[Paddlewise] FW: 2 Newbie Questions

>>
#1 Before I buy my first kayak, I am trying to figure out what size and
design would be best for the type of seakayaking I plan to do.

<SNIP>

#2 Does anyone kayak with their significant other fairly regularly? How
do you find keeping pace with one another? Do you enjoy it more or less
when you kayak with them? Do you prefer kayaking in your own kayak or a
tandem?

Thanks all,
Tee
>>

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#1 Some people like wide boats with a lot of initial stability and room   for gear;
others like narrow boats that are a little more tender but have higher   secondary
stability. If there is a general trend among kayakers, it is that they   move from
wider boats to narrower boats as their experience increases. Since you   want
a boat you won't grow out of and intend to make crossings where waves   could
be a problem, I recommend that you start with one of the narrower kayaks.   I'm
partial to the Romany, which has fair initial stability and good   secondary
stability, and a good cockpit fit for someone of your stature, but there   are other
good kayaks as well.

#2 My wife and I each have a Romany. We enjoy paddling together because   we
enjoy each other's company and share the same enthusiasms. My biggest
problem is that I sometimes have trouble keeping up with her, but most of   the
time we adapt to each other's pace. Of course, we didn't get married   until we had
kayaked together.

I can't imagine paddling a tandem. It would be harder to talk to each   other on the
water, we would always have to have a partner to go paddling, the tandem   would
be less maneuverable in tight spots, and it would be harder to store and   load.
Also, it would make it harder to learn advanced skills such as bracing   and rolling,
which are a lot of fun once you know how, and one tandem typically can't   carry
as much gear as two singles.

Chuck Holst  
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