loggenrock
New Hampshire
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Joined: 06/28/2007
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Grrr.... sorry about that... seems like it always takes me two trys to get a picture to post! ST
So - let's hope it worked this time - our inflatable on a pond in NH this past Fall. ST
2003 Roadtrek 190P Chevy 3500, and a pair of Limmers...
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WHS
Waitsburg, Wa.
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Joined: 11/17/2004
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The most versatile will be a canoe. The easiest will be a Sit-On-Top (aka SOT). The most expensive a salt water style Kayak (long, heavy, designed for BIG water). The hardest, small white water kyak. For the beginner, if you are looking for something to travel the back waterways and lakes, then I would recommend a good canoe... And you could easily take you, the wife and the dogs. Personally, I have 16.5' Wenonah Kevlar Rendevous that weighs in at 36lbs. It is one off custom that I picked up many years ago. I have had in the Puget Sound and in some Class II stuff with no problems. I have also had an original Old Town Tripper, an 18' monster. Have had this baby in the Puget Sound as well as well loaded up with 5 adults. Weighed in around 80lbs, but I could manage solo with proper technique.
Don't have much experience with inflatables, other than the few I have seen that were flat or saggy. Not to say a quality one might be ok? And honestly, that will be the key between a long enjoyable life on the water and a few why did we do this moments.
My recommendation, go to a paddling event. They will be starting up in a few months and are like an RV show for canoes/kayaks, except you get to try them out. Check with your local outfitter, they can usually tell you when. It's a lot of fun, you can learn a ton, there are usually classes and exhibitions and you will really have a great time!
HC
skip
05' Layton Lite 170LT Cascade edition
06' Chevy Silverado K1500
We-No-Nah Rendevous, a Ljutic, a Remington, a Hard Rock Pro, a Polaris 550XP & Raleigh the Hunter
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Deb and Ed M
SW MI, USA
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Joined: 06/07/2004
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I think it boils down to how you want to carry the boat(s)?? I see you tow a TT - you could certainly carry a couple of hard kayaks on bedrails (and that's what *I* would do because I'm a paddle-holic). I'm sort of partial to my 12'6" sit-on-top kayak, because it handles lakes/oceans/rivers and it's super-stable. Also can not sink, in a worst-case scenario. Great for fishing/photography, etc. They generally hold a lot of gear, although not as much as a canoe can.
The downside to canoes/hard kayaks: lock them to your rack. They DO get stolen.
But if I was only going to paddle casually - the inflatables would certainly be easier to carry. My only caution with them is: never paddle when/where the wind could blow you offshore. Their higher profile can make them a bit harder to paddle if the wind really picks up.
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Jaida_Bling
Canada
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Joined: 03/09/2009
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We have been enjoying our TT for 4 years now and last year added kayaks to the mix. Having the boats greatly increased our summer/camping experience. We had the same question you have. We had almost no paddling experience except I had canoed as a kid (we had one) and I had kayaked 4 times (years ago) and loved those 4 times kayaking. I feel we made the right choice by having DH build 2 single kayaks. We carry them easily (flat - not on edge) on top of our truck/canopy. I notice in your profile that your truck doesn't have a canopy so you'd have to have a rack at the back of your truck bed I guess. We invested in good roof racks with rollers so that it is easy for the two of us to maneuver the kayaks on and off the truck. Good luck - there are no wrong choices, everything has pros and cons - the main thing is that you're going to add a boat of some kind to your camping.
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rexlion
Broken Arrow OK
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Joined: 04/01/2005
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Jaida_Bling wrote:We have been enjoying our TT for 4 years now and last year added kayaks to the mix. Having the boats greatly increased our summer/camping experience. We had the same question you have. We had almost no paddling experience except I had canoed as a kid (we had one) and I had kayaked 4 times (years ago) and loved those 4 times kayaking. I feel we made the right choice by having DH build 2 single kayaks. We carry them easily (flat - not on edge) on top of our truck/canopy. I notice in your profile that your truck doesn't have a canopy so you'd have to have a rack at the back of your truck bed I guess. We invested in good roof racks with rollers so that it is easy for the two of us to maneuver the kayaks on and off the truck. Good luck - there are no wrong choices, everything has pros and cons - the main thing is that you're going to add a boat of some kind to your camping.
You built your own kayaks? Pictures, please! 
Mike & Sherry
2000 Mercury Mountaineer
2008 Toyota Highlander
2011 KZ Spree Escape E14RB
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lmcclure
Spring City Tennessee
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Joined: 01/12/2007
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I picked up a new Ocean Kayak Trident Angler 13 today. I had a front 2" receiver installed and a t shaped holder along with a cross bar on the top of the cab. I tow a fiver and this lets me store the kayak over the hood and cab without hitting the fiver. I looked long and hard before making a choice of a Kayak or Canoe, my wife doesn't fish but prefers to take her chair and read with her Kindle while I am fishing. Good luck on your choice.
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JenniferandJosh
texas
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Joined: 06/07/2009
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lmcclure wrote: I looked long and hard before making a choice of a Kayak or Canoe, my wife doesn't fish but prefers to take her chair and read with her Kindle while I am fishing. Good luck on your choice.
Throw in my DSLR and this is exactly what I want to do!  Paddle out somewhere, shoot for a bit and then relax and soak up some sun!
My main concern I guess would be convenience with hauling it with our TT. I'm sure after a while I'd get the hang of paddling but I don't want to lug something super heavy.
“Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life.” -Jack Kerouac
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MOREDLEG
Missouri
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Joined: 06/02/2010
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I think you need to decide what you want to do with it, rivers, streams, lakes, how much gear/people do you haul. Do you want a motor, then rent each one on each of the different venues. See what you like most.
I have been canoeing/floating for 15 years or so in Missouris rivers and streams, now we switched to Kayaks, one thing I learned on my last trip to Wisconsin is they call it paddeling, I didnt realize what they meant until we "paddled" 8 miles down the Wisconsin River, that was alot of work,
Try it all, and pick from what fits you best.
Hauling a noninflatable: I am trying to figure that one out myself, the 8 foot kayaks lay in the pickup bed, canoes are generally longer than that so you have to rig up some type of rack.
Good luck and have fun!!!!
2006 Dodge 3500 Quad Cab 4X4 5.9 CTD
2011 Keystone Hornet 31RDBS
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rexlion
Broken Arrow OK
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Joined: 04/01/2005
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Paddling is work, all right. That's what I liked about the foot pedal drive, it didn't feel so much like work even though it propelled me faster than a paddle. And it leaves the hands free for a camera, a fishing rod, or whatever.
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lmcclure
Spring City Tennessee
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A Bennet, I haul a fiver, and installed a 2" receiver on the front of the TV, I then put a removable cross bar on the cab over the driver and passenger seats, I then put a bed extender mounted like a goal post in the receiver, then I was able to haul the Kayak over the hood and also pull the fiver with no problems. I will post a pic in the next week or 2.
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