[gil]

Hi,
We are looking to buy a kayak soon (possibly tomorrow :D) and have tried a place called www.familyboats.co.nz as a start. Very helpful, very informative and very expensive (for the entry level types like us, great kayaks though!)
Have been today to www.cobrakayks.co.nz and www.vikingkayaks.co.nz shops, both in Manukau.
We are tempted by the Espri package at Viking: $899 including paddle and seat. This will suit one or two of the kids at a time, or an adult and child combo. Life jacket will be extra. Any advice from anyone?
Gil

PS I have also been looking at Trade Me and have one on watch, but it's only a one -seater.

[Singel]

Situated on the side of the Southern Motorway at Manukau City.

TO FIND OUR DRIVE WAY OFF GT SOUTH RD

1/ Find the intersection of Gt South and Wiri Station Rd Manukau City

2/ Diagonally opposite Rainbows End you will see Broncos Bar and Finn McCools Bar and beside them is Manukau Toyota

3/ Our drive is between these two businesses

Phone 0508 4 CANOE (0508 422 663)
Fax 09 262 0292
Email manukau@canoeandkayak.co.nz
Address 710 Great South Road
Manukau
Auckland
New Zealand
:cheers

[Singel]

Oooophs ...........
http://canoeandkayak.co.nz/?action=page&id=10014

[gil]

Thank you Ivy, my mistake, THIS is where we went today as well as Viking, not cobra kayaks :o

Gil

[Moorf]

No advice as we haven't been here yet, have booked a half day kayak tour for mid-Feb so hopefully that will give us an idea of whether we want one or not. The gorge near to us often has people there practicing against the current, and it looks like something I'd love to do. Was that the first time you'd kayaked recently?

[kiwidebs]

Ferg's Kayaks keep advertising some entry level specials on the radio. They're based around the waterfront near Mission Bay. Something like $500 for a kayak and bouyancy aid. Not sure if they have a website or anything.

Debs

[lollypop]

Hi Gil

http://www.canoeandkayak.co.nz/

This company has an shop up on Constellation Drive, Browns Bay but I think they have other shops in the region. My OH is looking to buy a kayak (probably a Penguin??) at the moment and has bid many times on Trade Me but always seems to miss out. I also know of a place out a Silverdale but this is probably a bit too far north for you.

Anyhow, hope you find one soon. OH has just bought a motor for our little dinghy on Trade Me so he'll be itching to try that out this weekend! :D

[gil]

Thanks guys, and yes, Helen, that was the first time! We loved it! Eastern beach is very shallow, so we don't want anything spectacular, so I think it could be the Espri....I'll let you know.

Ferg's Kayaks does have a website Lollypop, www.fergskayaks.co.nz Actually, I might pop up to Tamaki Drive later before commiting to the Espri.

Cheers all,
Gil
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[StevieD]

Always loved messing around on ships/boats. Took one of the fast rescue boats from the ship for a jolly one day - went waterskiing with it!! Lifeboats, motor launches, absolutely love it.

So when I got the chance to play in some kayaks in the lakes last year I naturally jumped at the chance. Took them out on Coniston and was hooked.

Got my eye on a few when we arrive - got to supplement my camping holidays somehow. Got my new fishing gear, tent, kayak to come... can't wait.

Have a look at this company, they manufacture them, and they have quite a few different models. They have order forms on the site. May be worth a look.

Steve

[StevieD]

Oops, better put the link in hadn't I!! :laugh

http://www.yellow.co.nz/site/mckeeplastics/Kayak%20Touring.html

[sarahw]

Yep I bought a Viking kayak an Espri I think - it can take 2 adults - we tried it! (back to back) & has great stability. Can't recommend it enough. We also looked at Fergs but there just wasn't as good a deal there as there was where we bought from & the staff weren't as helpful (the guy let me test-drive it in the inlet & then drove it over & dropped it off at our house) I love taking it out - I haven't taken it in the sea but I have taken it on Lake Taupo & regularly on the Pauatahanui inlet where we live. Its quite heavy but I am a little weakling!! We bought a 'roller loader' from the USA (over the internet) which makes it a doddle to load it on top of the 4x4 since lifting it caused my OH to put his back out a couple of times (he already had a bad back complaint so it wasn't from lifting the kayak alone!). I'd recommend one of those if your kayak is too heavy to lift on top of the car - it really does do what the website says.

I bought the kayak from a shop that was closing down so got an excellent deal - think it was about $800 including a hutchwilco life jacket, paddle & seat, but they've now moved from Welly to Palmie, but if you can deal with Viking themselves that's most likely better.

