Old Town Kayaks

There is nothing more satisfying to me than spending an entire day out in a kayak. Being out in a one person boat in the gently rippling water makes it easy to forget your problems and anxieties for a few hours. Its like pushing the reset button on your hectic life to float around and find yourself. Sometimes you need a break, and I can’t think of a finer one that I’d rather take. I recently took an Old Town kayak out for a spin at a lake where they rent pretty much anything you’d like. They have all kinds there but ending up with an Old Town kayak left me with no complaints. The model I was using was a recreational kayak with what the guy on duty there said was a 42 inch width. This made it almost impossible to tip inadvertently. Being a ridiculously windy day, with choppy waters, I expected it to be a rough and rather negative experience. I was surprised by how well the Old Town kayak handled however. Being so low to the water allowed the wind to pass around me with little resistance. I was able to paddle into the wind to split the waves cleanly and couldn’t believe how fast I could go considering the conditions. The wide stance gave the boat no indication of even wanting to tip and I felt well anchored. Paddling along at a good clip, I thought I would tire out soon but was able to press on with minimal effort. I believe the Old Town kayak had something to do with the experience. The rubberized seat provided more than adequate support for my journey and I can honestly say I had a great time In addition, the large cockpit I was in provided a great amount of legroom with adjustable foot supports as I coasted effortlessly through the water. The interior nets for placing small items seemed like they would come in handy for sun block, shades, or maybe a granola bar. The last thing you’d want to do is to drop something in a kayak and have it end up in the nose.

Old town Kayaks are not the best you can buy. For the money however, they are a good, well rounded choice and are sturdy enough to provide years of trouble free boating. I have reviewed cheaper models than Old Town and believed them to be substandard as I was able to push the exterior shell in with my finger and dent it. The seat padding was an absolute joke and the overall effect was that of a child’s sled from the local toy store I actually have seen a guy on You Tube using a kayak to barrel down a mountain and although I wouldn’t recommend it, it was mildly entertaining to watch him almost kill himself. In addition, I had even gone so far as to attempt to use an inflatable coleman kayak which was a deathdefying experience. It folded up on me in a lake like a venus fly trap.

Rated at around 45 pounds, Old Town kayaks provide an easy solution to the age old problem of putting a boat in the water alone and can provide a wonderful experience to children and very large adults. In a side note, I watched a very large man at the lake pilot a small kayak with no difficulty as I watched him climb in and out of one with ease. I refuse to comment on any double kayak in this article as I find them highly unpleasant due to the constant need to cooperate with the other member of your rowing team while paddling and turning. At the lake the staff calls them “divorce boats”. One trip with my significant other told me why. The single person Old Town kayak was a great time though and I’d recommend one to anybody on a limited budget that still enjoys the outdoors. Its versatile, fun, and just small enough to be compact compared to other alternatives. If your vehicle has fold down seats, transporting it may even be possible without a roof rack which can get pricy. I consider myself to be a lifelong rowboat and canoe guy but have become hooked on kayaks as of late. The experience is different to anything else I can describe and I urge everyone to give it a shot at least once in their life time.