My aunt was selling her home and told to take what ever Id like. Snagged this beauty and finally cleaned her up. Having fun exploring my local areas.

If anyone has suggestions for places to launch in the Tampa Bay area, let me know!

For some context: I came into two free older kayaks last year when my boss at the time bought a property where the guy left them. I just got into some more serious paddling in the past couple months. My only experience with waves was on rainy lakes and I've gone through some class I rapids in my 14ft plastic sport kayak. Last week I pulled the trigger on this beautifully maintained Dagger Meridian and found a cheap NRS neoprene spray skirt to use in place of my nylon one. Now jumping forward to this past weekend I thought I'd try my hand at sea kayaking.

I had planned to go to Odiorne Point boat launch in Rye to paddle up the coast a couple miles alone. Almost immediately I got distracted by a lighthouse nearby. From there I again got distracted by some small islands. I saw one that looked a bit further away and started paddling across the open ocean. It turned out to be Appledore island, part of the Isles of shoals.

The paddle there took a long time and was a bit scary as it was the first time I tried paddling on the ocean at all. I made my way there then I realized it was getting late and Appledore was all private so I had to carefully get into the cold ocean without tipping the kayak over. I felt it would be nearly impossible to bail it out in the waves while full of water. I then got the rest of my drinking water out and began the paddle back (no I didn't bring snacks). It was terrifying as high tide had made the swells and waves massive.

I had to quickly learn to control the boat by riding the waves while fighting them (the way back to odiorne at that point was perpendicular to the strong winds). I didn't realize the conditions get progressively worse through the day due to the difference in temperature on land vs the water. I taught myself to fight the swells pushing me further out, get over the increasingly large waves pushing me further down the coast, turn my paddle into the wind, ride the surf near shore, avoid turbulent rocky areas, navigate miles away by sight, and all the skills that I'd never even heard of before. To answer your question; I don't know how to roll.

As I approached shore I realized I was actually at Jenness beach where they'd probably fine me for landing so I kept going. I finally made it back but landed in the wrong place so I made a quick decision to cross the piscataqua at a still rising high tide. The current was still stronger than the tide and made a lot of turbulence. I was barely able to fight off the current trying to drag me back to the open ocean and landed again, this time still in the wrong place. I wasn't wearing my spray skirt at the time because I underestimated the mouth of the piscataqua and was desperate for the right dry land.

I finally dragged my kayak through seaweed covered rocks to a safe spot where I could wait for my brother to help me carry it out. This is of course after running around to all the scared locals in the dark wearing just my pfd, spray skirt, water shoes, and such to try finding where I parked my kayak. I kept frantically asking if anyone knew where I could find the "sign that looks like a guy" (I later learned I was in Newcastle and it's dubbed Beauty, the 'Common' Denominator).

I then could finally get everything back to my car that I had to leave because it was stuck behind a locked gate. I did this trip shirtless with a pfd not designed to keep me alive if unconsious. I didn't see any coast guard (they were likely busy dealing with a disaster in pease). I was now sunburnt and exhausted from a 16 mile 9.5 hour paddle that ended after dark with a parking ticket.

My signaling devices were a small whistle and my phone. I doubt either would have been effective near the end of my journey.

This was one of the best and worst moments of my life and undoubtedly the hardest thing I've ever done.

P.S. I've since researched how tides work and realize I should have at least had a radio and probably dry/wet suit plus my headlamp in the cockpit, navigation lights, etc. This isn't the first time I've been in a risky situation in nature unprepared and alone but it's definitely the closest call. If you think the ocean is easy in the morning, don't be like me and assume it will stay that way because it won't.

She comes in a touch over 17’ and is lined inside with Kevlar. Just slapped a new layer of gelcoat on the bottom and ready for more adventures. I got this for my 40th birthday and have been to almost all the outer islands in the San Juan archipelago, and this boat can pack some gear! What model do y’all think it is?

I started kayaking with my local boathouse this summer. Went on my first shirt trip yesterday in the harbor. So fun and a great view of NYC as usual. Last pic is from nesr the boathouse after boats & gear were washed & put to bed. Just happy and sharing!

Got this picture while kayaking. Turned out alright.

I had been using 5mm neoprene 5-fingered gloves, but my pinky/ring fingers like to get cold on me still (which they do dip more into the water obviously). Plus once they go on, theres no taking them off because they suck to get back on when wet. So I was looking at other options as the cold-water season approached in the northern US again.

Pogies are generally people's go-to for cold water, but they would interfere with paddle movement with a greenland paddle. I very much slide it around and need to.

I was thinking something like the NRS toaster mitts, but wondered if people had found something better?

So living in a flat and owning a 3.5m kayak comes with challenges.

Meaning you also need a storage unit.

But that also offered a couple of issues. The first being that laying on its belly takes up a lot of floor space and the second being a pillar making it difficult to get the 3.5m 20KG kayak in and out.

It had to move on its side to get past the pillar.

I looked online and couldn't find anything that both stored the kayak on it's side and allowed the kayak to be moved around still on it's side.

I had two roof brackets for the car, but I didn't like driving with it on it's wide so got different roof bar adaptors.

So instead I made my own trolly out of 20mm aluminium box tube and some caster wheels.

Now I can get it in and out of the unit with one hand.

I wanted to get back into kayaking, so got myself an Itiwit X500, and it‘s a blast. For the time being, I‘m stuck with inflatable or foldable options.

