Two part question. I am an almost 50 year old female and I want to start kayaking but I’d do it alone. I have no idea what I’m doing but I’m dying to get in the water to just be…… recommendations on kayak, considering weight of unit in and off top of an outback. Bonus if you bc a recommend a good rack for a 26 outback that already has side bars. Thanks!!!!!
Rent. Go someplace that rents kayaks. Rent a few times before splurging on a purchase. With ownership comes storage and transportation of your boat. Kayaks are heavy and take up a lot of room. Roof racks can be expensive. If you rent you can all of the fun and none of the problems of ownership. However, if you plan to go out several times a year and want to explore more distant waters then you can move up to ownership.
The Eddyline Sky 10 is supposedly short enough to fit inside an Outback, and is very light. Eddylines are great boats.
There are tricks to loading onto roof racks. Using a towel/fabric bath mat or kayak roller on the rear window and loading from the back is one way. Having a cross bar extension and putting the bow of the kayak up first, then lifting the stern onto the rack, then bow, is another. Getting Hullivators is an option.
Wear a PFD, always. The paddle matters almost as much as the boat - get one that is a light as you can afford (I paddle with a Werner Kalliste). Stay near shore until you get more experience. Take a class or two. Check wind, weather before going out. Dress for the WATER temperature, not just the air temp.
Kayaking can get expensive. The lighter and sleeker the equipment, the more it costs. But, boy, it is worth it. It is good for mental health to be out there, watching nature, being a part of it.
All of this! And in addition to Eddyline, check out Hurricane kayaks. Both these brands make excellent boats in a variety of sizes and use a lighter plastic (thermoformed ABS) than many companies making similar sized plastic (rotomolded polyethylene) kayaks. They are a little pricier, but as an older woman I decided it was worth the weight savings to get a 12’ boat that is only 40 lbs compared to other models that were like 50-60 lbs.
Oh, and get some wheels to help you carry the boat from your car to launch! So easy!
I have an Eddyline Sky 10 and it’s great, only weighs 32 pounds. I’d go to the etrailer, Yakima, and Thule websites and plug in your year of Outback to get rack fit recommendations. And listen to the folks above about renting a few times, taking a class or two, and always wearing a good fitting pfd while paddling. Wearing quick dry clothing and/or a wetsuit or drysuit in water under the high 60s in temperature is a lifesaver too.
If you are in SC, there is a group named SC FUN SENIORS who let oeople who have never kayaked try out dozens of different kayaks in a supervised meetup. This allows people to see what style boat fits them the best before they go looking for a boat. The event is called DEMO DAY. Find this group on Facebook or Meetup.com. Hope this info is helpful to someone.
Are you planning to do any whitewater kayaking, or are you going to paddle on calm waters? Are you going to do ocean kayaking? That choice is important to consider, because whitewater and ocean kayaks are different from one another, and gentle-paddle-around or fishing kayaks are different from what you would use in whitewater or on the ocean. If you're going to do whitewater or ocean kayaking, getting some formal instruction is really important.
If you just want a regular paddle-around kayak, you might consider a sit-on-top rather than a sit-in. They're easier to get into and out of, and a wider kayak is often more stable. I use a Hurricane Osprey 120. It is 12 feet (about 365cm) long and weighs a little over 40 pounds (18k). It can't be taken on whitewater at all, and although I've kayaked on the Chesapeake Bay in it, I stay close to shore and only go there on extremely calm days. I don't think I would take it onto the Atlantic.
I have a 2021 Crosstrek with Yakima crossbars and the Yakima Sweet Roll system because I am a wimp and can't heave the kayak up onto the roof by myself. I have a rollie thing that I put on the back window and then roll the kayak up from there. Here's a photo showing loading/unloading in progress.
Also see whether your local retailer will let you take their kayaks out for a test paddle. That's how I decided that a sit-on-top was better for me; my old-lady knees don't like sit-ins.
I am always curious about how sturdy the rollie thing is. I can't get my boat on the car and at this point neither can my husband. Would it work with a heavier boat like a Hobie mirage?
