Re: [Paddlewise] Kayak recommendations: For exercise, day trips, stable and fast ( ish)

On Tue, 24 Aug 1999, Howes, Damon - MAJ wrote:

> On behalf of my brother, he's keen on a kayak for:
> 
> My main use is simply some
> exercise on the water and while I would prefer the surf ski (fast, easy
> paddling) - the fact that it is so fine to balance and the possiblity of
> sharks in water and poor water quality means I want something more stable,

If you want a surf ski why not get one?  They aren't all tippy.  There are
models that are the same width as the kayaks you mention.  For example the 
Futura II is plenty stable.  

If you want more width the Heritage "open cockpit touring kayaks", range 
from about 14 feet long to 18 feet long.

http://www.surfskis.com is Futura  
http://www.aloha.com/~twogood is Twogood surf skis.  
http://www.heritagekayaks.com   is Heritage.

Venture sport is another surf ski manufacturer.  If anyone has information 
or stories about Venture Sport in Florida I'm extremely interested in 
hearing them.  

> I can think of the Seda Glider, Mirage (Aussie kayaks) and a Rosco.  Perhaps
> some of the Current Designs models.

Now it's real vague.  It's anyones guess as to what someone would like
for a fast day tripper.  That's almost like reciting kayak vendors,
grab a copy of a buyers guide and look through the available long 
skinny models.  Virtually everyone is going to have a different answer.

Mariner, Current Designs, Necky, Quality Composites, Valley
Canoe Products, Betsy Bay, Eddyline, Seda, West Side Boat Shop all have boats
I would look at.  Chesepeake Light Craft and Pygmy have nice kits.  It's
likely you could find a strip builder who prefers building boats to 
paddling them so you might find a Guillemot or Laughing Loon if you
checked the guillemot bbs.  Locally, I have a skin frame builder who sells
greenland style or a quasi-baidarka design, for less money than a 'glass 
boat.

I also haven't boat shopped for a couple of years so it's likely I'm missing 
some good boats.

kirk


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