I‘d love to use it through the cold months. Is there any reason not to, since it’s not a hardshell kayak? I‘d imagine the air barrier in the hull would do a nice job of insulating, but it kind of feels like a whacky idea :) It rarely gets below a few degrees below 0°C here.

I wouldn’t go in the sea or super large lakes. Rivers and smaller lakes with calm water are all that’s around me.

Edit: I‘m aware that the big thing will be to protect myself from the temperatures if I have to go for a swim. My current concern is about the kayak itself.

It’s so windy in August where I live (and love to kayak) on the San Joaquin river in California, I was worried we weren’t going to get any kayaking this month. I know we could travel for it but it wasn’t in the cards either.

It was a 7kn West wind behind us on our six mile course between Antioch and Big Break in Oakley. Starting at slack tide it was choppy and technical but as the current picked up and the wind died down a bit it got easier. In Big Break it was almost glassy in spots. We had our wheels packed with us and a car pre-parked for a one way trip. It was the 14th time my wife and I have been out paddling and it was a small adventure to feed the mind body and spirit. Lots of Great Blue Herons and Cormorants along the river, especially at Antioch Dunes. The way this river has been reclaimed here away from the polluting industries of its history is really something.

No big deal as a reddit post, but hey, it’s a big deal for my wife and I to be embarking on this sport in our 50’s. I hope you managed an August paddle too!

I've only used an inflatable sit on top kayak for now but I want to venture into some more serious kayaking. I know sit on top are more beginner friendly, but I want to make an investment that would last me for years and not wanting to buy another kayak in 1-2 years. I'm not scared about the learning curve and I kind of want to use it all year (I live by the Mediterranean) and I want to stay dry most of the time.

I've found these 2 models locally on a used stuff website. The Capella is listed at 1100€, it's a bit narrower and lighter but an older model and the Belouga 1 at 1800€ a bit wider hence more stable but a bit heavier.

I’m trying to get my hands on a certain boat right now before the tariffs make it significantly more expensive when my dealer gets their next batch.

However, shipping costs are insane because of fuel prices! I got a quote from KAS for $1000 to ship a 17’ boat from Wisconsin to Washington. I figured I’d shop around. Anyone know of other shipping companies that take good care of the boats they ship?

Come volunteer with the Forest Service this winter/spring on multi-day trips on the Verde and Salt! Trips start in mid-October.

Hope you hear from you!

Verde contact : Rebecca Miller 928-821-9881, Rebecca.miller3@usda.gov

Salt contact: Kyle Smith 928-402-6236, Kyle.smith@usda.gov

Through my weekend adventures, I’ve rented a few kayaks at state parks so have been waiting to see a good deal on fb marketplace. Finally found a feelfree aventura 110 which is in excellent shape and checked all my boxes.

The pics are from the maiden voyage this weekend at Lake DeGray SP in Arkansas. Such a beautiful spot for a first time paddle with it! Had zero issues whatsoever, did about 1/2 the lake the first day, and my gosh does that skeg do wonders! Such a nice feature at this price point

Check out my custom rod holders! Fish can’t see me now 😅

Hello there!

Have you even been in trouble because you are wearing a non-USCG life vest? There are many great PFD outside this certification. What is the reason to drop better options just because of this label?

Hi everyone - I've kayaked for a few decades but always on lakes/rivers/harbors in the Midwest. I now live in Gulf Shores, AL and want to be able to go out on the ocean in the morning or late afternoon, preferably without being eaten by a shark. Hence the kayak and not my SUP. (Sharks and Alligators are putting a serious dent in my activity level.) I currently have a 9ft regular ole' plastic kayak. I want to get in the ocean specifically.

If I get a new kayak I want to be able to get through the surf (which is pretty small here) and just tool around; more for exercise than sightseeing. I need to be able to get back to shore in the event I get caught in a rip current (yes I know to paddle parallel to the shore first). Also worth noting: I'm not a spring chicken anymore and want as light of a kayak as I can get away with.

Would a sea kayak be overkill? Would a waveski make more sense?? Neither of these models are rented out here so I'm looking for feedback from the more experienced. Thanks in advance!

American River - Camp Lotus 🪷

Last week I visited the Arisaig skerries, a large group of small rocky and sandy islands off the coast of western Scotland. The many islands appear as the tide falls. The word skerry comes from Old Norse and is commonly used (along with “sgeir”) in Scotland to describe small rocky islets 🙂

In the fourth photo you can see me on an island if you look closely, so that gives you an idea of their scale.

Heritage Hop on Top - listed at $500. 2.25 hour drive. Fiberglass. Pretty old and faded in terms of paint, it looks like.

Edit: says the Stellar sold but he hasn’t updated the listing :( Stellar S16S - listed at $1900. 3.25 hour drive. High end layup, ad says is it 25 lbs which would have been the most expensive.

I’m leaning toward offering $1500 for the Stellar and seeing what he says.

I do have one concern though. I like to have a drink and snacks handy when paddling, where do you keep those in this type of boat? 😂

Took the kayak out for a 22 mile trip from Jenner up to Monte Rio. Quite the workout with the headwinds the last few miles returning to Jenner, but a fantastic 6.5hr day.

We went to an unfamiliar place, for me, today. As a resident water-phobic paddler, I usually don't try even slightly choppy water. However, I said "forget that, let's goooo", and it was so rewarding. Sometimes, I just have to do it scared.

Ravenswood, WV