WTB all-purpose kayak - suggestions anyone?

I have a Dimension R5, comes complete with skirt and paddle, and also love it, but wanted a second kayak (at least one of the kids or wife can come with me on occasion) and wanted something different. I bought the Loon 100 by Old Towne. I would also recommend this kayak, even though it's more expensive, and the skirt does not come with it. It's easier to get into with the larger cockpit hole, and therefore would make it easier to fish from. It's designed with a narrow tapered bow and stern, and does not require a skeg, unlike the R5, for straight tracking on flat water. Hope this helps.

Hi, Perception Kayak, model Sparky around $329.00 retail will hold 300 lbs.

There is no such thing as an 'all-purpose kayak.' The first step in picking a kayak style and model is a fair and honest evaluation of which of the many purposes for which a kayak may be designed is the purpose or purposes that you intend to pursue. An (incomplete) list of kayak purposes would include:

A. Flat Water

i. poking around in a small lake for one person; ii. poking around in a small lake for two people; iii. poking around in a small lake for two people and a dog; iv. making day-long trips on a lake or quiet water river, in each of the three preceeding flavors; v. making over-night trips in the same circumstances and flavors; vi. making week-long trips, etc.; vii. racing, dogs not usually included.

B. White Water

i. running a few miles down rivers with rapids of a given Class from I to VI, usually solo but tandem exists; ii. running multiday trips on rivers with rapids, etc.; iii. spending most of a river trip playing on hydraulic features; iv. traveling to a specific hydraulic feature, playing there and taking out; v. down-river racing; vi. slalom racing.

C. Ocean/Big Lake

i. making day trips in sheltered ocean or big lake environments, all three flavors apply; ii. making day trips in open ocean environment, etc.; iii. making over-night or extended trips in either of the above; iv. surfing, usually solo; v. ocean racing.

Rent boats, take paddling courses, make a trip with an outfitter, do everything you can to focus your range of purposes.

I own 4 canoes and 3 kayaks and a number of wind surfers. Given no competing financial stress, I could justify several more.

There is no such thing as an 'all-purpose kayak.'

Tommy T.

Check out Frontenac Outfitters. They have the R5 in stock, and will let you try it out in the water.

Cheers, Peter.