Re: [Paddlewise] Which types of boats?

In a message dated 10/4/2008 6:50:25 PM Pacific Daylight Time, al.m_at_3web.net 
writes:

Craig, would you suggest any intermediate runner up for runner up ;-) ?
Something as light as kevlar Solander, less "surf boat" (longer) than
Coaster, with bulkheads and rudder, and not costing a fortune?
 
Craig keeps quoting me, so I'm going to put in my two cents worth here. These 
meet the criteria except rudders.
   The Impel line has the Currituck and the Montauk as nice, intermediate 
size and finely performing boats. I would look at the Force Cat 3 or Force Cat 4 
for a faster touring boat.   Of course, that's all for my body size. Different 
size bodies need different size boats.
     Intermediate would also include the Tempest 16.5 and Tempest 17.
 
Interestingly enough, all of these are described on the 
_www.kayakacademy.com_ (http://www.kayakacademy.com)  site, click on the Sea Kayaks link under 
Kayak Store. Take a good look at the picture of the Illusion under the Sterling 
Kayaks description, so little of the boat is in the water due to the rocker.
      You can probably reasonably expect to find any of these used other than 
the Illusion or Ice Kap, Those may be challenging.
 
     There are many good kayaks around now. Just one clue. If you do go to 
look at a kayak (as I did) and step in to sit down, and the owner says "don't 
stand on the boat!" while it is making alarming squeaky noises, and he then 
tries to pass off the separating seam by the cockpit as "easy to fix!", run, do 
not walk, away.
      Try rental boats before you buy. Ask the shops where there are rentals 
of what you are interested in, if they don't have it. If you belong to a local 
club (your locality, not mine), see if you can try some of the other members 
boats. This, of course, is after asking their opinion of their kayak and the 
other kayaks, and hanging on their every word, and showing great respect. Or 
you could just offer them money.
       Either way, have fun looking!
                          Pam in Washington State




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