looking for first kayak

Hi.
After about 20 years of thinking about it I've decided to get one.
I'm looking for something that I can explore the coast on and travel down rivers like the River Bandon. I'm sure, if my mtb experience is anything to go by, I'll want to go down more challenging stretches soon enough but we'll cross under that bridge when we come to it....
I'm 5 foot 9 and about 70kg.
Anyone got an old yolk taking up space? Any condition as long as it floats for an hour or two.
I'm based in the city but work in Clon so can easily travel around west Cork to view or collect.
Thanks for the forum.
Mart

Hi Mart,

To be honest the best thing you could do is join the club and use the club boats for a while. The advantage of this is that there is a variety of boats available, river, sea and even a playboat. And club members are a friendly lot who have a wide variety of makes and models themselves.

If your thinking of expanding into whitewater, "...more challanging stretches" as you put it, bear in mind that river and sea kayaks are totally different. Sea kayaks are generally 15 feet +, whereas most river kayaks are 8 feet (ish).

There is so much variety out there between kayaks, paddles, gear etc its mindboggling, at the very least, come along and talk to people on thursday night to get a feel for whats good and what isn't.

If you haven't any experience, I can't stress enough the importance of doing a course. To build up paddling skills, as much as to know what to do if something goes wrong on the water (a matter of when, not if). The clubs level 2 course is the cheapest available, with ongoing skills development supplied on thursday nights and club outings.

Paul Heff

Thanks for the advice Paul.
I was shying away from joining a club because I'm involved in a number of sports and wouldn't have time to commit to another.
I guess I'm looking for a kayak to take me down rivers without too much bother half a dozen times a year. Not interested in doing tricks, bit old to be learning those at this stage. So if anyone wants to offload a river kayak I'd be interested.
I guess I've missed the boat on starter courses at this stage????
Would like to develop some competency.

Was training for stuff during the summer and didn't get a chance to look into it.