I have two questions/ ponderables that I would like to hear commentary on. Please feel free to e-mail me directly with your responses. #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. The majority of my time will be day and weekend trips with a possibility of week long trips once or twice a year at best (for now). The water will probably be lakes, shorelines, flat rivers and the occasional short crossings such as Long Island to Fire Island, Key hoping in Florida and things like that. I'd love to try fishing from my kayak. I don't know if my size matters but I'm 5'9" and of average build. From personal experience, what would be the best size and type of kayak for my needs? I know that glass costs more that plastic so money is not an issue here. I'm looking for something I wont want to trade or sell off within a year or 2 of owning it. I plan to rent in the beginning and I'll be attending the show in Lorton, VA and New Jersey to get a look see as well. #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 *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
On Tue, Mar 24, 1998 at 11:30:46AM -0500, TeAntae Turner wrote: > #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? I've done C-2 slalom racing with a SO, and found it rather difficult: there's too much crossover between life-outside-the-boat and life-in-the-boat. I find it much easier to paddle tandem with people that I'm not otherwise entangled with. But as far as running rivers in our own boats, no problem there: everybody gets to go where they like. ;-) ---Rsk *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Hi Tee, I have a couple of thoughts for you. If there are Kayak Shops in the area, most of them offer classes which can serve two functions: You learn the basics and they will usually let you try out different boats during the on-water classes. Many shops will let you either rent or demo boats and switch to different boats so you can try them out. If you can get to one of the various symposiums, where you can try more boats them you can imagine. Most people will start out with a very stable boat (high intial stability) and later evolve to sportier boat later on (less initial stability and more secondary stability). At any rate, the more boats that you can try out, the more likely you will find one that you like that fits your needs. Also try the boats in a variety of conditions. Even lakes can get very choppy. Hope this helps Jim *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Not to try to add to the gazillions of good comments you've already seen on this question, Tee, you've already identified the most important issue in selecting a kayak. Paddling it! Empirical studies and surveys will get you a lot of good information, but the most important component to your decision has to be how <you> feel about the boat, and how the boat <feels>! It's really subjective. There are so many boats these days, and most people will tell you all the good things and the bad things about what <they> paddle. But you've got to go out and paddle as many as you can. You mentioned two upcoming events --- one in Lorton, Virginia and one in New Jersey. There's also a major show in Charleston, SC on 17-19 April and another TASK-sponsored show on 05-07 June at Camp Arrowhead in Delaware. If you can make either of those, it would serve you well to go and paddle as many boats as you can. It may really reorganize your thinking. If you do this with an open mind, see how the boat <feels>, and decide if you feel good --- and, let's face it, if you <look> good --- in it, that's probably the best decision aid you can get. One other thought: an awful lot of people buy new boats and decide that, after a year, it's not what they wanted. Which generates a pretty good secondary market --- pre-dinged boats! Eliminates the problem with getting that first scratch in the old gelcoat! They're already a bunch of scratches included, and you paid a lot less for a one-year old boat! So, if <you> decide you don't like it in a year, sell it to somebody else! Have fun with the decision. "Joq" Martin *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
SORRY FOLKS, shouldnīt start working (?) at 6.30 pm after a long night train trip, I must re-edit my message a little bit :-) Chuck wrote: > > 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. > Oh my, my: I am having a feeling that this has been discussed before?!? Chuck, I do disagree about tandems :-p [Even if I have bought lately a single for long solo trips.] It is really nice to have them both...depends what is the weekly situation of your relationship ;-) I didnīt find the tandem hard to share with someone: there is almost as much packing volume, it is slightly faster than a single if you are planning longer trips, and it is stabile if your partner is not experienced as you are. With a rudder a tandem is only slightly longer as a really good solo sea kayak and as much maneuverable. ( I am now talking about sea kayaking - I am not so sure if anyone should ever take a tandem to whitewater. And especially to tight spots at all...) Cheers, Ari Saarto "In the not-so-cold-as-you-might-think Fin-land" Kannaksenkatu 22 / P.O. 92 15141 Lahti - Finland - Europe GSM +358 - 50 - 526 5892 fax. +358 - 3 - 828 2815 e-mail: asaarto_at_lpt.fi *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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