volklgirl
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
After years of canoeing as a kid/teen, I finally picked up kayaking this year and love, Love, LOVE it! We purchased a pair of 10'6" boats as starters but are finding that they're really not quite what we were looking for. DH has already chosen a 12'er decked out for fishing but I'm still hemming and hawing about my next purchase. I'm looking for a really nice seat and better tracking on the lakes, but not sure I need a "sea kayak" as much of our paddling is in shallow, quick, narrow, twisting rivers. For reference, my current boat is rotomolded, flat bottomed and 10'6" x 27 3/4" with only a little rocker - it's a Perception Sport Swiftwater 10.5, which is a retooled Dagger Blackwater without the skeg (I think removing the skeg was a BAD move). My issues with it are the lack of tracking in all situations and the minimal rocker means I get REALLY wet in any kind of riffles or waves. My likes with it are the super comfy Zone seating, the knee pads, the rear dry hatch, paddle keeper, and the size/placement of the foot pads.
I know I need to demo to be sure, and I will come spring, but I'd like to narrow down my choices ahead of time and here's what I have been looking at so far (I'd like to stay around/under $800 and 55 lbs):
Perception Prodigy 12.0
Perception Conduit 13.0
Perception Carolina 12
Old Town Dirigo 120
Wilderness Systems Tsunami 125
Any comments on those choices, or any other suggestions from y'all????? Am I going to be happy with a 12'er?
ps. I know you need stats for suggestions so........5'5", currently 200+ but coming back down slowly, majority of roundness in belly/butt/thighs.
I know I need to demo to be sure, and I will come spring, but I'd like to narrow down my choices ahead of time and here's what I have been looking at so far (I'd like to stay around/under $800 and 55 lbs):
Perception Prodigy 12.0
Perception Conduit 13.0
Perception Carolina 12
Old Town Dirigo 120
Wilderness Systems Tsunami 125
Any comments on those choices, or any other suggestions from y'all????? Am I going to be happy with a 12'er?
ps. I know you need stats for suggestions so........5'5", currently 200+ but coming back down slowly, majority of roundness in belly/butt/thighs.