----==== Which kayak to choose. HELP pls =====------

billskip said:
A lot further up than where?
Putney club row downstream of Putney and it can get a bit busy and choppy there, and I have seen them downstream of the pool.
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I was thinking in comparison to central London.

The width of the river goes up a lot once you're below the pool, which must make life easier, if not comfortable.
 
DreadShips said:
I was thinking in comparison to central London.

The width of the river goes up a lot once you're below the pool, which must make life easier, if not comfortable.
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Biggest problem with the pool is the traffic, at slack water it (many yrs ago) had a chance of being fairly flat, but today, I must admit it's not a place to be in a single seater paddling about sightseeing.....actually it wouldn't surprise me if one wasn't strongly advised/removed from the water by the patrols/authorities
 
I'm not sure this is as hard as people think:

Canoe Hire | Moo Canoes | Home

"On the day, a member of the Moo Crew will meet you to kit you up and take you through the basics on dry land before you set off on your own adventure. All your equipment is provided & generally people stay mostly dry. There must be an adult on board each hired boat. "
 
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Mark-1 said:
I'm not sure this is as hard as people think:

Canoe Hire | Moo Canoes | Home

"On the day, a member of the Moo Crew will meet you to kit you up and take you through the basics on dry land before you set off on your own adventure. All your equipment is provided & generally people stay mostly dry. There must be an adult on board each hired boat. "
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But they are not on the tidal Thames, they are based on 'waterways' in East London, the non-tidal bits. Agreed, 'waterways' are not 'hard' pieces of water.
 
RivalRedwing said:
But they are not on the tidal Thames, they are based on 'waterways' in East London, the non-tidal bits. Agreed, 'waterways' are not 'hard' pieces of water.
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I'm sure Limehouse is tidal? Isn't that East of the HOC, I used to have a mate who kept a boat there.
 
Mark-1 said:
I'm sure Limehouse is tidal? Isn't that East of the HOC, I used to have a mate who kept a boat there.
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Limehouse Basin is where Regents Canal meets the Thames, so both can be true!

Can't imagine for a second they're sending people with no experience out in the Thames there though!
 
DreadShips said:
Limehouse Basin is where Regents Canal meets the Thames, so both can be true!

Can't imagine for a second they're sending people with no experience out in the Thames there though!
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I confess I was a little suprised too. Sounds much more likely they're hiring on the canal, thanks for the correction!
 
If you're doing the non-tidal Thames, you need to monitor the flow. On some days, the various sailing dinghy and rowing boats can be seen going upstream like the clappers, but hardly moving against the land. You may get a bit of relief if you stay over on the Victorian punting shelf as that's very shallow.
 
st599 said:
If you're doing the non-tidal Thames, you need to monitor the flow. On some days, the various sailing dinghy and rowing boats can be seen going upstream like the clappers, but hardly moving against the land. You may get a bit of relief if you stay over on the Victorian punting shelf as that's very shallow.
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He's not though. He plans to do the tidal section though the centre of London. In a glorified pool toy. On his own. With no experience. Sounds like a Darwin's Award candidate to me.
 
Puffin10032 said:
With no experience
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How do you know that?
He/she doesn't mention experience in any post that I can see.

I did see an inflatable kayak in the for sale section and the op has responded, the seller says a little different about the handling...

I wonder how many have tried an inflatable kayak or any kayak that are commenting here.
 
billskip said:
How do you know that?
He/she doesn't mention experience in any post that I can see.

I did see an inflatable kayak in the for sale section and the op has responded, the seller says a little different about the handling...

I wonder how many have tried an inflatable kayak or any kayak that are commenting here.
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I think you need to read his previous thread on the 80m ship he is building, to be sailed round the world single handed.
 
Sandydog2 said:
I think you need to read his previous thread on the 80m ship he is building, to be sailed round the world single handed.
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I've just found it,it really is interesting, it certainly shows up the usual critics that can't comment without criticism, and those that try and make themselves seem intelligent with their accusations and pointless questions.

I haven't read all but what I have read says more about many of the posters than the OP.
This place to me is a forum of lighthearted
discussion,......criticising the op's spelling ...really...
 
billskip said:
How do you know that?
He/she doesn't mention experience in any post that I can see.

I did see an inflatable kayak in the for sale section and the op has responded, the seller says a little different about the handling...

I wonder how many have tried an inflatable kayak or any kayak that are commenting here.
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I own two, and have paddled a little bit in solid kayaks and canoes before. The solo one is designed for messing about in, rather than covering any distance, and so tracking and speed isn't really a consideration. The two man one is a different beast and carries speed as straight as you like - until the wind gets up. I'd happily throw some camping gear in and take one of the kids downriver. Not the tidal Thames though!

Drawbacks are that apart from the issue with windage, the other thing to mention is that the wide tubes mean you can't paddle as efficiently - the necessary angles are all wrong. And both of mine are (at least on quick inspection) a bit more engineered than the ones the OP mentioned. There's also less momentum, they do waste a little energy bending sometimes even if they're better than you'd expect, and the floor can be tricky to get perfectly flat with no wrinkles. All things being equal they will be slower.

All in all neither of them are quite as good at their job as a rigid one, but at least they fit in the boot/shed.
 
For what it's worth; I carried an inflatable Kayak on bord for a season. It was rubbish. Bought an Optimist. It's delightful!
 
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