I'm a sea kayaker but I'm looking for a second boat to use as a "workout" boat. I want a lightweight boat that I can car top easily. I can't carry my Romany alone so having a light boat for quick paddles after work would be ideal. I was thinking of the Perception Sonoma 13.5. Any input anyone? I^Rm a smaller paddler ^V 5^R5^R 125 lbs. Thank you! Take Yahoo! Mail with you! Check email on your mobile phone. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Tue, 17 May 2005 07:10:31 -0700 (PDT), "Jeri Rivers" <jeririvers_at_yahoo.com> said: > I'm a sea kayaker but I'm looking for a second boat to use as a "workout" > boat. I want a lightweight boat that I can car top easily. I can't > carry my Romany alone so having a light boat for quick paddles after work > would be ideal. I was thinking of the Perception Sonoma 13.5. Any input > anyone? I^Rm a smaller paddler ^V 5^R5^R 125 lbs. Thank you! For a workout boat, lightweight? I would go with a huki S1-R http://www.huki.com/ 22.5 pounds in vacuum bagged kevlar, 30.5 pounds in fiberglass. The Fenn Mako XT is another nice workout boat, but it's a bit heavier. One of the guys I paddle with is your height, uses a Mako XT and is very happy with it. http://www.oceanpaddlesports.com sells the Fenns The Fenn is South African, oceanpaddlesports is in california. The Huki is built in California. Also be sure to look at the used market, although it's unlikely you'll find a S1-R or XT at the moment - they are too new. Kirk -- Kirk Olsen *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
At 10:10 AM 5/17/2005, Jeri Rivers wrote: >I'm a sea kayaker but I'm looking for a second boat to use as a "workout" >boat. I want a lightweight boat that I can car top easily. I can't carry >my Romany alone so having a light boat for quick paddles after work would >be ideal. I was thinking of the Perception Sonoma 13.5. Any input >anyone? I^Rm a smaller paddler ^V 5^R5^R 125 lbs. Thank you! I tried a Sonoma a couple of years ago and think it would way too big for you. Perception categorizes it as a "day touring" boat, a descriptive name that they seem to have made up. At 13.5' long it's likely going to be quite a workout if you want to paddle it a great distance. I'm sure that I won't be the first to suggest it but you may want to consider a Pygmy or CLC stitch-n-glue boat. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I once decided to take up roller-blading at an advanced age. Roller blades are designed, like every athletic device, to catch the buyer with a multi-layered (and priced) set of qualities. One quality mentioned by my salesman was bearings. Which type of bearings did I want? My answer was that since I only wanted the roller blades to help keep me in shape for cross-country skiing and that going fast was not my intention, the best bearings would be the ones that didn't roll all that well. In a similar vein one could look at a "workout boat" as one that would give you the maximum physical exertion for minimum exposure. Under this definition the best workout boat would probably be a marina dock but it might get boring and raise some concern amongst your family members about your mental condition. Although, if you are a paddler, the threshold for that sort of concern is probably pretty high already. But out of respect for the other denizens of the marina you might want to try a white water kayak. A white water kayak has many qualities but going fast in a straight line isn't one of them. This, in my opinion, makes them excellent workout boats; you have to work a lot harder to get somewhere than in practically any other boat. A person can spend hours paddling around even the smaller lakes getting a good workout and providing entertainment for the lakeside residents. Another advantage to white water kayaks is that the evolution of these critters has caused a distinct over-supply in older models. I have purchased several somewhat-scratched w/w kayaks for under $300 and I bought one kayak complete with Werner paddle, spray-skirt, a PFD and inflatable bags for $200! (The ad for that boat read, "For sale, one whitewater kayak complete with gear. Only used once". I'm guessing it wasn't even paddled that much.) Plastic w/w kayaks are also almost indestructable. It is a fact that my son's Perception Pirouette (which would be a perfect boat for your small size) once blew off our car at 50mph, landed nimbly on the pavement, cruised downstream for a few seconds and then eddied-out road-right onto the shoulder. Other than a gash or two, we could find no damage to the boat and he paddles it still. One downside to paddling a w/w kayak is comfort. Even an older boat can be a tight fit for a larger person. On a w/w run the adrenaline rush from the constant terror can make you forget just how uncomfortable the boat is but flat water doesn't provide the same level of distraction. Foot room is crucial. A smaller-frame person might need foam billets placed in strategic places to make the boat fit them better. Try before you buy. Smaller kayakers are easier to fit than larger paddlers and another advantage is that their kayaks can be lighter. However, being much bigger or much smaller than "average" can make the hunt for the perfect w/w boat harder. Still, the more difficult it is to paddle the bettter, right? :) I spent an hour in my RPM-Max last Sunday rounding up milfoil at the front of the lake house and then sprinting down the lake and back. After spending time in a sea-kayak you can easily forget just how much fun and nimble these little boats are (and at 9'2" long and almost 26" wide the RPM-Max is considered to be a big kayak for the w/w crowd). Every paddle stroke evoked an immediate reaction in both directiom and speed. You have to be alert to paddle one of these as fast as you can. The short length is an advantage when it comes to speed feedback. In my Nimbus the bow wave is usually invisible. In a w/w kayak the bow wave is generally right in your face. You can reach out and touch