Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
Information => Introductions => Topic started by: Michelle on May 16, 2009
-
Hi everyone!! I'm Michelle and I am from Ballycastle. My main interests are kayaking but honest I am game to try anything!! Its nice having a pretty new forum well done to the admin/ creators!!
Byese for now!
-
Hi Michelle, welcome to the forum. Where do you Kayak?
-
Hello! I kayak with the CCKA out of portrush and on the bann and I have done a bit of paddling with the uni club mainly in the pool.
Home for me is Ballycastle so I tend to be found in the bay here or pottering up the margy (never touching any golf balls there of course).
Up for paddling anywhere though so pm with offers!
-
Hi Michelle,
Welcome to the forum, Ballycastle’s a brilliant town for a weekend away, my mates Family are originally from Armoy, so we always end up in Ballycastle anytime we are down
-
Well young gun if you are ever up this way give me a shout sure! Always up for a paddle or a wee swally - depending on the weather!
-
I've been on the lookout for a (cheap) 2nd hand kayak. Any ideas where I might be best to look for one?
-
You really need to ask yourself a few questions.
* What do I want to do with it/ where do i want to go in it?
Rivers?Seas?Nice flat lakes? Bit of surfing? There is no point buying a surf kayak if you plan to paddle to rathlin (not that i am saying it cant be done but it wouldnt be my cup of tea)
General purpose(GP) boats are great for rivers and doodling around the harbour but will give you a bit of a fight out on the ocean if you dont know what you are at.
Sea kayaks are great as they will go straight forever but can be hard to turn and it is nearly impossible to get a second hand one less that £500. They are handy for wee river trips as well. First boat? buy a plastic one so you don't end up in tears when your £1k boat gets broken when you drop it off the roof rack.
Surf boats- well these we shortys are handy for surfing :) and I sometimes take one up the river a wee scoot when i cant be bothered to lug the sea kayak onto the car. Can be hard to keep straight - long journeys could be a chore. You can surf GP boats as well but if you are rubbish at rolling or cant, like me then you have a big boat to bail out every 5 mins which is exhausting.
*Sit on top/ sit in, closed cock pit.
Personal perference, I dont like sit ontops personally but I can still paddle one if i have to. Try before you buy is my advice.
Sit on tops can be kitted out for fishing which I suppose is useful.
Phew ok, where to look
*Buy and sell- has ones in it every week
*CANI website?CCKA Website? also there are a few irish and over the water websites that have classified sections, try http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/forum/, http://www.irishfreestyle.com/forum.
My friend is selling a sea sit on top and a surfing one too??? if you want i can get a price off him etc.
I hope this helped!
-
Belated Welcome Michelle,
from Hound and family.