Hi Aaron -

I have to agree with Severne about clubs. Although I've only got limited experience in a sea kayak, I did take the time to get introduced, taught self rescue, and went on several paddles with a local club. They also had rentals that allowed me to paddle several different boats that I woulnd't have had the access to otherwise. The best thing about a club is there is tons of experience emodied in the group that you have full access to - for FREE! You can use them to easily expand your experience base or you can paddle alone when you want. I would encourage you to re-think your bias against clubs. The potential for learning and gaining knowledge/experience far outweighs the negs.