Best begginers kayak?

Question

I'm thinking of buying a kayak.

I want the kind that you don't use a spray skirt I think it's called?
What brands are the best?
Are pelican kayaks good?What about Old Town?

I'm 5'6 and 105-110lb.
It will be used on calm water.

I would like a sit on top.

Answer 1

No matter which boat you buy, to assure your enjoyment make sure you get a good paddle (not one of those cheap heavy $20 aluminum and plastic things) and make sure that it is at least 7' long (longer is better in paddles, too -- less effort and you won't bang your knuckles on the gunwales). Also get a good life vest that is cut short enough to be comfortable paddling (NOT an orange "Mae West" type or water-skiing vest). The MTI brand "Orleans" model vest is nice (you can find them on-line for around $40, maybe less in your size) and cut short in back for comfort in a sit-on-top. You can get a decent paddle for around $50 or $60, maybe less late in the summer. Then, even if you decide you want a higher performance boat later on, you will still have a paddle and flotation vest that you can use with any kayak.

Answer 2

If all you want is to paddle a few feet from shore in a small pond, any cheap plastic "sit-on-top" model is pretty much the same as any other. Do look for a narrower and longer boat rather than a short wide boat and make sure nobody tries to sell you a whitewater kayak. In my opinion the sit-on-tops or open cockpit "recreational" boats are like paddling a bathtub, however, and not that much fun (slow, awkward, klunky, and if you flip over they are harder to turn over and get back into than a closed boat) and so you are very limited to where you can go (they are not really safe for the open ocean, larger rivers or fast-moving water.) However, if you end up really liking kayaking after a while you will likely want to trade up to something that performs better and is more comfortable anyway. Since you can always sell the sit-on-top for a good price, it doesn't really matter which one you buy to start out with if that's what you are comfortable with. You can't lose.

No matter which boat you buy, to assure your enjoyment make sure you get a good paddle (not one of those cheap heavy $20 aluminum and plastic things) and make sure that it is at least 7' long (longer is better in paddles, too -- less effort and you won't bang your knuckles on the gunwales). Also get a good life vest that is cut short enough to be comfortable paddling (NOT an orange "Mae West" type or water-skiing vest). The MTI brand "Orleans" model vest is nice (you can find them on-line for around $40, maybe less in your size) and cut short in back for comfort in a sit-on-top. You can get a decent paddle for around $50 or $60, maybe less late in the summer. Then, even if you decide you want a higher performance boat later on, you will still have a paddle and flotation vest that you can use with any kayak.

Have a great time with whichever boat you buy!