Kayaking wasn't something that interested me until we came to NZ - its wonderful packing up a little bag on a sunny flat water day & going down to the inlet & paddling around can't think of anything I enjoy more! Now one of our friends has moved over the inlet from us I can paddle over there for a cuppa & 'park' on the beach in front of their house!

[sarahw]

Just double checked the Viking website & yes it is the Espri that I have.

[Park City Partner]

Sounds like you are looking for recreational sea kayaks...which I don't know about. My partner is a big whitewater paddler and we can help there if need be...

[gil]

Wow, thanks guys, you've been so helpful. I was just round at Babette's and her hubby mentioned that someone he works with is big into kayaking, and this guy raves about the Espri as a first family kayak so I think we've decided...just got to part with the $$$ now!
Gil

[sarahw]

Enjoy - I don't think you'll regret it if you get the use out of it!! Its great fun for all the family!

[gil]

IT IS, IT IS, IT SO IS!! :D Went out on it today for the first time and it was brilliant. Steve and I took it in turns to take a child on, and we had a ball! When I was at the shop yesterday, the girl told me about Yakity Yak Kayak Club, sounds great, so here's the link if anyone's interested http://www.canoeandkayak.co.nz/?action=yakity_yak_club_trips

Can't wait till tomorrow....
Gil

[Moorf]

Awww, sounds brill! Can't wait to do it!

So.... pics?! ;)

[jubjub]

Gil, let me know next time you are going out, I will come and watch!

[Cardiff Irons]

My jeans are still wet. :wah

Don't quite know what happened, Gil was in the kayak for about an hour and no problems whatsoever. I jumped in for about 5 minutes and then waves of tsunami proportion suddenly appeared. :uhoh

[Moorf]

:laugh..

[sarahw]

:D Glad you enjoyed it...

Cardiff Irons - kayaking in jeans?!! ;)

[Cardiff Irons]

:D Glad you enjoyed it...

Cardiff Irons - kayaking in jeans?!! ;)Hmm, deserves an explanation I guess. :uhoh

I'd taken my daughter to Ice Skating lessons at Paradice Ice Rink in Botany - freezing in there, so jeans, jumper and coat (honest) are essential wear. Got back and kids wanted to test drive the new kayak so went as I was (in fairness I did remove my jumper an coat :D).

Didn't expect to actually get in the kayak myself, but obviously the kids weren't going to let me get away with it!

[Marie P]

Last time I saw Steve he was wearing nothing but a towel and a smile ;)

Happy Kayaking guys :nice1

Marie x

[StevieD]

Where's the photo Marie??? :laugh

[Cardiff Irons]

Last time I saw Steve he was wearing nothing but a towel and a smile ;) Rather worryingly trend I think - was wearing exactly the same the very first time I met Babette! :uhoh

[StevieD]

Didn't have a gold chain round your neck did you Steve, leaning on the doorframe looking like some Burt Reynolds type?? :laugh

[Cardiff Irons]

:o....

[Rabbit]

Just read this thread yesterday, and thought why not, so I have just ordered a blue viking tempo of the viking site. I like the idea of being able to go camping and fishing with the kayak, so hence the Tempo.

If you see someone in a bright blue tempo going round the Whitby inlet, then remember to say hello.

[sarahw]

Rabbit whereabouts do you live if you're paddling round the Pauatahanui inlet? I look out on the inlet from my house (right over the bit with the carpark) & (when my arm comes out of the cast) will be paddling around there & might bump into you! Yellow & Green kayak!

[Rabbit]

Hi Sarah
we have just moved to Whitby, the Pauatahanui end, still renting, but we like it here so may settle.

So nice to get away from the city, we do not miss Khandallah at all.

[sarahw]

Ah cool - we used to live in Whitby & have now settled just around the corner in Paremata!! Its a lovely area round here - Might see you out on the inlet in the old kayak!

[StevieD]

Looking at the links, it seems that a lot of them are the "sit on type" - while you were in the shops did you notice any of the cockpit types, you know the ones with the spray deck that fits over the cockpit so you can do eskimo rolls etc....

I have my eye on this one but don't know if they still available

http://www.yellow.co.nz/site/mckeeplastics/Kayak%20Whitewater.html (http://www.yellow.co.nz/site/mckeeplastics/Kayak%20Whitewater.html)

Thoroughly looking forward to it though.

[gil]

Looks cool! We were looking for a sit-on one, having done lots of reseach about recreational, family one, so sorry no direct links to other types. The websites the links were on should allow you to find other types (except maybe the Viking one). Good luck!

