I wonder if someone can provide a better view of the big picture where 2 seater fun boats are concerned. My girlfriend are looking for a way to get out on the water together and let me say right up front, we've heard all the 'divorce boat' references and are still determined to buy one boat not two. We'd like to paddle the calmer waters near Houston. To date we've checked out: Ocean Kayak Malibu 2 (I think), Hobie Odyssey, OK Zest 2, Dagger Bayou 2, Old Town Loon 160T and some kinda Cobra boat. I'm leaning toward the Hobie. It is set up for either double or single paddling, has decent stability and good tracking, reasonable internal storage and is somewhat less wet than the other sit-on-tops. There are some other less quantifiables like being easier to get back in/on than the other direction (see below) and may present fewer problems if we push our limits (see below). Kim prefers the Dagger Bayou 2 canoe/kayak mutation largely because of the perception of sitting-in rather than the sitting-on (she refers to sit-on-tops as unprofessional which isn't quite as rude as it sounds). I worry that even with a spray skirt the Dagger's minimal freeboard due to our combined weight (approximately 460 pounds) will cause problems. I think I could wrap my mind around the cayak/kayoe concept if only we found one with good freeboard/tracking/stowage etc. ... perhaps something like the Loon 160T with the ability to go straight in a friggin' breeze. Certainly we could add the rudder, but aren't these things supposed to track straight out of the box? Anyway, we plan to rent a Hobie and a Dagger and drag 'em to the water this weekend for a coupla hours of back2back. We might try and dig up a Perception Jocassee and throw that into the mix. Suggestions? Comments? Gary Tabor *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Gary I can relate to your quest. I went through the same thing about 6 months ago. My wife and I decided on a Wilderness System Pamlico Lite. It is fiberglass and fast. We decided to go glass because the way I figure it is the easier it is to do something, the more likely you will do it. If you have to work your butt off to go out in wind and do a 3 mile crossing, you may do it once or twice but that's it. If you have a boat that is fast and tracks well and is just plain enjoyable to be in, you will do it allot. I can load and unload my boat with ease, and since my wife is prego, I paddle it allot lately. I can easily paddle at 4 knots. Wind and current are not much of a problem as I thought they would be. The glass boat costs twice as much as a plastic boat, but look at the long term. It will hold its value better, and IMHO is much better looking. We almost bought a Loon 160T until we saw the glass Pamlico lite. I paddle the bays and mangrove island here on the west coast of Florida and any river I can make it to. (Florida rivers are calm, a Florida rapid is where you can see the water moving (-; ) Cough up the extra money, buy a couple of beautiful wooden paddles and enjoy. Sir Gary Nilsen Wilderness System Pamlico lite -----Original Message----- From: Gary Tabor [mailto:ratracer_at_rust.net] Sent: Tuesday, December 08, 1998 9:03 AM To: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subject: [Paddlewise] Help wanted on finding a good 2 seater recreational kayak I wonder if someone can provide a better view of the big picture where 2 seater fun boats are concerned. My girlfriend are looking for a way to get out on the water together and let me say right up front, we've heard all the 'divorce boat' references and are still determined to buy one boat not two. We'd like to paddle the calmer waters near Houston. To date we've checked out: Ocean Kayak Malibu 2 (I think), Hobie Odyssey, OK Zest 2, Dagger Bayou 2, Old Town Loon 160T and some kinda Cobra boat. I'm leaning toward the Hobie. It is set up for either double or single paddling, has decent stability and good tracking, reasonable internal storage and is somewhat less wet than the other sit-on-tops. There are some other less quantifiables like being easier to get back in/on than the other direction (see below) and may present fewer problems if we push our limits (see below). Kim prefers the Dagger Bayou 2 canoe/kayak mutation largely because of the perception of sitting-in rather than the sitting-on (she refers to sit-on-tops as unprofessional which isn't quite as rude as it sounds). I worry that even with a spray skirt the Dagger's minimal freeboard due to our combined weight (approximately 460 pounds) will cause problems. I think I could wrap my mind around the cayak/kayoe concept if only we found one with good freeboard/tracking/stowage etc. ... perhaps something like the Loon 160T with the ability to go straight in a friggin' breeze. Certainly we could add the rudder, but aren't these things supposed to track straight out of the box? Anyway, we plan to rent a Hobie and a Dagger and drag 'em to the water this weekend for a coupla hours of back2back. We might try and dig up a Perception Jocassee and throw that into the mix. Suggestions? Comments? Gary Tabor *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
