If your looking for whitewater forums, Boatertalk.com on the east coast and Mountainbuzz.com (CO. based) or professorpaddle.com for WA. rivers. Since your on Long Island your most likely looking for a sea kayak site (unless your looking for surf kayaking, boatertalk has that too), I can't help you there, maybe someone on one of those sites could help you. I grew up on Long Island and live in one of the best places for sea kayaking but still haven't bought a sea kayak, I told myself that I have enough expensive hobbies and my whitewater boats have worked well enough so far.