Starting Out
First Boat—Buy or Rent?
By
Tamia Nelson
You've decided that you want to give paddlesport a try. You've got
your hand on your wallet, and you're ready to take the plunge. Now for
the next big question—buy or rent?
Hold on a minute! There's a third way, and it could be the best way
of all to get started. Don't buy. Don't rent. Borrow. And don't
just borrow a boat. Do you have a friend who paddles? You do? Great!
Does he (or she) have a tandem canoe or a spare kayak? He does?
Wonderful! Just ask your friend to take you out on the water someday
soon. Chances are good that he'll say yes. Most paddlers are happy to
evangelize. Just be sure that your friend doesn't throw you in at the
deep end. You don't want to spend your first few hours in a canoe (or
kayak) in Class IV water, after all.
So start smart. Pick a warm, sunny day. Bring a life jacket that
fits—and then wear it, even if you're a good swimmer. Explore the
margins of a nearby lake. Visit a beaver pond. Take along a picnic
lunch. (But leave the beer at home.) Relax and have fun. If your friend
is a good teacher, there's no better way to get your feet wet.
What's that? None of your friends is a paddler? No problem. Just make
some new friends. Chances are good there's a paddling club near you. Ask
around at outfitters, sporting-goods stores, and local colleges. And
don't forget the local chapters of statewide or national organizations.
In the northeastern US, both the Adirondack Mountain Club and the
Appalachian Mountain Club have busy trip schedules and frequent
workshops. Some chapters even offer formal courses of instruction. These
are always worth considering. The company is good, the cost is low, and
there's almost always an empty space in somebody's boat.
Can't find a club? Then check out nearby colleges' non-credit
schedules. Many offer canoeing and kayaking courses in spring and
summer. You'll have to pay tuition, of course, but the college should
provide all the equipment you'll need. (Be sure to ask first!) This,
too, is a good way to get started.
Still no joy? OK. Renting's the way to go. See if you can find a
local outfitter who rents boats by the day. Most who do also include a
short course of instruction as part of the package. This won't make you
an expert, but at least you'll be able to get across the pond and back
again, particularly if you've done a little homework first. You'll find
suggestions for preliminary reading in my "Paddler's Booklist."
Want to venture farther afield than the shores of Golden Pond? Some
outfitters offer escorted trips to all four corners of the globe—in
their boats. Others give formal courses of instruction in everything
from sea-kayaking to river rescue. If you have the time and the money,
these can all be excellent ways to see new places and try different
canoes and kayaks. But even if you never plan to leave Golden Pond, be
sure you rent a variety of boats. There's no better way to find out what
works best for you. Some boaters rent for years before buying. It's hard
to make room for a 17' canoe in a city apartment, after all. There are
alternatives to hardshell boats, of course—inflatables and folding
kayaks, for example—but as good as these are, they aren't for
everyone.
Unless you're one of those folks living in a fourteenth-floor studio
apartment, however, sooner or later you'll want to buy a boat of your
own. When that day comes, you'll be glad that you took your time and
paddled a lot of other people's boats. Borrow before you rent. Rent
before you buy. It's good advice. 'Nuff said.
Copyright © 2001 by Verloren Hoop Productions. All
rights reserved.