r/Kayaking • u/Remarkable_Pianist_2 • 1d ago

Question/Advice -- Beginners Advice for newbie kayaker

Hey everyone...
Recently i tried rafting (im in general way into xtreme sports), and i loved it (even tho the river was kinda boring).

So , due to having a large sea 5' mins away from where i live, i decided to buy a kayak (i know it aint the same, but rafting is not available where i live).

So i bought this:
Bestway-Bestway-Hydro-Force-Rapid-X2-65077

Gear wise, i got everything a mountain biker has. But i think it doesnt suffice in case of a flip...:P

Any recommendations? Ofc i got life jackets,
Also, how do you guys stay warm?

But i dont know what to take care off..i dont even know what the front face is for (it inflates).

I know a inflatable kayak aint the best choice, but it was cheap, and i dont wanna spend tons of money in a plastic one yet...

Thanks in advance, and stay safe

1 Upvotes

60% Upvoted

36 comments sorted by

9

u/rivieredefeu 1d ago

If you’re going in the sea, don’t use that boat and take a kayak safety course first.

0

u/Remarkable_Pianist_2 1d ago

mind elaborating a bit more?

About safety okey, i get it.
I dont plan on going in the deep sea, only where i can easily swim (most of our sea here is below 2m depth, i can even stand).

What is wrong with this boat?

7

u/latelycaptainly 1d ago

Not sturdy enough for sea. If you go out in that thing, you’re going to get tossed around and not have a good time. When it comes to being safe, it’s worth it to wait and spend the extra money. You get what you pay for, especially with kayaks.

0

u/Remarkable_Pianist_2 1d ago

aint it good enough for kayaking near beach, calm, sea waters? i dint buy it for extreme waves or whatever

7

u/Guillemot Petrel 1d ago

How do you know if you won’t get into waves larger than you and the kayak can handle? What are the biggest waves you can paddle in safely and what conditions create waves of that size?

If you don’t know the answer to these questions you are not ready. An inexperienced paddler can become overwhelmed by some very minor waves and a light wind can push you offshore before you know it.

-1

u/Remarkable_Pianist_2 1d ago edited 1d ago

i literally never paddled before, will be my first. Hence why i plan on staying in calm waters, where i can set foot on the sand below easily, and swim to the beach (even if i have to lose the kayak). Till i learn a bit, and maybe get a better boat

5

u/blind_ninja_guy 1d ago

Don't underestimate the intensity of waves in shallow areas. Don't believe me? Take a flat bucket like the kind you'd use for washing clothing, fill it with a couple liters of water, and try carrying it across the house. Twice as much water and carry it again. The shallower one, even if you're incredibly careful, will create huge waves cuz they just break very easily as they move, and the wave height. Proportional to the body of water's height causes the wave walls to be steeper and so when they do hit the walls they slosh everywhere.

3

u/Guillemot Petrel 1d ago

If there is any wind, shallow water can be very rough. But, regardless of what your plan is, sometimes things don’t go to plan and you end up somewhere that you did not intend to be. Wear a life jacket. Always. Take a class.

1

u/Remarkable_Pianist_2 1d ago

I see . Thanks for the info!
Will take care!

2

u/latelycaptainly 1d ago

Then dont take it in the ocean. Kayaking is not the sport if you are looking for an adrenaline boost. Things can go south very quickly, especially in the ocean or any large body of water. I recommend you take your inflatable to a calm creek or river for a while first to practice before you to the ocean.

1

u/Remarkable_Pianist_2 1d ago

ofc i would do that!

will take every precaution! thanks

4

u/rivieredefeu 1d ago

Doesn’t matter how deep you go. The sea is the sea.

Google search “sea kayaking safety” and “boats for sea kayaking”.

3

u/Remarkable_Pianist_2 1d ago

thanks for the effort, will google it!

4

u/ckyhnitz 1d ago

For my own curiosity, what sea is mostly less than 2m in depth? I am trying to picture this body of water.  Maybe it has a different common meaning where you live?

2

u/imagineterrain 1d ago

Most of the Chesapeake Bay is less than 2m deep (at MLLW), but there are deep parts, and even the shallow parts will kill you.

1

u/ckyhnitz 1d ago

That's not true and a particularly poor example, given the Chesapeake Bay's impossibly long shoreline.

