Kayak Question

I already own two kayaks. Both are by Perception. One is the Carolina 14 and the other is the Prodigy 10.

I am in the market for another small kayak like the Prodigy but wow has it went up in cost since I bought mine.

I am looking at the Perception Swifty or the Old Town Otter. I can get both for less than 300.00 right now.

It seems both kayaks have good reviews on various sites. I just wanted to see if any folks on here have either one of them and what you think about it.

This kayak would only be used for small creeks/streams that my 14' kayak can't go on

Check Craigslist every day for "kayak". Try and get your hands on a Dagger Blackwater 10.5. I have both the older model and a newer model. Short boats behave like much longer boats if they have a "drop down skeg". The Blackwaters have skegs. With the skeg up, you can turn on a dime. When down, it will track like a 17' sea yak. I can't say for the boats you desire, but I think you'll enjoy the better tracking with a skeg boat.

I have been checking Craigslist but those folks must think their kayaks are gold..lol

I think the Dagger is almost like my Prodigy (size wise) but without the skeg.

You just have to wait for the right ad. I bought one of my Blackwaters, with a nice $100 PFD, and a good paddle, for $350. The boat looked unused. Keep looking!
The skeg will make a HUGE difference. It allows you to consentrate on paddling and not correcting.

Dryer
I cut a hole in the bottom of my canoe so I could push down a skeg but it lets a lot of water in. You probably meant a rigid rear rudder?
Jim

I missed one yesterday on Craigslist. A 9' kayak, paddle, one small dry storage area and half skirt with cup holders. All for 250.00

Jim....
Nope, all three of my skeg'd boats have a water tight "skeg box" (like a 'landing gear well') the skeg blade retracts into.
You could have a fixed rudder and do the same thing.
On your canoe, jig your skeg fin in place and start applying a couple of toobs of GE Silicone II bathtub caulk. Your new skeg will be 'fixed' and you'll have a nice conversation piece in your boat. Stick a fake cherry on top of the silicone pile for aesthetics.

Here's one of my boats, exactly....skeg drops with a slide knob.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAjpfTwzCxg

(the doofuses that made the video labeled the boat as "roto moulded"..hardly...it's made from two part ABS. Idjits. )

I had a drop centerboard on the 12 foot sailboat that I built in our livingroom. It sat in a well whose top was just a couple inches above the water level. It was rather exciting to take it out into the ocean off Santa Cruz. I imagine its built that way so you can sail it into the wind?
Jim

I ended up buying the Perception Swifty Sat. and had it out on the lake Sunday. It paddled great even with the big waves from the boats running up and down the lake.