Potomac 10ft Kayak for $149.98 at Dick's Sporting Goods (in-store)

A 12'-13' kayak runs from $450 to $800. for rotomold plastic. One of the best "bang for the buck" kayak deals right now is the West Marine Pompano 12' sit on top of which I greatly encourage new paddlers to purchase over a sit inside. It's a Wilderness System mold of their popular Tarpon series from 3-4 years ago and it's a tried and true design..at $424. it's a great deal.
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/...Num=50621#
Avail in yellow (I like bright colors on the water) or tan.

When a wave hits a sit inside, the water stays inside until pumped out or turned over to empty. If you are on a SOT (sit on top) they have built in scupper holes that drain that wave water out. I've seen new paddlers in sit inside yaks get a big splash from a passing boat and it fills the inside. The reentry from a capsize (it will happen, I promise) is much easier to get back on with a SOT vs sit inside.

Suggested models: Ocean Kayak Scrambler XT, Prowler 13 or 15, WS Tarpon 12, 14, or 16' (but the 16' is a beoch to turn in fast rivers), Necky Vector 13, and many others, but these are all I have had and have great reviews at Paddling.net, then hit reviews by brand, then model. One 10' that may work for many and is designed to paddle ok and is cheap is the now discontinued kayak that Costco sold 2 years ago. I see them on Craigslist often in the $200-300 range and they will at least get you on the water and are pretty decent for a small kayak. I really recommend you rent a kayak for a day or more and try before you buy as we all have different likes or wants. Longer is faster in the kayak world and these will hold a line much better and have more stability than a short kayak.
Good luck and hope you find a bargain