Gil

[sarahw]

Sorry we also were only looking for family recreational sit on top kayak so didn't go down the whole cockpit type but there are loads out there.

Maybe we should have an ENZ kayaking daytrip?!

[gil]

Maybe we should have an ENZ kayaking daytrip?!

ooooh! :D

Gil

[StevieD]

Duh - sorry guys, just found them on one of the links.... but half asleep would be an understatement!

Thanks.

[Moorf]

Good point Stevie - we're both strong swimmers etc but Woz does seem to have a problem with the idea of the cockpit kayak. I'd prefer cockpit to the sit on ones and we've done the sit-on ones before, but I think he's worried about rolling in the cockpit version... can anyone put his mind at rest?

[StevieD]

I think it is a similar operation. My kids manage in the cockpit type, without rolling them, and they are 11 and 8 - so don't think Woz will have any probs.

As a matter of fact, they were made to roll them on purpose to do the escape routine, and believe me it took some doing.

[gil]

You can do courses on it if Woz would be happier and feel safer learning properly http://www.paddlerzone.co.nz/kayak_courses_and_guiding This one seems to be in Christchurch, all the ones on Yakity Yak Kayak Club are NI.
Gil
x

[Rabbit]

Well, the blue whale has turned up (my Viking Tempo), they left it on the deck and it was there when I got back.

I needed to order some extra bits, e.g. an XL life vest, L was too small, and the tie-ons for the car, so hopefully they will arrive this week.

Sarah, I see what you mean about putting ones back out trying to get it on top of the 4x4.

Any tips on loading the Kayak? Also do people bother with a surf-suit or something (I saw some in the Wharehouse), or is the water reasonably warm?

Rabbit

[sarahw]

Yep my tip is to go on the web & look for something called 'Rollerloader' - its made by a company in New York, USA - my OH has a bad back & I have weak wrists & lifting the kayak onto the 4X4 was really painful for both of us - now with the help of this device that literally takes a second to install & remove, one of us can load it on our own - it really does what it says on their website (is as amazing as it looks) - I'm surprised that noone's thought of bringing something like this out here considering the amount of people who have kayaks - a lot of people use wynch (sp?) systems in their garages up to the ceiling but we couldn't get the car we use to transport the kayak into our garage with room above for the kayak.

To be honest I only wear a wetsuit in the dead of winter - You don't get wet if you're in the inlet (which I think is where you mentioned you'd be going) since it doesn't get wavy enough & the water that enters the kayak soon warms up in the sun (if you're going to somewhere like Plimmerton then maybe - but I'd wear a shortie this time of year & a full wetsuit in winter) - I usually wear boardies & a t-shirt in summer or thin trackie bots that can be pulled up to the knee to keep dry if necessary & a fleece when its colder - to be honest the lifejacket keeps you very warm. I would recommend some surf shoes from the Warehouse (probably about $10 a pair at most) since there are a lot of shellfish on the beach & it can be a bit rough on the feet & you can get cut when launching (yep only did it once in bare feet!) - also there are very large eagle rays in the inlet & if you stand on one you want something between your feet & them!

Just looking out of the window at the inlet & the water is flat-as this morning - perfect kayaking weather! Ahhhh - waiting to be allowed to get back on the kayak since my hand's just about to come out of the cast :(

[gil]

Yep my tip is to go on the web & look for something called 'Rollerloader' - its made by a company in New York, USA - my OH has a bad back & I have weak wrists & lifting the kayak onto the 4X4 was really painful for both of us - now with the help of this device that literally takes a second to install & remove, one of us can load it on our own - it really does what it says on their website (is as amazing as it looks)

Found it in the States, but can't seem to track down any NZ retailers with it. Where did you get yours, Sarah? I have carpal (sp?) tunnel syndrome in both wrists and this would be a godsend! Also, it says on the US website that "it doubles as a dolly" What does that mean? :confused:

Hope you're back kayaking good and soon,
love
Gil
x

[sarahw]

I bought it by just sending them an e-mail to their US company - its only a tiny company - & they shipped it over - just do a search for them on the web - I think there's just one guy there & he was really helpful - they shipped it for US$50- by courier which is quite good considering the weight!!

A dolly is a kayak carrier for pulling your kayak along the beach/road - to be honest we haven't used it for that since it usually goes off the car & straight into the water.

I've too suffered with carpal tunnel both wrists & have just had my hand splinted for 3 months due to something called DeQuervains.

[gil]

Thanks Sarah, I've emailed them. Will google de Quervains...
Gil
x