I agree with SeaDart. I thought I was a decent paddler until 10 years ago when a friend who is a former Canadian national champion kayak racer watched me and showed me what I was missing completely in using my body in paddling technique. He coached me during a full day tour until I “got it” and it was a revelation. And I learned more from a BCU instructor in an open water course last year. Paddling is not intuitive and I have yet to see an instructional video that really covers the full body involvement in a good stroke.
Buy a 3D printer and make your own
http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/07/18/heres-that-vagina-kayak-japanese-artist-megumi-igarashi-made-with-the-help-of-crowdfunding/
For the record, I never said it was wrong to take a class. By all means do so if you’d like. REI offer free ones and I’m sure you could pay for one-on-one classes by real experts. My point is, you don’t have to. There are real teachers with excellent videos online. And you can watch them over and over until it clicks. Then get out on the water and practice what you learned. It’s very simple.
There are many coaches on this forum that have a vested interest on paddlers taking classes, which is fine, but you have to be aware if that.
The choice is yours. Either way works well.
Sorry, I don’t agree that videos are sufficient. For one thing, people have different learning styles, and videos only address visually “gettable” aspects.
For another, they do not provide real-time instruction. Between the time you watch a video and the time you paddle (and again when you watch again), there is way too much time. You might think you remember what you saw and are doing it that way, but chances are it is not perfect recall.
Just as with training a dog, the more immediate the reinforcement of a behavior, the better.
Last but not least, in the case of someone who has already been paddling self-taught for years, there will be bad habits. To break those, nothing substitutes for a competent, real live coach.
Skipping instruction is being pennywise poundfoolish, as well as minutewise hourfoolish.
The people who have been urging OP to get instruction do not get any monetary reward from their advice to her. Even someone who has instructor creds may be “giving it away free” to their paddling clubs.
Look up the RTM Disco. Poly but not that heavy. A great SOT for smaller people.
How about the Venus 11?
http://www.austinkayak.com/products/15464/Ocean-Kayak-Venus-11-Kayak.html
What kind of kayaks are the people you paddle with using? Recreational SOT or Sit Inside kayaks? Day Touring or full on touring kayaks? Are they all paddling shorter boats, or are they longer…like over 12 feet in length. I really don’t think that moving from an 8 foot long SOT to a 9 foot SOT is going to give you any noticeable increase in speed or tracking. In my view, going from 8 foot to 9 foot would be a waste of money if you intend to continue paddling with the same group of people. If you’ve been paddling for 6 years, then it sounds like you enjoy it and are willing to make an investment in quality equipment. You’ve obviously put in some time researching, but I think the reason you can’t kind what you want, is that it doesn’t really exist in the size you have been looking at. If you must stay smaller, then at least go to a 10-12 footer.
There are options for transport that you can add to your truck, like a bed extender, our a truck bed rack that would make transporting a longer kayak easier.
Does it have to be a sit on? With a sit in at your size you could drop the width substantially and still have plenty of stability. The narrower width would likely provide the speed you are looking for and most likely the lighter weight. I get in though if you’re set on a sit on and there’s not really room for a cooler in a sit in. Something like a Delta 12s or even a Tsunami SP if you’re only day paddling and would consider a sit in. Just thinking out loud here, feel free to ignore.
A couple of thoughts; have you considered a different vehicle? I have stayed with a sedan simply because it makes loading a kayak or canoe onto the roof rack so much easier. Of course, if a truck is essential for you, that isn’t an option, but if you could use a sedan you wouldn’t be limited in the length of your kayak. With bathmats on the trunk, lift and slide; and with a kayak cart to get it to and from the water without lifting the entire weight.
Also, have you considered an ultralight canoe? Hornbeck and I think Hemlock make 10 ft canoes that weigh less than 20 lbs.
Just another suggestion. It just might not have enough storage for your needs and it might be too long but it will be faster than any SOT kayak you have mentioned. You can get these with a kickup rudder for shallow water. https://vimeo.com/147758724
OP specified “cheap SOT.”
If the truck does not have a topper, she could install crossbars on the truck cab, or a contractor rack on the bed. Load from the rear. I know a small woman
who routinely loaded her long sea kayak on a Ford Ranger with the latter set-up. Being able to step into the truck bed makes it easier than trying to do the whole thing from ground level.
I second the surfski.
There is no such thing as “cheap AND light AND comfortable AND easy to paddle” unless you completely luck out with somebody dumping a higher end boat at a yard sale. If you don’t have the budget to get everything you want, you will have to compromise on at least one of those factors. Being farther from the range of average adult size, whether smaller or larger, also limits your options.