This is your lucky weekend. You have two chances to try out kayaks:

Kittery Trading Post has its kayak demo day Saturday in South Berwick.

L.L. Bean has its PaddleSports Festival on Saturday and Sunday in Freeport.

Actually, L.L. Bean advertises the festival starts Friday. But you won't get a chance to try the boats out until Saturday. And L.L. Bean is a bit more ambitious. They have bluegrass music and lessons planned.

I did the KTP event a few years ago. It was a miserable, wet day. Elaine was in a quandry about what kind of boat she wanted to buy next. I had my eye set on just one - the Eddylines Falcon. I tried, fell in love with it and waited for her to do her due diligence on a few boats. I spent the time hanging out with the factory reps and KTP guys by the fire. It wasn't a bad way to spend the day. Elaine got a good feel for what she wanted. It was well worth the trip.

I haven't been to Bean's so I can't say which is better. The two stores offer different product lines. So it depends on who makes the boat you are interested in trying. But it is well worth your time to get into a boat and try it out. There are a lot of factors that go into fit and comfort level.

You have until Saturday to do some research and decide what to try out. Start with this gear guide. It was put together by co-MOACer Elisabeth Paine. It helps explain how the kayak design affects how you paddle. It also offers some tips for finding good deals. (Thank you Elisabeth.)

Next, look up the kayak manufacturer's Web site. They have all the vital stats on their boats. Whittle down your wish list to two or three.

Then try them out this weekend. If the weather is acceptable, try KTP on Saturday and Bean on Sunday.

Fit is important. Do your hips and feet fit in it comfortably? If not, ask for help adjusting the seat or foot pegs. That could help a lot.

Don't be scared by its stability - or instability. The kayak may feel tippy at first. But if you spend a little time getting used to it, you may be very comfortable with it. It's the secondary stability that counts. (See the gear guide for good explanation.)

Have some fun. Don't be afraid to ask questions. And let me know how it goes.

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