Well as a kayak tour guide and someone who also sells and rents kayaks my best advice and brands makes and models I use a lot of the crescent crew and the crescent light tackle in my rental fleet and also I use a lot of Vanhunks Voyager and Manatees both brands have served me well. As far as repairs I have a plastic welder it looks like a hot staple gun to staple the plastic together and then I use custom-made tips on a variable temp soldering iron and 3D printer filament as welding rod the weld everything back together. I also keep on hand supply of webbing to restring seats if needed and bungee cord for accessories and such. And to prevent dragging damage I cut strips about 2 in wide and about 6 to 8 inches long of starboard plastic readily available at home Depot or Lowe’s with double stick automotive adhesive on the keel Stern end so that if it’s dragged that wears out first and it makes it easily replaceable.