Got myself a kayak

[rushthezeppelin]

Really wish I had gotten into this activity earlier.....so far I've been out on Canyon and Saguaro Lakes a few times mostly at night to beat the heat. Good workout and really great for getting to almost any fishing spot you can imagine. The kayak I got is a used Old Town Otter XT WW kayak. Now I just to figure out how I'm going to be able do a river run seeing as I have a car that can only hold one boat on it

[azbackpackr]

According to everything I can find on the internet about it, the Old Town Otter XT is not a white water boat, although I think you could take it on the lower Salt (Class 1 and 2) where they do inner tubing. I wouldn't do the upper Salt, though!

A boat like that would be fun on the lower Colorado River in winter. For solving shuttle problems, check out Southern Arizona Paddler's Club: ( dead link removed ) for group trips all over the place. From what I hear they often do some of the less technical rivers, and they do some lakes, too.

[aa7jc]

Congrats on the Kayak. Man I am envious! That is definatily on my list!

[rushthezeppelin]

I think it was the guy who sold it to me who mistakenly listed it as a WW kayak then. Seems to be just a general beginner model that's really wide for stability.

[AzYoda]

Cool! I'm going out kayaking for the first time next month with a buddy of mine and I'm pumped. I hope I like it and can stay upright, if so I will probably shop for a used one.

AzBackPackr - Do you know if there are any paddlers clubs in Phoenix area?

[azbackpackr]

I've heard of one called Central Arizona Paddlers, but I don't think it really matters where you live all that much, if you join the Tucson club you can still go on the trips.

Oh, well, here's the website for Central Arizona Paddlers: ( dead link removed )

I don't know anything about that group, but it does look fun. You should also check out this resource website: ( dead link removed ) It lists a bunch of teachers. Some of these teachers do teach the more advanced skills you'd need for white water, such as bracing, Eskimo roll, rescue skills, etc., etc.

Another good resource, the REI of paddling, is Northwest River Supply, http://www.nrsweb.com They have lots of good info, a free email magazine, and sell everything you would ever need to go kayaking or rafting. Good folks.

One thing is clear: there are many types of kayaking. I got started last fall, took a class at Arizona Western College in Yuma. Yuma is great for easy, flat-water kayaking, because it has the Colorado River and many lakes along the river. The class used "sit-on-top" kayaks, very easy to use for beginners. Then hubby and I bought a tandem recreational kayak. Recreational kayaks have a big, open cockpit, but are more like a real kayak than a sit-on-top. So we used that a lot all winter in Yuma and had a blast.

I do have a WW kayak, so one of these days I might find the time and money for the lessons. I'd have to drive to Phoenix, and the lessons ain't cheap. When I checked it out earlier this year, one guy's lessons, starting in his pool, were $50 an hour. He said after I caught onto the roll and bracing techniques he would then take me to the lower Salt (the tubing run) for further instruction. It sounds very fun but I can't afford it. I found the guy's name on that canyons and coastlines info site.

Then there is sea kayaking which is also known as kayak touring. This is fun because you can go on long trips along the coast or out in the Channel Islands or to Lake Mead or Lake Powell. These boats are very long, and have a rudder in the stern which you turn with a pedal with your feet. And, like any other sport, there seem to be beginner boats and more expensive expert boats.

(Speaking of pedals, don't get misled into buying a gimmicky contraption which pedals like a bicycle and has a sort of paddle wheel. That is NOT a real kayak! That's a tourist gimmick!)

Then there's play boating. I've seen this on the Upper Salt (past Globe, Salt River Canyon area). I've been on a number of white water rafting trips there during the spring run-off, March and April. I see these guys with these very short, teensy little boats. They don't so much as run the river, but stay to play in certain rapids. They turn somersaults and surf and do all sorts of neat stuff. That looks fun, too, if you are a good swimmer and don't mind being upside-down!

Then there's kayak surfing, which is done a lot in San Diego. Surf kayaks come in different shapes also, depending upon the level of expertise and cost.

Then there are inflatable kayaks, also known as "rubber duckies." I have thought about buying one of these. They are used for big white water, and are very forgiving of newbies, so it's a way to experience whitewater without having to learn the roll, etc. Commercial outfitters such as http://www.raftthesalt.com sometimes run trips on the Upper Salt in late spring, when the water level is below 1000 cfs.

I had canoed before, but when I got into a kayak for the first time I felt really at home. I wish I had time to pursue it more, but right now I don't. Hubby and I will likely take our rec boat to the little lakes around here pretty soon, though.

Oh, yeah, one other thing: Tandem (two person) kayaking is a skill all unto itself. It is very tricky to learn, and we had to practice a lot. I went on the internet to ( dead link removed ) which is a forum, and asked about tandem techniques. I was told that tandems are referred to as "divorce boats" in the kayaking community! ;) We worked hard to get it down, and it took some practice, but we got the hang of it, more or less.