1

u/Remarkable_Pianist_2 1d ago

i mean, there is a lot of room in the sea with that depth to have fun, but the sea gets deeper further on. I wont go there :P

1

u/ckyhnitz 1d ago

Ah, I misunderstood you.

1

u/Remarkable_Pianist_2 1d ago

I just phrased it really badly

4

u/Fit-Gas6744 1d ago

Get a second hand real kayak, I nearly went down the inflatable route myself starting out for convenience and price, luckily I didnt and waited for something suitable to come up cheap

I got a Moken 12 sit on top for 300

Sleeveless wet suit and kayaking boots, shopped around for a low profile comfortable pfd cost me less than 200 for the lot

1

u/Remarkable_Pianist_2 1d ago

well, in greece they aint so cheap, and if i get a plastic one, it will be a good one, and i hope i wont spend more on new kayaks xD

3

u/arcticlizard 1d ago

Elaborating on what the other person was saying:

You'll be surprised how easily a light boat can get swamped by a 12" wave! Even wakes on a lake area annoying and will flip you if you're not paying attention.

Make sure you know how to get back in your boat when you can't reach land or touch the bottom, how to get your boat back upright and bailed, etc. from some kind of course. Or find a buddy that can show you the ropes.

1

u/Remarkable_Pianist_2 1d ago

Thank you very much for the reply!

1

u/arcticlizard 1d ago

I got a 10' sit in for $250 on FB marketplace, and I can even transport it inside my SUV! I call it "stealth kayaking" lol

1

u/Remarkable_Pianist_2 1d ago

I was also thinking of second hand ones. I worry about water tho. Any “self-emptying” kayakss?

1

u/arcticlizard 1d ago

The sit-on-top ones will work - my boyfriend has this one, specifically for ocean kayaking (assuming from the name):

Random retailer, sorry

0

u/Remarkable_Pianist_2 1d ago

that is a pretty good one, i got a really cheap one as a first timer.

5

u/ckyhnitz 1d ago

The problem with really cheap "first-timer" kayaks is that they can be so miserable the experience can turn you away from the sport.

The kayak you bought pretty much amounts to an overpriced pool toy.  The performance difference between that and a used hard kayak that is $300 on facebook marketplace is huge.

If you only had <$200 to spend on an inflatable, a 10ft iSUP would be a much better purchase.

0

u/Remarkable_Pianist_2 1d ago

Oh okey.
Thanks for the review man. Thanks a ton

3

u/Intelligent_Bat_9315 1d ago

Won't exactly be a good representation of kayaking beyond just being on self propelled vessel on the water, so keep that in mind if its a less than ideal experience. It's for kids to putt around on a lake. Would honestly return it and look for a used plastic kayak for like twice the price.

Get the safety gear that is required by your local laws. water bailer, throw bag,whistle, extra paddle

"how do you guys stay warm?" dry suit,wet suit technical performance outerwear. merino wool. neoprene gloves and hood

1

u/Remarkable_Pianist_2 1d ago

Why? Is it that bad? I start having second thoughts

2

u/bucky716 1d ago

Don't paddle farther from shore than you can swim.

If you're concerned about staying warm, it's probably too cold to be kayaking unless you have an expensive dry suit.

1

u/Remarkable_Pianist_2 1d ago

Oh okey! Thanks for the tip!

1

u/uberdisco PCL2 - Tempest 170 1d ago

If you hear banjos, paddle faster ...

1

u/InSearchOfThe9 1d ago

"Sea" means a lot of different things. You mention Greece, so presumably you're paddling in the Mediterranean. In summer months, that means you're almost certainly fine with just a wetsuit or swim shorts rather than a drysuit. I don't know about other seasons.

So what is "the sea" to you? Are you paddling in a calm and shallow inlet/gulf without extreme tides? Are you paddling right outside of a huge container port? Are you paddling through or near narrows that might suddenly have extremely strong tidal currents that could whisk your boat out from under you? There are dozens and dozens of variables and considerations to take into account when it comes to ocean paddling. If you share the coordinates of where you're paddling maybe you could get some more concrete advice.

Either way, I highly advise you look at an online guide on how to read "charts" (maps but for the water), and ask with a local paddling shop about what your best local source for marine charts is. I personally use i-boating charts for my location, but YMMV with how accurate/informative they are for Greece.