LL Bean and EMS both offer tours and lessons. If you’re just starting out, I highly recommend them. I think some might even be free.
Of course any clownshoe can hop into a plastic boat and paddle around, but if you’re going to spend any lengthy amount of time in one, I would learn some technique. Remember, if you’re on a river, you’re eventually going to have to paddle back upstream. Lakes can have currents and convergences, too. And then there’s the wind factor, and blahblahblah.
Good luck, and have fun. Kayaking is one of the most relaxing outdoor activities I have ever done. :thumbup
Lessons are $45 including everything. You can also just rent a 12’ for a day for $35. The good thing is you can try different models as you learn, and then decide what to buy.
Not with a sunroof. I don’t know if yours has one or not. They can also slide around and scratch up the paint; if it was some $500 Civic or a lease I would just use the blocks, but since these are $24,000 cars we’re talking here, I would just spend the $ and go with the rack and J cradles. I ordered mine [Yakima] from Amazon and it was under 500 bucks for the rack, and the Thule J cradles were like $100 from EMS and came with a pretty nifty mounting system that included two cambuckle straps that go around the belly of the boat and mount to the rack, and two bow/stern ties that attach through the trunk and hood.
I’ll have to take some pics so you can get an idea of how they work; it’s not just a piece of rope that you double knot and hope for the best. :rofl
Anyway, I went boating with Brorey (20wrx09) this past weekend on Burden Lake.
12’ touring was definitely the way to go. Corey and his smaller, flat bottom vessel spun out more times than Smokin_SS trying to roll race down the thruway.
