rjd9999’s advice is brilliant
– and he’s apparently in one of my favorite places, the Monterey area.
I had unconsciously become so focused on not rolling that I had made that my plan for winter paddling. Luckily I’ve ended up in a job where I can go online while I work, discovered p-net, and learned a little (I have no history of social kayaking). The water here is still in the low 30’s but I have reconfigured my approach over the last 5-6 months, based on the necessary assumption that I will go in sooner or later.
As to kayaks, I am running a Perception Carolina 14. I have very little experience with other kayaks, but I take this boat up and down rivers, maybe 2 miles offshore, and in waves up to four feet or so. There doesn’t seem to be a lot that this boat does not do well for an intermediate paddler. I am now getting to where I wish it were longer and narrower, but I have no intention of getting rid of this boat for freshwater activities.