Re: [Paddlewise] Ocean play boats

Tim, 
Have you considered wash-deck kayaks? 
 
The Ocean Kayak Scupper is an excellent boat for rock gardens, sea caves and is fair in surf.
The O.K. Scrambler XT is better in the surf but takes more effort to cruise. They are both nearly indestructable and are an excellent value.
The Tsunami X-15 is possibly the best boat made for the purposes you describe but you would pay considerably more for one of these beautiful, 60-pound, kevlar, battleships.
 
Knee straps or a lap belt should be used to improve your connection to the boat in the waves. Low braces will help to reduce arm and shoulder injuries.
 
I have rarely seen anyone use an enclosed-cockpit kayak on the exposed coast of Northern California (Mendocino.) I imagine that conditions that you have in Oregon are similar. If you can find a copy of any of the Tsunami Rangers' Videos, I would reccomend watching.

 
Ocean Kayak Home Page: http://www.oceankayak.com/
Tsunami Kayaks: http://www.tsunami-kayaks.com/

And for some great stories about a guy who has paddled a great deal of the Northern CA coast in a Scupper,
Check out; Mike's Kayak Journal: http://www.kayaker.net/index.htm
"Extreme Sea Kayaking" a new book by Eric Soares and Michael Powers, provides an in-depth look at the subject of kayaking the exposed coast.
 
Best Wishes,
 
Dave Martin

>I need help with my next boat purchase and thought I'd draw on the
>collective wisdom of the paddlewise group.  
>
>Let me set the stage a bit.
>
>This weekend, I was exploring some cool rock gardens around Yaquina head in
>Oregon. I love this type of paddling.  I use my Plastic Sea Lion when I play
>in the rocks since its more maneuverable than my Glider and it doesn't make
>me cringe when I slam into a rock (cheap plastic boats are great for that).
>
>Unfortunately, the sea lion totally sucks in the surf.  It loves to pearl.
>And with its high weight, cranking it around to get positioned in the waves
>is really hard.  I put up with it, though, since I really don't have a
>better boat to use in this situation.
>
>Well, this weekend, I realized that my use of the Sea Lion in breaking waves
>isn't just hard -- its dangerous.  A big wave (probably 8 feet, though it
>looked like 20 --- if you know what I mean) grabbed me and started to hurl
>me to shore.  To my horror, the Sea Lion immediately started to pearl
>setting me up for a very ugly face plant (and possible serious injury in the
>shallow water).  I violently wrenched the boat into a broach and layed down
>into the breaking wave to side surf  through the  chaos.  The maneuver
>worked, but the violent gyrations and intense bracing injured the muscles in
>my upper arm.  
>
>My arm will heal, but I'm too old to batter my body like this.  It can't be
>the conditions (afterall, I can't imagine staying away from the sruf zone),
>so it must be my boat.  I need a sea kayak that cruises well, is highly
>manuverable, and doesn't pearl so easilly.  I need a "sea kayak playboat"! A
>boat that cruises OK but is maneuverable for surf, rock gardens and sea
>caves.
>
>I've been "talking" to Matt Broze about the coaster and have almost decided
>to head up to Seattle and buy one.  But, I want to get other opinions first.
>Do any of you out there use Coasters?  What do you think?  I'm short stubby
>and fat (5'8" and 225 pounds) but I think I will fit.
>
>Anyone in the Portland Oregon or Corvallis areas have one I can look at?
>I'd love to sit in one and make sure I fit before taking the road trip up
>north to try one out.  Better yet. Does anyone in the Northwest have a used
>one they'd like to sell?
>
>Any other "sea kayak play boats" you'd recommend?  I've heard the pintail is
>nice for this type of paddling.  Any other strong, ocean play boats you'd
>recommend?  
>
>thank you,
>
>--Tim

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