Potomac River: What's the Safest Small Boat?

[Caladium]

Kayaks are much better, IMO. There are some parts of the Potomac that get too shallow for any other type of boat--and those are often the most interesting areas of the river, the places where the birds gather, the best spots for landing, or the coves near islands that can be fun to explore. Kayaks also have an easier time negotiating the tall grasses that can be a problem at this of year. To be honest I would wait a few weeks to have your first Potomac experience, since those grasses can really be a nuisance. Go after mid September and you'll have a lot more fun.

[Carlingtonian]

Originally Posted by Caladium

Kayaks are much better, IMO. There are some parts of the Potomac that get too shallow for any other type of boat--and those are often the most interesting areas of the river, the places where the birds gather, the best spots for landing, or the coves near islands that can be fun to explore. Kayaks also have an easier time negotiating the tall grasses that can be a problem at this of year. To be honest I would wait a few weeks to have your first Potomac experience, since those grasses can really be a nuisance. Go after mid September and you'll have a lot more fun.

Thanks, Caladium. I hear you. Especially on the grasses. A while back, I had an 8-foot sailing dinghy, and the one time I got to take it out on the water, I got nearly stuck in some river kelp* near Belle Haven Marina. (Probably didn't help that I had a friend in the boat with me.)

Tangent: Washington Sailing Marina used to have great, cheap crabcake sandwiches at its small concession stand. Then they got rid of them a few years ago. I wonder if popular demand might've brought them back. The deck there is a great place to watch planes land, with great views of DC.

[CAVA1990]

If you're concerned about safety probably the best things you can do would be to take someone with you and wear a life vest. One issue with a canoe would be wind if you're by yourself as it's pretty hard to deal with with just one paddler. I never go out on the water by myself even though I'm a very strong and experienced ocean swimmer.

[Carlingtonian]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

If you're concerned about safety probably the best things you can do would be to take someone with you and wear a life vest. One issue with a canoe would be wind if you're by yourself as it's pretty hard to deal with with just one paddler. I never go out on the water by myself even though I'm a very strong and experienced ocean swimmer.

I definitely will wear a PFD. If I get a kayak, it would be a one-seater. I've done some canoeing, but as you said, the wind can make it a real ordeal. And as you know, they're less stable than kayaks (not to mention heavier to transport).

[Caladium]

FWIW there are safety buoys on the upper Potomac to mark off the dangerous spots as you get close to the falls.

[United_Caps_Skins_Fan]

I go out on the river all times of the year except winter really, and I can honestly say I've never had problems with the grasses. At times in different places in different years there can be quite the aquatic plant bloom, especially hydrilla, but a kayak moves over that with little problems. You just have to paddle harder though and be prepared to fling masses of green plants are yourself our at least into the air when you paddle through that stuff.

[Caladium]

Since kayaking season is almost here once again I thought it would be good to revive this thread. By the way, spring is my favorite time of year for kayaking. You see lots of baby birds, and the water is usually fairly swift and high. (Not sure if that'll be as true this year since we didn't get much snow melt, though.)