I am a soon to be first time wood kayak builder who is absolutely torn between whether to buy the Pygmy Arctic Tern or Coho kits. I live on the east coast and paddle primarily in/around coastal waters of both the Atlantic and the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay with plans for occasional overnighters along the coast or intercoastal and a long term dream of paddling the length of the Chesapeake Bay in a kayak which I built. I am 6'1", 220 and a size 11 shoe. I guess my biggest dilemma in choosing between the two designs rests in performance differences of the hard chine hull of the Arctic Tern and the multi-chine hull of the Coho. Anybody have experience with either of the kayaks, particularly the Arctic Tern? I read the Sea Kayaker review of the Coho from last winter. Thanks! *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I paddled both a couple weeks ago. The coho is a little faster and the artic tern handles better. It did some nice carved turns and could be turned a little tighter than the coho. (both of which could turn tighter than the Osprey.) The sales person that day said that other differences was that when empty the coho was a faster boat. But when loaded the coho's "performance" droped off significantly and the artic tern became the faster boat. I didn't get a strong sense of that, but I'll agree. My paddling was limited to a protected harbor. Tom. Seattle John David Fuller wrote: > > I am a soon to be first time wood kayak builder who is absolutely torn > between whether to buy the Pygmy Arctic Tern or Coho kits. I live on the > east coast and paddle primarily in/around coastal waters of both the > Atlantic and the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay with plans for occasional > overnighters along the coast or intercoastal and a long term dream of > paddling the length of the Chesapeake Bay in a kayak which I built. I am > 6'1", 220 and a size 11 shoe. I guess my biggest dilemma in choosing > between the two designs rests in performance differences of the hard chine > hull of the Arctic Tern and the multi-chine hull of the Coho. Anybody have > experience with either of the kayaks, particularly the Arctic Tern? I read > the Sea Kayaker review of the Coho from last winter. Thanks! > > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ > *************************************************************************** -- ooooo -- Tom Unger oo\ oo Wet Weather Consulting o \ o (206)783-5839 o B I\V I o o \ o oo \oo ooooo *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I have paddled both boats and definitely prefer the Arctic Tern for its responsive lean to turn ability. It is also the most maneuverable of the two and I like that 12 seconds vs. 15 seconds to do a 180 degree leaned turn at speed.. Very little weatherhelm in either boat too. -----Original Message----- From: John David Fuller <jfuller_at_newlink.net> To: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net <paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net> Date: Thursday, June 03, 1999 4:03 AM Subject: [Paddlewise] Pygmy Coho vs. Arctic Tern advice requested (hard vs. multi-chine hull) >I am a soon to be first time wood kayak builder who is absolutely torn >between whether to buy the Pygmy Arctic Tern or Coho kits. I live on the >east coast and paddle primarily in/around coastal waters of both the >Atlantic and the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay with plans for occasional >overnighters along the coast or intercoastal and a long term dream of >paddling the length of the Chesapeake Bay in a kayak which I built. I am >6'1", 220 and a size 11 shoe. I guess my biggest dilemma in choosing >between the two designs rests in performance differences of the hard chine >hull of the Arctic Tern and the multi-chine hull of the Coho. Anybody have >experience with either of the kayaks, particularly the Arctic Tern? I read >the Sea Kayaker review of the Coho from last winter. Thanks! > >*************************************************************************** >PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List >Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net >Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net >Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ >*************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
This is an abbreviated summary of the message that my mailer gobbled up yesterday. If you want more info just ask... I've paddled the Coho a fair bit, and built a Tern. Both are excellent boats with minor differences, and you can't go wrong either way. The Tern surfs much better due to the hard chine, and I would expect that the chine will help the Tern track better in following seas. The Tern has very light initial stability, which I see as an advantage for the ease in turning, but some beginners might be very uncomfortable in it. The Coho also turns quite well when put on edge, but it turns a somewhat slower if not moderately edged. The Coho has better initial stability, more room for gear (slightly), and may be a little faster due to less wetted surface area. This last bit is unlikely tobe noticed except by racers. I would say that the Tern is one of the best boats available for experienced paddlers who enjoy rough water tripping, and the Coho is perfect for anyone who is not afraid of rough water, but not necessarily seeking it out either -- it is more of a cadillac ride. Personally, I like the chine for surfing performance above all else. Kevin ------------------------------- | Kevin Whilden | | kwhilden_at_seanet.com | | Kayak Academy Instructor | | http://www.halcyon.com/kayak | ------------------------------- On Thu, 3 Jun 1999, John David Fuller wrote: > I am a soon to be first time wood kayak builder who is absolutely torn > between whether to buy the Pygmy Arctic Tern or Coho kits. I live on the > east coast and paddle primarily in/around coastal waters of both the > Atlantic and the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay with plans for occasional > overnighters along the coast or intercoastal and a long term dream of > paddling the length of the Chesapeake Bay in a kayak which I built. I am > 6'1", 220 and a size 11 shoe. I guess my biggest dilemma in choosing > between the two designs rests in performance differences of the hard chine > hull of the Arctic Tern and the multi-chine hull of the Coho. Anybody have > experience with either of the kayaks, particularly the Arctic Tern? I read > the Sea Kayaker review of the Coho from last winter. Thanks! > > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ > *************************************************************************** > *************************************************************************** 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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