it. It's size serves as your speedometer. Oh, and no resting. White water kayaks don't coast all that well. If you don't keep paddling they have a tendency to turn and once they start turning they are very, very hard to stop turning. But you'll become adept at keeping it straight because another thing that happens when a w/w kayak is going fast and then turns quickly is that the water rolls up onto the deck and tips you over. All good fun! Especially for the people watching. Even better for your workout because now you get to roll back upright and expend whatever energy your skills at rolling require. :) You mentioned weight. An advantage to using w/w kayaks is their light weight. The RPM-Max weighs about 40 lbs and carrying it on a shoulder is easy. And their small size is an advantage in launching from sand beaches or docks. In fact, I generally get into the kayak on the dock and nose-off into the water as long as the drop isn't more than a couple feet. It's always fun to hear the remarks from onlookers who thought you were just trying it on before putting it into the water. On a sandy beach you can easily scoot yourself into water deep enough to paddle away because there is a lot less of the boat behind you to drag along. Almost any kayak-classified has at least some of the older river-running kayaks at variations in prices. An RPM or RPM-Max (one is slightly smaller than the other and rated to only 180lbs) runs about $600 used. Older boats range all the way down to $50 or even, occasionally, free. My son's Perception Pirouette was paddled comfortably by a mere slip of a girl on the Palouse River one Memorial Day weekend and they can be had for $200 to $300. I would avoid anything labeled "play boat" because they tend to be very small and, because they are currently "in", more expensive. They do offer the maximum workout for the effort of keeping them straight and fast, however. I've written a lot about being hard to paddle, but don't think you can't actually cruise around in one. Until I bought my Nimbus I used my RPM to just mooch around the lake. It's easy to paddle at least as fast as a person can walk and you can sidle into tight places that you only can look at in a larger boat. And finally, river-running kayaks are really well suited to... well, running rivers. If you want to get a little more comfortable with rough water and fast currents there is no better training ground than a river. Eddies, surfing waves, holes and current shears are everywhere. And for anyone who hasn't mastered their roll, a w/w kayak is easier to learn to roll than almost any sea kayak. So there you have it. Cheap, durable, light, fun and hard to paddle. Perfection in a workout boat. :) Craig Jungers Royal City, WA On 5/17/05, Jeri Rivers <jeririvers_at_yahoo.com> wrote: > I'm a sea kayaker but I'm looking for a second boat to use as a "workout" > boat. I want a lightweight boat that I can car top easily. I can't carry > my Romany alone so having a light boat for quick paddles after work would be > ideal. I was thinking of the Perception Sonoma 13.5. Any input anyone? > I^Rm a smaller paddler ^V 5^R5^R 125 lbs. Thank you! *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Tue, 17 May 2005 09:34:13 -0700, "Craig Jungers" <crjungers_at_gmail.com> said: > A white water kayak has many qualities but going fast in a straight > line isn't one of them. This, in my opinion, makes them excellent > workout boats; you have to work a lot harder to get somewhere than in > practically any other boat. A person can spend hours paddling around > even the smaller lakes getting a good workout and providing > entertainment for the lakeside residents. Jeez, 4 to 1 for whitewater boats over a fast boat. I can't beat the quoted $200 price for a used WW boat, I spent $500 for my 24 pound 19'6" surf ski. To me the whitewater boat is the bicycle equivalent of a commuter bicycle with a cushy suspension and the surf ski is a road bike. Sure it's not as comfortable, and takes getting used to in anything but simple conditions. But it is fun to get an aerobic workout without putting much stress on the body. So I'm going home now to enjoy a nice brisk 6 mile paddle, it should take about an hour. Kirk -- Kirk Olsen *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Jeri Rivers said: I'm a sea kayaker but I'm looking for a second boat to use as a "workout" boat. I second, or third, the suggestion that you consider a whitewater boat. The boat I use for my daily after-work paddles is my old slalom kayak. It weighs twenty pounds, so throwing it on the car is nothing. Ditto with carrying it to the water. Four meters long, it is faster than most other whitewater boats and a delight to paddle. Used slalom boats are around, especially with the design rule changes of this year. Find a slalom racer and ask about the nearest race. Most big races have people selling boats. If not, look for an older model river boat. they are longer, faster and tend to be roomier than the shorter boats. eBay has Corsicas, Pirouettes, Dancers and RPMs occasionally. All good cruisers. Jim Tibensky *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
This is not really a kayaking question, but it is something that the well-traveled members of this list might know about. My wife and I will be traveling to Salt Lake City this summer for a convention. We booked our flights with 5 free days ahead of time to get away and relax. We are looking for rustic accommodations for those five days. What we would like best would be a rustic cabin with a restroom/shower facility available at least nearby. We normally would just use the tent, but she will be 6 1/2 mos pregnant by then, and would like something less risky. We may try to do some easy paddles if rentals and water are nearby, but we are really just looking to get away from the hustle and bustle for a few days. Private replies are OK. Thanks for the help. JP Miller Toledo, OH *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:41 PDT