Hi all

Hello, just joined. Wife and I loved to kayak (only rented) when we lived down in LA. Now we were looking to get into kayaking since we moved to the Bay Area.  Mostly here to learn more about kayaking, good locations, and any other bits of knowledge and experience we can pick up. Thanks!
-Max

Welcome aboard Max!!! 



-Kiel

Thanks ReelKnots
Apologies to everyone for the slew of questions that will be coming your way .

Welcome to NCKA Max 

Welcome to NCKA Max 

Thanks Sailfish!

A little more about myself:

I'm doing the research in kayaks for myself and my wife, and our 4yo.  We are trying to learn about what's safe to kayak in the carquinez straits and bay, specifically around Benicia (where we live).  Initially we are looking for a good tandem.  Which lead us to trying out a hobie outrigger tandem.  It's nice, never used a mirage drive til that day--pretty sweet. But that is a beast of a kayak.

So much advice on the web, they say don't get a tandem.  A tandem kayak is a divorce kayak. Lol.  We wanted to get a tandem, so we could do a family trip, all 3 of us together. So yeah, sorta reading too much I guess.
Also, if I ever wanna go solo, for fishing or just getting out, that tandem kayak is going to be a bear to load/unload.

So that's what I'm here to figure out! [emoji51]Awesome I stumbled on this forum while doing my own research and looking through classifieds...!

Welcome!  I love to kayak the Benicia area but there are a few things to be aware of: current, wind, boat traffic. 

The current really gets ripping out there so try to go out an hour before a tide change so you can enjoy some slower water. 

The wind gets pretty nasty in the early afternoon every day, and if it is blowing the opposite direction of the current it makes small breaker waves.  Try to go in the morning or watch weather the day before.

There are a couple easy places to launch.  One last tip; say clear of the main channel until you gain confidence and have fun!  It is neat paddling around all of the old dock structures.

Yes, benicia has quite a few places to launch out of.  I don't know the wind and waves yet, but we are well aware of the Benicia Breeze, haha. Thanks for the great advice mendolunker! 

Welcome, Max. 

[emoji2]

Welcome to NCKA!

Rent and/or test drive different kayaks before you buy. The Hobie Mirage kayak/drives are expensive but definitely nicer for fishing. 

Good luck in your search.