I need help and advice!!

[SANDALFARM]

Last week I was in a Canadian canoe exploring Loch Lomond with a friend and now I am absolutely hooked. I have canoed before, down the Ardeche on holiday for a week and off the coast of Sardinia in a sheltered bay.
Is it possible to find a small light-weight canoe/kayak that is suitable for a novice, that I can get on the car roof on my own (I don't know anyone who would like to share my new found enthusiasm) and that I can maybe do longish days in on lakes, canals and possibly easy flowing rivers, comfortably.
Any comments welcome!

[GuyThaLizard]

This reply may be a little late, but I will send it anyway.
Pelican Brand is a good starter kayak.


Pelican makes a nice little inexpensive starter kayak. They sell for under $260.00 Canadian. They track good and are light weight usually about 39lbs.

The Pursuit 100 is a nice little kayak.

Length 10' - 305 cm
Beam 28'' - 71 cm
Depth 13'' - 33 cm
Cockpit width 19'' - 48 cm
Cockpit length 39.5'' - 100 cm
Weight 39 lb - 17 kg
Max. capacity 275 lb - 125 kg
Hull material RAM-X
UPC code 776324500211

[Greg Loftus ( Cominco)]

Cionsider a folding kayak or canoe Klepper, Nautiraid foldboat are few of the choices. I have a Nautiraid two which paddles fine solo or can be paddled by two, Very nice boat sets up fast (follow directions) they are expensive but will outlive us all. Cheers, Greg

[john allsop]

By now winter is approaching fast so it,s time to get this out before we are snowed in and every day it,s "man the snow blower" untill March/April 2009. I have 6 kayaks and while this may be to late 3 of them are fold-up,s, two Klepper Aerius 2s and a Folbot Yukon these are great stable boats and will last a life time or more providing you look after them, that,s to say use them and if they need some maintenance so be it, my first boat a klepper travelled hundereds of miles on Ontario rivers and lakes after 30 years i bought a new "skin"for it and i expect to still be using it in 30 years, of course i,ll be a hundered and one by then, nowt like being opimistic, i came from Manchester, i have sails and they are a blast. I think buy the best, in the end it,s the cheapest. My other klepper is over 40 years old with it,s original skin and i still use it. Folbot are not in my opinion quite as good as klepper,but at a lower price worth considering, i like the Yukon nice and easy to get in.

[Greg Loftus ( Cominco)]

Snow I will have enough of soon, always permenant snow by Halloween. I agree buy the best you can afford and look after it and it will look after you. Cheers, Greg