OK, I want a Rigid Kayak.

[IGO]

Other than a wonderful walk in Fletcher Canyon yesterday, I spent the week-end researching Kayak and learning the differences in boats. That difference is wide.
I'm not trying to be a Kayaker per say but I want to get to interesting hiking and camping distinations. The first places that come to mind start at 4 miles out from the nearest put in so an inflatable is out. I'm looking for a touring Kayak now.
Does anyone here have any advice for me? I'm mostly looking into the west mouth of Grand Canyon, all of Lake Powell and the mountain cliffs on Lake mead as well as the Colorado just below Hoover Dam.
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"Surely all God's people, however serious or savage, great or small, like to play. Whales and elephants, dancing, humming gnats, and invisibly small mischievous microbes - all are warm with divine radium and must have lots of fun in them." John Muir

[ghoster]

Check out Folbot.com they have a great one that folds up and packs into bags so that you can transport it easily. I used to have one of these and they worked great, I did a lot of ocean fishing in it, and it took the ocean waves great. Of course a spray cover and stuff helped a lot. They are pricey but you pay for quality.

[evenstar]

Get an inflatable an throw some blue pill in it!
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John Richardson and Richie Rich, El Perro de Playero
http://members.tripod.com/~evenstar/index.html
http://www.arizonahikers.com
When the Man waked up he said, "What is Wild Dog doing here?" And the Woman said, "His name is not Wild Dog anymore, but the First Friend, because he will be our friend for always and always and always. Take him with you when you go hunting."
--Rudyard Kipling, from Just So Stories, 1902

[Daryl]

Look at the Perception Swifty. Hands down the most popular recreational kayak and will easlily do 4 miles. Can find them used for $150. I had one and loved it, great boat to learn in as it is very very stable.

Sports Authority carries Mainstream kayaks. It is the same company as Perception, which is probably one of the best kayak manufacturers around. The boats are the same, but they are cheaper.

A little more pricey, the Old Town Loons are great as well. THe longer the kayak the straighter it will track (with less resistance) and thus it will be faster and easier to paddle. I have an 11 foot Loon and love it. Not as stable as the swifty, but still very stable, and much faster.

I have a wavesport Z I'll sell you, but it's a whitewater boat. It's a pig in still water (although still better then an inflatable) and has no storage space. Probably not what you want (but it looks really cool).
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[Kurtek]

I have a couple of inflatable Aires. The tandem is great for self-suport trips like the San Juan. I did the San Juan last year from Sand Island to Clay Hills and it was great. This coming September I am boating Desolation Gray Canyon in UT which is 84 miles. Its a 6-day trip. Can't wait.

Purchasing a certain type of boat depends on the kind of water you are going to be paddling. I prefer the multi-day, wilderness, self-support trips which are backpacker style trips.

[IGO]

I've been doing little but getting an education for the last 10 days. I've learned much. The hardest lesson is that if I want a rigid I'll have to rent storage and that storage is going to cost me $140 a month. Not good.
My boat will be 13+ feet and farely narrow. For the only real resons I want one I'll have to go long and fast. It will have to go up-river in the Grand Canyon for it's last dozen or so miles. That's gotta be a very efficient boat.
_________________
"Surely all God's people, however serious or savage, great or small, like to play. Whales and elephants, dancing, humming gnats, and invisibly small mischievous microbes - all are warm with divine radium and must have lots of fun in them." John Muir

[PageRob]

I'm looking at getting and building a Pygmy. Talked to some folks who've had them, and nothing but good reviews so far.
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Anywhere is within walking distance if you spend the time.

[IGO]

I'm not sure what that is.
_________________
"Surely all God's people, however serious or savage, great or small, like to play. Whales and elephants, dancing, humming gnats, and invisibly small mischievous microbes - all are warm with divine radium and must have lots of fun in them." John Muir

[Daryl]

12 miles up stream on the colorado is going to be a very long day in any kayak!
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[PageRob]

http://www.pygmyboats.com/
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Anywhere is within walking distance if you spend the time.

[IGO]

[IGO]

[ck1]

I've got a friend who owns an outfitter company here in Mesa...they rent and sell, and their prices are excellent. They specialize in inflateables. In the 6 years I've known them, they've been especially helpful. Together they've run most of the rivers in the West, always in the inflatables....let me know if you're interested in contact information...
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-Colin

"The Journey is the Destination"

[IGO]

I am interested in contact information. I want a touring kayak but I want to float, snorkel and swim too and it looks like I'm not going to be able to store a long boat.
_________________
"Surely all God's people, however serious or savage, great or small, like to play. Whales and elephants, dancing, humming gnats, and invisibly small mischievous microbes - all are warm with divine radium and must have lots of fun in them." John Muir

[Daryl]