At first it sounds simple. You pass one of the region's beautiful rivers or you're driving down Lake Shore Drive on a sunny day and decide that it's time to buy a canoe or kayak. But where do you start? Your first attempts to research your ideal boat can be bewildering. There are literally hundreds of designs and manufacturers from which to choose. Boat characteristics can include efficiency, maneuverability, capacity, steadiness and/or seaworthiness. You can't have all of these characteristics in a single boat - nor would you desire all of them. So, how do you narrow it down?

Here are six important questions to ask yourself when trying to identify your ideal boat.

Where Will You Paddle?
Phil Smith, manager of Chicagoland Canoe Base, asks first- time buyers, "Imagine where you are going to paddle." If it is a lake or large river, busy with powerboat traffic, a stable boat will be more comfortable. Narrow creeks require smaller, more maneuverable crafts. A rocky, shallow river demands a tough hull that can take some bumps without requiring repair.

Canoe or Kayak?
Canoes and kayaks have more similarities than differences. The main differences are the double bladed vs. single bladed paddle and the covered vs. open cockpit. Otherwise, both boats can be more/less expensive, lighter/heavier, more/less stable, slow/fast, and sturdy or fragile. Lake Michigan requires a sea kayak or surf ski (a boat which is a cross between a surf board and a kayak which is easy to deal with if you flip over).

With Whom Will You Paddle?
Will you be paddling solo, with a partner or both? Do you need a family-sized canoe for kids and dogs? How experienced are you and your partners? With more skill, you'll want a faster, lighter craft that rewards balance with speed.

What is Your Primary Purpose?
If you are a paddler that enjoys exploration or fishing, then you might feel most comfortable in a stable design. If you dream of Boundary Waters trips and camping adventures, you'll need a light or medium-weight boat with high volume and the weight capacity for you and your gear. If your purpose is fitness, speed or racing, you'll want the best lightweight materials, like Kevlar or anything carbon fiber-based and a long, narrow (less-stable) boat. These faster and lighter boats often require indoor storage space and care around rocks or shallow river bottoms.

Storage and Travel Methods?
Speaking of storage, can you afford some garage space for your boat? The more protected your storage space, the better the materials that you can buy in a craft. An aluminum canoe can be stored outside forever, but we keep our Kevlar racing canoes covered at all times unless on the river.

Also, will you have help putting your boat up on your vehicle? If not, you'll need a light boat and a system that one person can effectively manage.

Have You Tried It?
If at all possible, try some different boats before you make any major purchase. Smith says that the most common buyer mistake is when they never even sit in the boat. There are several rental places in the Chicagoland area such as the Chicagoland Canoe Base where interested folks can rent canoes and kayaks.

"Rent it first," advises Smith. "We won't sell you a boat if you've never been in a boat . . . but, we'll walk you all the way through the process."

"One should try before one buys," agrees Bill Linnemann from Mission Bay Multisport in Chicago and Elgin. Linnemann will even arrange to take you out on the Fox River (for a fee) to try out his kayaks. If you end up buying the boat, he'll refund the fee.

Area canoe clubs, like the St. Charles Canoe Club can answer your questions. Manufacturers like Wenonah offer an excellent buyer's guide, lists of area dealers and helpful advice. Visit one of the local races to meet paddlers and check out some boats.

In closing, ask the right questions and work with the right people--and you should find your ideal boat.

RESOURCES
American Canoe Association
www.acanet.org
703-451-0141

Chicagoland Canoe Base
www.chicagolandcanoebasecom/index.html
773-777-1489

Illinois Paddling Council
www.illinoispaddling.org

Mission Bay Multisport
www.missionbaymultisport.com
312-466-9111 (Chicago)
847-888-3340 (Elgin)

St. Charles Canoe Club
www.angelfire.com/sports/scccfox

United States Canoe Association
www.uscanoe.com

US Canoe Kayak
www.usacanoekayak.org
704-348-4330

Wenonah Canoe/Kayak
www.wenonah.com
507-454-5430