HOUGHTON -- You've been on test drives, but not like this one--this is more of a test paddle.

Sunday in Houghton, people were treated to trying before buying a kayak.  Down Wind Sports held their annual Kayak Expo on Portage Lake.

"You can try one after the other and get all the information," said Down Wind Sports co-owner Todd King.  "We actually have some pretty good prices on boats for today."

He said to paddle safely, you must first pick the perfect kayak; a task that's much simpler to accomplish hands-on.

"Our goal would be to get you into the right kayak, not just a kayak," he said.  "When you have the right kayak, you typically paddle more, you're happier with your boat, and then you bring your friends with you!"

The first step to picking the right boat:  decide what you will be doing in it.  For inland kayaking, a 10 to 12 foot long recreation model is best; however, if you want to brave the waves of Lake Superior, King recommends a longer touring boat.  The best boat for beginners is the transitional touring kayak, which is the most versatile.

Another important safety measure is picking the proper paddle and life jacket.  With the help of experts at Sunday's expo, consumers were guided to make good choices.

"I'm certainly not trying all of them, but I'm getting an education," said consumer Beverly Maynard.  "There's such a difference from one boat to the next.  I think if I didn't try them, I'd have no idea what to buy."

If you missed today's event, don't worry.  Down Wind says you can schedule your own test drive by calling either their Houghton or Marquette shop.