Need to cover some distance.

So this is going to be the year I finally buy a kayak, I live in the tri-cities WA about 3 blocks from the columbia and a very short distance from the mouth of the snake.

Ideally I would like to walk the boat to the river, but that means I may need to cover some distance to get to the good fishing spots. How far can one realisticly go up or downstream in an hour?

I am looking for a sit inside, been looking at a pungo 140, but I would like opinions. I also plan to go out at times just to paddle and would like to make a few 1-3 day camping trips.

I am 6'3" 220lbs

Greetings,
I saw your question and unfortunately cannot say exactly what the time/distance for sure is, but you can get close by using some tips.  It depends on what the craft is on the water and the speed of the current as well as wind.   If I remember you could rate a rubber raft at about 5mph, driftboat at 7mph, canoe/kayak as good as 10mph.  Still, the wind in slack water will totally change your average.   

I suggest that you might time yourself at a leisurely rate downstream for one mile and go back upstream one mile and log that time.  It may give you a better idea how to try and time your trips.  Watch for the wind, it can really make those "return trips" against current a  test of endurance.  Just suggestions!
-Scott

If you do some testing, go UPstream first.  (or have a phone handy to call someone to pick you up downstream!    )

In my T160, the fastest I've ever gone in still water with no chop, is about 7 mph, and that was a sprint (crappy paddle though)  Paddling a pungo that fast would require steroids I think, unless you're going with the current.

Depending on where you are on the columbia, there are often high winds with lots of chop.  Going against the current, chop, and wind, you'll be lucky to break 2-4 mph, and that would be pushing yourself like you're racing.

Welcome aboard notbob!

There are a lot of factors that go in to the speed you'll manage.  Wind, current, chop etc.

On flat water, I shoot for a speed of 3 to 3.5MPH when covering distance.  Against current, I can maintain the same speed as long as I keep the bow pointed directly into the current.  Wind is the real bugger and can either make or break your paddle.
If you have the option, it's better to drive 10miles to save 2 or 3 of paddling. 

The longer the kayak, the faster you'll go (in general) but there's a trade-off in maneuverability (which can help when it comes to fishing) 

There are a few good "articles" that people have posted on camping from their kayaks here.  Do a search and you should find lots of info.  One of the better was on a multi day float down the John Day as I recall.

Feel free to post more questions. 

-Spot-

I shoot for the same 3-3.5 mph as Spot when traveling, even with a little wind or current since you tend to compensate by paddling harder.  Maintaining 4 mph is doable, but gets tiring and what's the rush anyways?

-Allen

What Allen said.  I switched from a Hobie Revolution to an Adventure, and found I get pretty much the same distance covered in the same time, but use a little----operative word "Little"--less leg effort to do it.   3.3 mph is a reasonable speed one can keep up for a long time.  Above 4 mph, the legs get worn down. (I am 68, 5'10" 170# and in good enough shape to play squash at high level for 1-2 hours 4 days/week..)  That's in a pedal drive boat.  Back in the day when I had sea kayaks, I could maintain 4 mph in a 17-18 foot 22-24inch beam boat all day, but that was 25 years ago!


The hull shape should be such that it keeps the pitching movement in head sea to a minimum. A lot of pitching movements is loss of energy = loss of speed. Normally very fine ends at bow and stern will increase pitching.
If the bow is partly submerged in head sea or in surf, the wetted surface area momentarily increases dramatically which leads to increased hull resistance. Means to keep the bow as dry as possible in all conditions is of importance.
In open following sea, the kayak needs to have three key performance characteristics: a) track well to stay on course, b) ability to pick up waves for a quick surf and c) not to nose dive, in particular in heavy loaded condition. A design successfully dealing with a), b) and c) will have superior speed characteristics.

Thanks for all the replys, it looks like I will be able to make it to a few spots without having to drive, maybe not the spot I was hoping(at least not on a regular basis) which is about 8 nautical miles and upstream on the way home.

How about more suggestions on a boat. Is a pungo 140 a good choice, for what I want to do, any others I should look at?

Safety is something you need to consider when you're picking out your boat.  You said you are looking at a sit inside.  Are you able to roll back over if you tip over?  Most of us use sit on tops for fishing because they are a more stable platform, and easier to get into when you do fall out, because at some point, you will fall out.

You can get a tarpon for about the same price, and it's a lot easier to get back into, and won't have a cockpit full of water if you have to pop your skirt off the boat.

I think I should qualify my speed info, from back when I worked on the Deschutes River (just a tad bit of a current!).  I second the sit on top suggestion too.
-Scott

If you can, pedal/paddle a Hobie Outback or Revolution.  It may change the way you think of on water fun!!!

I live just across the river in Irrigon, OR and fish the Columbia quite a bit from my Kayak the current isn't really that bad but it is pretty easy to drift along fishing and get downriver far enough it sucks to get home.  If your like me and fish until your tired of being out there it's really not fun spending a hour paddling home.  Paddling eight miles is pretty easy but paddling four miles home sucks if you catch my drift.  I'm not sure about Tri Cities but down here in the Umatilla, Irrigon area there are quite a few good spots to fish where you can keep the paddle home pretty short.

I would get a SOT if for no other reason when it gets god awful hot here in the summer it is so sweet to just put the rod in the rod holder and bail off the side into the water then just climb back on and keep fishing.  Cant do that with a sit in.

This is me,July 1986 in Barkley Sound, no spray skirt, 75 degrees or so----trolling a buzz bomb. Caught a 14# king a few minutes later!!  Boat is a Northwest Cadence, 17 foot with 24inch beam, a real freighter! Hard chine, terrific initial and secondary stability. Eobasser---I hear you!  A world of hurt if you flip a SINK and it fills....I used a sea sock when fully geared up, just in case. Never had an upset, tho...was pretty conservative and stayed on the beach when the whitecaps ran.

What Kallitype said.  I have a Revo and can do 3 kts (3.45 mph) for extended periods.  I'm 10 years younger, a bit shorter and lighter, and USED to be in good enough shape to play racquetball 1-2 hours 4 times a week

I am considering a sail for the Revo this year.  I'd love to sail across Puget Sound to Jefferson head (3.5nm one way), fish, and return. 

Oooooh, man , you're giving me ideas!!  Would you go the "ama" route, or just the sail and use the Mirage fins as daggerboard??

Not trying to hijack the thread but I'd like to learn to sail my Adventure.  Maybe if there were others we could have a "Get Together" someplace.