Im looking to purchase a touring kayak. Ive done research and there are way too many to choose from. I will be doing calm rivers mostly but will want to expand on more soon. I have looked at Eddyline, current design, wilderness, what do I do? Any help would be appreciated.

What is your budget? This is a very important factor, since you can get a Wilderness Systems Tsunami 145 with a rudder for $1099 from REI, but it weighs 56 lbs. Warren Light Craft sells the Little Wing 14 with a skeg for $3785, but it only weighs 26 lbs since it is made from carbon fiber. These are shorter than traditional touring boats, but if you mostly will be paddling calm rivers, it is nice to have some manueverability, since shorter boats are typically slower, but are more manueverable. Also, how much gear do you plan on carrying with you, do you need to go quick, how long are the rivers you plan on paddling, do you have a solid roll, etc.

I would spend up to $1200.00 dollars now Im confused with plastic versus the TCS? Does it matter?

Here's what I found with google:

Thermoformed Composite System (TCSª)
This is a breakthrough technology we've developed for our line of recreational touring kayaks. Our TCSª kayaks are made with high-performance thermoplastic sheets which, with the careful application of heat and vacuum, creates a kayak that outperforms most other plastic models. The sheets are made of co-extruded high impact acrylic over premium impact ABS. They feature the high gloss and light-weight of a traditional composite kayak, and the ruggedness of high impact plastic.

Compared to any polyethylene kayak, these hulls are stiffer, the material is three times harder, and has glossy, highly weatherable colors that resist fading. They also have higher heat resistance than polyethylene kayaks and will hold their shape, even in the hottest sun. TCS™ has terrific memory and readily springs back to its original shape after impacts (as with most plastics, temperatures approaching 0° F. will adversely affect its resiliency.) TCS™ kayaks are built with UV inhibitors and the deep gloss colors look great for years to come.

Rotational molding
Rotational molding uses high temperature to melt polyethylene powder in a closed rotating metal mold to produce a complete kayak hull and deck in a fraction of the time required for other construction methods. Our rotomolded polyethylene models offer paddlers the ability to enjoy many of the unique benefits of our designs at a economical price.

We've taken rotomolding to the next level with our own high-tech process controls to produce the lightest possible rotomolded kayaks. We use linear high density polyethylene in all of our rotomolded models to maximize stiffness without sacrificing impact strength. Our polyethylene maintains its integrity over a broad temperature range and has added stabilizers giving it increased protection from harmful ultraviolet rays.





Basically, you are going to get a higher performance, lighter, more durable boat that's still made of plastic. It will be more expensive than a Rotomold boat, but not as light as a composite boat (kevlar, etc.). TCS will be a better boat if you can afford to spring for it, but if not a regular Rotomold boat will serve you well too.

Higher performance and more durable in what way? Will the Tcs or the kevlar last longer?

*note I have never paddled a composite kayak or TCS kayak. I have paddled a composite open canoe though*

The TCS will be lighter and thus easier to paddle around and more responsive that a straight up Rotomold polyethelyne kayak.

A composite kayak will not be anywhere near as durable as one made of plastic, the trade off being they are MUCH lighter (my family owns an ABS whitewater OC1 that's 14 feet long and near 50 pound, and an 18 foot kevlar tourning OC1 is half that).

Again all my experience with composite boats comes from canoes, but I feel that it may be best to avoid them as a beginner because they tend to be fragile. I know our kevlar canoe has had repeated bow patches over the years and it was paddled by an advanced paddler.

I would say if you have the money, go with TCS and it will serve you well. You will probably not get the itch to upgrade as soon (if ever) if you buy a TCS boat.

If you don't have the money, don't sweat it, a rotomold polyethylene boat will be just fine to learn in as well.