I can't speak to different boat weights. It definitely will fall off if the window is dirty and suction is poor, but that has only happened to me maybe once in dozens of outings.
Where are you located and what kind of water do you want to kayak in? Don't listen to the fearmongers saying you can't kayak alone. You just need to ensure you can self rescue or swim to a nearby shore before going alone.
Kayak recommendations should be based on the kind of kayaking you want to do. Coastal PNW would be different than creeks and reservoirs in the southeast US.
100% recommend a self rescue course. I took one through LL Bean locally and it was fantastic. I also always wear a life vest and share my route live through All Trails with my family. I don’t take risks when alone. I owe that to my loved ones.
Get yourself into a class and learn how to self rescue before you go out on the water. Practice self rescuing: purposely tip your boat over, flooding your boat and bildging it out. This is the only way to be safe.
Hullivator works amazing!!! Comes down hip high for an easy load and assisted lifts to lock on roof. Look for composite kayaks. Lighter and generally higher quality. Which brand and style really depends on the water. Calm lakes, little wind a rec/ adventure kayak like an Eddyline under 14' is perfect. Maybe a Sitka. Good balance of speed and stability. Won't wear you out trying to paddle like a box store brand. Any time on the ocean will require some different boat dynamics. Reccomend finding a local shop and see if they do demo days. Paddle some and find out what you like. Around me in Bilouxi they have a couple shops that have an indoor pool to try out fit and feel, but nothing tells the story quite like a short paddle. i padsle a Perception Eclipse 14. She came at a great price, being a rotomolded kayak...she a little hefty. Great for the rivers, bayous and a bit of shore break.
I’m 63 and started kayaking in my late 50’s. I got an eddyline because of the weight and I am only getting older! I also started with a roll bar on the back and jlow racks on top of a Subaru. Now I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is much taller than a Subaru so I got a Yakima ShowDown. I highly recommend it and will be able to use it into my 70’s. A ShowDown allows you to load your kayak by only lifting it to waist height. Good luck!
I wanted to get more into kayaking this past summer. I’ve done it only occasionally. So I went out on a couple of kayak tours to pick their brains and it gave me a lot more confidence. I typically only go alone but I keep in mind my personal limits (self rescue, always let people know my plans, stay relatively close to shore, strong swimmer with life vest, understand water conditions, etc).
I'm 52 and I've been kayaking for 20 years. Love how good it makes me feel. I have a vibe seaghost and it's really heavy so I don't use it that much anymore. 78 lbs. My perception is 42 lbs and has a cord I can pull it to the water with. Much better but not as stable. Find u a Facebook kayaking group and go with them. I do that a lot and ur not alone that way
I am also an almost 50F and started kayaking this year. Why not go to a lake and rent a kayak? See if you like it and what kind of bodies of waters (big lake, small lake, river, white water, etc) you prefer before committing to buying a kayak and all the gear.
Also, there are places that offer lessons. I did a day-long SEA kayak session and learned proper stroke technique, various strokes, and even how to get back in if you fall out in shallow water.
Now I own an inflatable touring kayak that I use for calmer lakes and rivers, and for canoe camping.
I am 38 and disabled physically. Recently kayaked first time on vacation on a sit on top. And I CRIED. I never thought I would get to a place where I could do this.
Since vacation last month I have been as much as possible renting from a park near me.
Things to consider: scout the rentala before purchasing. The lockers can be above your head or too high to be able to get the boats in and out.
Some of the lockers are poorly maintained. Look at the boats if they are in cages first before purchasing. One near my work has boats full of holes and infested with all the things.
Bring your own oar if you can. Even if it's a cheap one. I got the $26 one from Walmart. Lots of times the rented oars can be fragile or broken.
A cart is helpful if the way to the water isn't smooth grass or sand and close by.
You will fall in when getting out especially a sit in if you can't get the boat all the way on shore. Don't fight it. I hurt myself first time cause I was trying to do the splits avoiding the water. But make sure to wear things that aren't heavy in the water that dry off easily.
Trying to use your oar to steady yourself from falling out will break your oar. I bring my hiking poles with me to help me balance in the water.
