coast chastise a rec boat for going out in a blow . . . I’m thinking, I’m thinking.
Not for me, but the difference is that they have confidence in their abilities and equipment, know how to apply it, and have the sense to know when it ain’t gonna work, and have the reserve strength to turn around to extricate from the situation. That’s the real issue. If a person drowns crossing the Atlantic. The next adventure will be the Pacific, then the Horn. If it ends tragically, everyone says . . . Almost made it, probably miscalculated, or had a run of bad luck. Who know what the kayaker is thinking. Perhaps the last thoughts were “Mucked this one up Jammie, shouldn’t av took that turn at South America, and headed into the trade winds off the Ivory Coast.” A rec boater washes out to open water and the reaction is "Shouldn’t have been out there. What were they thinking . . . Probably, “Bloody hell. You’re in a spot of trouble now Ricky. Shoulda got the one with a power feature!” Not to make light of tragedy, because both are unfortunate. Is it better to know the danger and run into trouble pushing the envelope or because you didn’t see it coming. More tragic if the person had to decide between retrieving the paddle or chasing the life jacket they were sitting on
Keep reading rec boaters. Learn as much as you can, before you make the purchase. No hurry! You buy shoes for your children that have a wee bit of growing room. Do the same with your boat. Save your money until you can afford what you “need”. Taking pictures of birds in a marsh doesn’t require a sea boat, in fact its the wrong boat. You’re fine forever as long as you don’t exceed the limitations. It may be a Pungo; just understand the limitations and don’t try to make a silk purse out of a sows ear. I don’t regret buying early rec boats. I now let my family and friends use them to paddle around. Good investment. My first kayak nevrr gets used. But I keep it for nostalgja. I loved that boat.
@SOTconvert great post! My boat of choice is a Pelican SOT. A $200 boat. I have been the recipient of scorn on several occasions. I won’t win any races or beauty contests. But what have I done in my cheap little boat?
- Paddled to the Cockspur Island lighthouse at Tybee Island, GA.
- Paddled in the surf at North Myrtle Beach.
- Paddled the Waccamaw River with alligators.
- Paddled countless Class 1 and 2 rapids.
- Spent hours on lakes of all sizes.
I’ll make a gross generalization here, that I will rightfully get slammed for, but in my experience, many high-dollar specialty 'yaks are simply trophies that spend much of their time displayed on top of an SUV or hanging in the garage. I’m completely happy with my scarred-bottom recreation boat.
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@RC51Mike Bingo. A “Crappy Pelican” has been my boat for the past 5 years. It’s a great fit for me, it hasn’t sunk yet, and I’ve done a LOT of paddling … ocean, lake, rivers.
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I use my kayaks all the time. I keep them like trophies but use them. I have a 15’ Ocean Prowler I wanted out of after 2 months or less. What I paid for that new I could of had a real kayak used if I knew better. Got in our 13’ Hobie Quest after many years. It was horrible, unstable, slow, hard to paddle, turned nice when I was trying to go straight. Got into 10" waves I was like 
. Couldn’t wait to get out. Everyone can buy and do what they want but it’s not close to kayaking. They are pool tools and people make them dangerous.
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Pelican has almost 100 models on the market. Quite a few of those are thermo-formed, which just says that Hurricane and Eddyline boats are maybe overpriced.
The reason Pelican has so many models is because paddlers come in a wide selection of desires. I like fast and have paid for it. Others aren’t into fast and really are happy with something cheaper.
The problem is that cheap, first boats do get more people into trouble, that is why I recommend getting a first boat that is at the edge of your abilities. Having to learn one thing about kayaking tends to make you learn other things, and recognize even more.
Learn the limitations of your boat and do not exceed them, there might not be someone else around to save you.
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It says Pelican’s are made in china with crap materials and no match in quality to an Eddyline.
Edit made in Canada they are still pool toys. 13’ near 900 bucks I could have a real kayak for that.
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@PaddleDog52, suggesting a Pelican is a pool toy? I’d never take mine in heavy surf or a Class 5 rapid, but in the right setting - Class 1 or 2, lakes, rivers - they’re safe, stable boats that I’ve enjoyed hundreds of hours out in nature.
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Where does it say that Pelican’s are made in China? They are made in Canada.
I don’t really like them, but no need for dis-information about them.
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soggybottom I think a SOT is a good choice for you. If you want to run some easy ww or go on rivers or lakes then I’m okay with that. SOTS has several advantages that cheaper sit inside kayaks don’t have- your boat has built in flotation (won’t fill up with water and sink), you can self rescue by climbing back on, and you don’t have to worry about an unsupported deck collapsing
on your legs should you pin it in the rocks.
I would think any boat, including a sot, could be a hazard in a shore break, especially if there are swimmers around and the boat is getting tossed around out of control in the surf but you won’t be hanging out upside down which could make you less likely to injure your head or neck.
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10 inch waves, that’s like barely more than a ripple since 10 inch waves are a 5 inch chop up and down…
What is “it”?
don’t dish on the pink flamingo, with the right crew much is possible
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