>> #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 >> ************************************************************************** * #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 *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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 to have them both... I didnīt find the tandem so often 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 to tight spots at all) Cheers, Ari Saarto "Watch your hips - a good sea kayaker is a worthy partner in samba too..." 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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