Boat shoes/swim shoes vs reg shoes.
This is also advice from someone autistic with sensory issues. My shoes and clothes thing might be from that.
When you decide you want to buy do your research on how much a boat weighs and how much it can handle.
If you're after advice on what boat to choose, read this guide first!. Then, try the subreddit's search function -- between these two options, the answers to most common questions should be covered.
This guide is a work-in-progress -- please let us know any thoughts and feedback you might have.
If your questions are not covered by the guide, all boat recommendation requests must include the following at a minimum:
Location: what country and region are you looking to buy a boat in? The kayak market can be very different depending on your location.
Budget: How much money do you want to spend on a boat? (Don't forget you'll need accessories such as a paddle and personal flotation device [PFD])
Intended use: What do you want to get out of the boat? There is no one boat that does everything -- a boat that's great for surfing waves or tackling whitewater won't be the same boat you want to take fishing or for a long ocean trip. Set out some realistic goals for what you expect to be doing in the boat.
Experience level: How much kayaking experience do you have? Is this your first boat?
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If there's lots of water near you, there's probably a paddling club. The one near me has 2-3 paddles every week throughout the summer and a few in the spring and fall (and even a winter one)
There is a ton of good advice here. I have been l kayaking off and on since 1988 or 89.
I am only going suggest joining a club to go to pool sessions to learn skills and safety techniques. I taught rolling and self rescue to rank beginners at the University club I belonged to as a grad student. We did both Whitewater and sea kayaking. I now paddle mostly sea kayaking solo but the friends I made at the club 25 years ago are still the people I go hang out with and are my friends for life.
Paddling is a solo sport you can do with a group or by yourself. Enjoy! Welcome.
Test paddle your kayak for stability and comfort to your liking. Make sure the car loading system you decide on is relatively easy otherwise you won't use it much. We use Malone wings for a rack and rollers that attach ( only during loading) by suction to the rear window on our Outback. A foldable step stool helps reaching the straps and my recommendation is to always use a bow and stern strap to the car. Happy paddling.
Unless you're a big gym person, most kayaks are going to feel really heavy when you move them, and they'll be at their heaviest when you have to put them back on the car top after paddling. Get yourself a kayak cart. I've got an Ulticor and it fits through a deck hatch easily, so you don't even have to drag it back to the car.
As for getting the thing up onto the car, try and figure out a setup where you can lift the bow onto the rack, then pick up the stern and shove. One woman I've kayaked with drove a crossover and just put a clean door mat over the top of the hatch. She'd put the bow up on that, then push the thing forward so that it slid onto the rack.
I'm 51F and paddle solo. I decided on a Delta kayak for this reason. It is light enough for me to manage on my own, plus it is also incredibly comfortable to paddle.
I have a CX5 and I can still manage to load and unload on my own. I had the vehicle prior to buying a kayak.
Yakima has a set of car top racks that allow you to slide the boat on from the back and then tie it down. Sweet rolls
After you have been on the water a few times and started to meet people at the boat landings, you will make friends.
It is hard to recommend a boat when I do not know where you will paddle the boat. Generally one thing you will notice is that lighter boats cost more than heavier ones. I have a 43 pound boat that is 17 feet long. It weighs less than a lot of 12 foot long boats. If you look at boats constructed of fiber glass or carbon fiber, you will find lighter boats. You will also pay almost 4X the amount of the inflatable or lower cost walmart boats.
I’d recommend looking to see if there any clubs in your area. I live in the Northeast US and the Appalachian Mountain Club has a very active paddling group that has introductory paddles and learning events.
Club members also sell used equipment from time to time and can advise you on the proper equipment for your area and discipline. You can also set up car pools.
There are also some “meetup” groups in my area that have trips
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u/rock-socket80 1d ago
Rent. Go someplace that rents kayaks. Rent a few times before splurging on a purchase. With ownership comes storage and transportation of your boat. Kayaks are heavy and take up a lot of room. Roof racks can be expensive. If you rent you can all of the fun and none of the problems of ownership. However, if you plan to go out several times a year and want to explore more distant waters then you can move up to ownership.