My wife and I each have a K1 and a K2 SOT. The K2 does provide some interesting chatter when she wants to do one thing and I want to do another. In any event, we started out with 2 Perception Swing SOT's and loved them. We then bought our K2 (a Perception Synchro) this year and we love it. It handles as easily as the Swings do, tracks straight and has a good deal of secondary stability. We looked at the Jocasse and decided that it would be very difficult to get in and out of in the water. As far as a rudder is concerned, get one for any K2. When a boat tracks extremely well, they are very difficult to turn especially if there is any kind of chop and wind. I am adding a rudder to my K1 because of how much better things work with the K2 with a rudder. Just my 2 cents. Steve -----Original Message----- From: Gary Tabor [SMTP:ratracer_at_rust.net] Sent: Tuesday, December 08, 1998 6:03 AM To: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subject: [Paddlewise] Help wanted on finding a good 2 seater recreational kayak << File: ATT00000.html >> I wonder if someone can provide a better view of the big picture where 2 seater fun boats are concerned. My girlfriend are looking for a way to get out on the water together and let me say right up front, we've heard all the 'divorce boat' references and are still determined to buy one boat not two. We'd like to paddle the calmer waters near Houston. To date we've checked out: Ocean Kayak Malibu 2 (I think), Hobie Odyssey, OK Zest 2, Dagger Bayou 2, Old Town Loon 160T and some kinda Cobra boat. I'm leaning toward the Hobie. It is set up for either double or single paddling, has decent stability and good tracking, reasonable internal storage and is somewhat less wet than the other sit-on-tops. There are some other less quantifiables like being easier to get back in/on than the other direction (see below) and may present fewer problems if we push our limits (see below). Kim prefers the Dagger Bayou 2 canoe/kayak mutation largely because of the perception of sitting-in rather than the sitting-on (she refers to sit-on-tops as unprofessional which isn't quite as rude as it sounds). I worry that even with a spray skirt the Dagger's minimal freeboard due to our combined weight (approximately 460 pounds) will cause problems. I think I could wrap my mind around the cayak/kayoe concept if only we found one with good freeboard/tracking/stowage etc. ... perhaps something like the Loon 160T with the ability to go straight in a friggin' breeze. Certainly we could add the rudder, but aren't these things supposed to track straight out of the box? Anyway, we plan to rent a Hobie and a Dagger and drag 'em to the water this weekend for a coupla hours of back2back. We might try and dig up a Perception Jocassee and throw that into the mix. Suggestions? Comments? Gary Tabor *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 12/8/98 7:09:45 AM Pacific Standard Time, ratracer_at_rust.net writes: << snip, snip Anyway, we plan to rent a Hobie and a Dagger and drag 'em to the water this weekend for a coupla hours of back2back. We might try and dig up a Perception Jocassee and throw that into the mix. Suggestions? Comments? Gary Tabor >> snip, snip Gary, *DO* try and find a Jocassee and if possible <IMHO the best of the grouping> a Wilderness Systems Pamlico Excel. BTW, either one has a rudder option. I come from the *chilly/wet* Northwest and *sit on tops* just don't cut it. I like your wife's thinking regarding SOT's. Steve Scherrer President ACKS Alder Creek Kayak and Canoe 250 NE Tomahawk Island Dr. Portland, Oregon 97217 Web: http://www.aldercreek.com Email: aldercreek_at_aldercreek.com Phone: 503-285-0464 Fax: 503-285-0106 *************************************************************************** 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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