Tom and I used to own a big white and black fiberglass canoe. When our children were small enough to sit in the bottom while "play fishing", we enjoyed family outings on Jug Bay of the Patuxent. The fact that we were slow and heavy did nothing to deter our enjoyment of the water experience. When the little ones became bigger and were no longer happy to ride along, Tom and I did some trips by ourselves, one of the most enjoyable being a float on the beautiful Pamunkey. Eventually due to the press of other activities, the canoe was used so rarely that it resided under the porch of a family member, where it didn’t get used.

Nearly 25 years later as new waterfront owners in the Northern Neck, we purchased an elegant 16 foot R-lite Dagger canoe. It was just what we needed to paddle the creeks and rivers nearby, whether exploring the marshes or quietly skimming along shoreline for miles. A real water person, I become more enthusiastic about the idea of hopping in the craft at our pier and paddling away than Tom. Purchase of a "pop in" center seat allowed me to paddle singly. Of course I learned quickly that winds and tides can make a solo canoe paddle under many conditions, a daunting one, involving more sideways than straight travel between points. 

Last year we joined a group of FODR members on a camping/ paddle trip on the James and Maury. White water was not the best place for our canoe and our skill was not up to that needed for such a trip. A few flips and collisions with boulders helped confirm these conclusions. (Incidentally, we had also flipped on an earlier trip on the Mattaponi.)

Teta Kain put me in her Swifty kayak with no instruction other than to tell me to get in and enjoy. I loved the way I could sit down, stretch out and actually maneuver turns. Rapids became fun, not fearsome, even if my technique could best be described as "windmill low efficiency".

I was converted! Not too long after the white water trip we purchased a Pungo kayak, thinking its somewhat larger size would be good for the wider water available at home. Although I picked it out, it was to be Tom’s boat, since I tested and also loved a longer kayak. Bay Trails Outfitters, in Onemo, maintains a large inventory of demo boats, so you can try a variety before you buy. It helps to see if a kayak fits and is comfortable.

The Pungo proved to be a great choice for small water paddling such as the Dragon. It is also very easy to enter and exit, and to handle on bigger water, even with some surf. Wind doesn’t seem to bother it much and it’s very stable.

Our lovely canoe is residing under the deck, where we don’t use it. Our two kayaks (I bought a longer, skinnier one this spring) are used regularly, even early season when paddling requires a wet suit. I enjoy the feeling of control and water contact I get with the kayak. I can paddle longer distances with less effort and more comfort in the kayak.

Make your own choice. I’ve made mine! 

Kathryn Gregory