I mentioned this once before but only in passing. Chris Cunningham of Sea Kayaker Magazine talks about shorter sea kayaks in a recent newsletter posting (http://www.seakayakermag.com/2009/09e-newsletters/july/sizingup.htm). It's a trend that was arguably started by the Mariner Coaster which, at only 13'6" long, has still gained a reputation as a boat that can be used for camping as well as performing well as a playboat. Coasters figure prominently as a favored ride of some Tsunami Rangers; a fact that does nothing to diminish their status. White water kayaks have undergone a huge change in size over the past decade; moving from 12-foot long river-runners down to playboats under 7-feet long. It's quite likely that sea kayaks will do something similar as more people begin to play in the surf and rock gardens or just want something more nimble than their 17-foot cruising boat. And as manufacturers look around for a way to sell boats to paddlers who already have a kayak. Until recently kayaks less than about 15' in length were marketed to "petite paddlers" and had cramped cockpits. I'm not arguing against that, mind you, but I believe that there's no reason why a kayak with a volume of 90-gallons can't hold a fully grown man (that is the volume of the Dagger RPM Max - rated to a paddler of 230lbs, by the way). Back in the days when I was looking for a Mariner Express I found several being sold by owners who also had Mariner Coasters and who said that they only really needed one kayak and the Coaster was the one they used the most. I know that my Coaster was the most popular kayak for 7-year-old Hailey who, if asked which of my kayaks was *her* kayak, would point to the Coaster without hesitation. My wife liked it too. They liked the rock solid stability, the tracking, but also the way the little boat could be pivoted around quickly. Hailey, in fact, learned to edge in the Coaster and I watched her lean it at an alarming (to me) angle. I was sure she'd capsize it but she just was adjusting her heading on a windy day. But the only way you're going to get a Coaster now is to either buy someone's ride or go build one in SOF (like Brian Schulz did). Cunningham points out that smaller performance sea kayaks might be forming a trend now. I would have expected former w/w paddlers to gravitate towards these smaller boats but that's not always the case. Several w/w paddlers take Brit Boats with them for their salt water play. So I'm curious too. We have a lot of ol' guys here on Paddlewise but I'm especially interested in the views of younger paddlers who may straddle both sides of the sport (w/w and s/k). Are you looking at adding a shorter s/k to your collection? Do you take a plastic w/w boat for rock garden play when you'd really like some manufacturer to come up with something a bit more appropriate? Is anyone looking at moving from a Brit boat to something like a Coaster or something like Eddyline's new Journey? Did anyone notice the recent ad by Necky which featured a track out of La Push and around James Island? Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA www.nwkayaking.net *************************************************************************** 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 Jul 22, 2009, at 12:32 PM, Craig Jungers wrote: > I mentioned this once before but only in passing. Chris Cunningham > of Sea > Kayaker Magazine talks about shorter sea kayaks in a recent newsletter > posting (http://www.seakayakermag.com/2009/09e-newsletters/july/ > sizingup.htm). > It's a trend that was arguably started by the Mariner Coaster > which, at only > 13'6" long, has still gained a reputation as a boat that can be > used for > camping as well as performing well as a playboat > But the only way you're going to get a Coaster now is to either buy Tybee Island, GA BCU week 2004 I had a chat with some of the UK instructors. I was surprised when they were surprised by the length of the boats American's paddle. IIRC they told me it was common in the UK for paddlers to use a short boat with a removable skeg. I like shorter boats. They are lively and fun. I like longer boats for camping because they are much more effortless. I dislike my Mother-in-law. She lacks all of the mentioned attributes. *************************************************************************** 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 am presently looking for something all around smaller than my Solstice GT. Wolfgang Brinck has a 14' that I really liked, but there is precious few options for me at 6'2, 180# size 13' feet 34 inseam. I have no interest at all in carrying any gear not required for safety and my small lunch, a boat I can enjoy for a 2-4 hour paddle. Mike San Rafael *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
For several years, our family has been using a kayak of my design, Ursa 350, for week long trips on the west coast of Vancouver Island and Washington. We paddle with friends who have conventional sized boats. We do not have trouble keeping with the group but the group is not a bunch of speed paddlers. Many of us are old (late 50's) and not in a hurry. Many of the group are in their early twenties (two generation group) The Ursa 350 is 350 centimeters long -- 11 feet 6 inches. Short boats are fun and easier in the surf and more maneuverable near the shore line. Top speed is lower obviously, but many people that I see out in these areas, including ourselves, are not generally paddling very fast. My kids first used the boats when they were 11 years old on these trips. I designed these short boats as an experiment and to make it easier for the small kids. They are now late teens but have stuck with the same boat. I am a big fan of short boats. I am getting heavy with age and am experimenting with a 14' boat (Ursa 430) to carry me and my gear. My gear is also getting heavier as I seek more camping comfort. Trying to postpone the need for a mutha ship. 14' is still considered short but after paddling the Ursa 350 for many years, it seems long to me. ______________ By the way, one great thing about NOT having a mutha ship is the ability to get off the water and into the woods if the weather really goes to hell. I like not worrying about dragging an anchor and the like. On Jul 22, 2009, at 09:32 AM, Craig Jungers wrote: > I mentioned this once before but only in passing. Chris Cunningham > of Sea > Kayaker Magazine talks about shorter sea kayaks in a recent newsletter > posting (http://www.seakayakermag.com/2009/09e-newsletters/july/sizingup.htm > ). > It's a trend that was arguably started by the Mariner Coaster which, > at only > 13'6" long, has still gained a reputation as a boat that can be used > for *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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