Still kicking.

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

...This time I'm thinking a big open canoe would be the ticket. Something with room for my lunch and the banjo.

Do you have any experience with the inflatable canoes? I'm guessing, apart from the convenience of an inflatable, that a wooden canoe is the preferred option.

All I know about inflatables is that they are very slow. If that isn't an issue for you, then I guess there's no problem with them.

Wooden canoes are very heavy. If you actually want to get the thing in and out of the water, you're probably better off with fibreglass, kevlar or carbon fibre, which are much more common these days anyhow.

Possibly the biggest problem with kayaks (as opposed to canoes) is that it's harder to find one that's just right for you. Seat type and position is a very individual thing, and if you don't get it right, you're going to quickly get fed up with the thing and not use it. Some kayak stores give you a "try before you buy" option which is pretty important I think. I was lucky in having some really keen kayakers/canoeists in the family, so I was able to try a few different kayaks until I found the best one for me. If I was buying from scratch, I'm not sure how I'd go about it, as it really is important to try it out before handing over the readies. Is it comfortable; does it have a compartment for the ice and beer; will it take the banjo readily etc.

Worth the effort though!