So, this gives you lots of resources to check out. And it seems to me that maybe there is a shop in Phoenix that sells some kayaking gear, maybe Arizona Hiking Shack?? Anyway I think there is one. I know we have some other kayakers on here, jump on in, you guys!

[RedRoxx44]

I am a do it youselfer as far as this goes. Grew up canoeing on rivers in Tennessee. I have a Sea Eagle inflatable and it's ok.
Pros-- portable, weighs in at about 27 lbs, had two seats that can be arranged how you like, two paddles, a really good foot pump. Seems pretty tough and I've dragged it over rocks, loaded, and bashed it into trees. Easy to get in and out of. Has two skegs and tracks pretty well. Can be pretty stealthy if you don't want to be obvious where you put in.
Cons-- No matter how well you pump it up seems to sag in where you sit in it, so that area will drag. Lots of seams, so lots of potential leak areas. Sucks when you paddle into the wind as you are not low profile.

So far I've picked mellow areas to paddle in so as to learn with minimal risk. And I've had a blast doing it.

[azbackpackr]

Canoeing--when you really get into it you have to actually KNEEL in the boat. I physically cannot kneel for more than a minute or two, so therefore I will be a kayaker!

Red Roxx, have you done the Gila Box yet? I've wanted to try that one!

[AzYoda]

Hey azbackpackr, thanks for the extended post with so much great information. I will check out the sources you mention. I see myself (at this time) more of a flat water kind of guy but who knows once I get into it, my first outing is scheduled for August 5th. Can't wait!!! Again...THANKS!

[azbackpackr]

I didn't think I would like flat water kayaking but it turned out to be fun. Down in Yuma especially, you have the river, and then you have these lakes with all these little hidden channels to sort of get lost in, such as Mittry Lake on the AZ side, and Squaw Lake on the CA side, plus Martinez Lake, and Oxbow Lake near Palo Verde CA, and Cibola Lake. Also, the Old River near Betty's Kitchen, less than 10 miles from downtown Yuma, which is not easy to find. Then you have that part of the Colorado River between just above Blythe CA, and Imperial Dam, which is over 100 miles of undammed river. That's the Big River, that runs at 10,000 cfs or more. Then there is the Colorado River below Laguna Dam, which runs right through Yuma, which is great, just the best, for beginning river kayaking. It has a slow flow, around 400 cfs, and you can actually paddle upstream, and the water birds are outstanding. Good fishing, too.

Needless to say, the Yuma area is best to visit during the cooler months of the year, unless you want to swim a lot to cool off! And some areas have a lot of speed boats so it's best to stick to the river below Laguna Dam--no speed boats there. The Californians take that place over, especially around Martinez Lake, in the summer, for water skiing and jet boating, but in winter it's pretty quiet, just a lot of bass and catfish fishing going on. The lower river is VERY quiet, though.

[RedRoxx44]

Gila Box is on the list, as is the San Francisco River and other sections of the Gila. I have a book "Paddling Arizona" that has given me some ideas. I'm not ready for any significant whitewater yet.

[mttgilbert]

That Otter is a classic recreational kayak; wide cockpit for easy in, easy out, nice flat design for tons of stability, and reasonably lightweight for easy transport. They're perfect for slow flatwater paddling or for light class rivers (I'd be hesitant to take one higher than class II, but they have definately been seen on class III stuff).

That boat is perfect for runs like the lower salt or gila from kelvin to florence (both are easy class I - II). If you want to do a trip solo you can always set up a bike shuttle on the lower salt. Drive up to the top, lock up your boat (don't forget to leave your paddle and PFD), drive down to the bottom, ride your bike back up to your boat (don't forget your shuttle key!), use the lock to lock up your bike, paddle down-river, load up your boat and go pick up your bike. It's like an adventure race - only more leisurely.

[azbackpackr]

Sounds like that old riddle about how the farmer on his way to market got the sack of corn, the goose and the hound dog across the river. ;)

I looked on Amazon, found that book you are talking about, Red Roxx. Will have to order it one of these days--looks pretty good. Tyler Williams is a good writer.

[rushthezeppelin]

That Otter is a classic recreational kayak; wide cockpit for easy in, easy out, nice flat design for tons of stability, and reasonably lightweight for easy transport. They're perfect for slow flatwater paddling or for light class rivers (I'd be hesitant to take one higher than class II, but they have definately been seen on class III stuff).

That boat is perfect for runs like the lower salt or gila from kelvin to florence (both are easy class I - II). If you want to do a trip solo you can always set up a bike shuttle on the lower salt. Drive up to the top, lock up your boat (don't forget to leave your paddle and PFD), drive down to the bottom, ride your bike back up to your boat (don't forget your shuttle key!), use the lock to lock up your bike, paddle down-river, load up your boat and go pick up your bike. It's like an adventure race - only more leisurely.

Unfortunately I have no bicycle at the time

[azbackpackr]

Pawn shops, yard sales? You should be able to find a workable one for 10 or 20 bucks.