After a number of years putting up with my kayak which is too small to store all my gear on long and/or cold-weather trips, I have started looking at new kayaks. I have a second issue with my current boat: I love playing in decent waves, but I'll have a "whoopsie!" moment and then I'll tense up and everything just goes downhill from there. So I'm looking for more stability in a boat. At my age, it's doubtful that my skill level is going to increase to any extent, so please don't suggest I learn a new skill to make me feel better, and that isn't going to solve the storage issue in any case. I have read a number of glowing reviews of the Valley Aquanaut and plan to drive to the nearest dealer (a day's drive away) later in the spring when he gets his full complement of boats in. He has suggested a few other boats I might want to try: Current Designs Infinity Delta 17 Skeg Boreal Baffin Boreal Ellesmere Impex Force 4 Seaward Quantum Nigel Foster Legend P & H Capella 173 The Impex Force 4, as I recall is a fast, narrow boat more suited to day trips and speed demons (which I am not), so I probably won't test it. But I am interested in comments about the Aquanaut, vis-a-vis its overall stability, or any of the other boats listed. I am just under 6' (and shrinking with age), about 185 pounds. I consider myself a decent intermediate paddler. I do not roll. (Or rather, I do not roll back up.) Things seem rather slow on the list these days, so perhaps it wouldn't be too much of an imposition to throw myself on the mercy of other paddlers who may know these boats better than I. Thanks in advance, -- Darryl *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Darryl, NDK Explorer would be a great touring machine for a skeg-selected boat. The Valley Aquanaut likewise - a kayak with lots of pedigree as well. Probably the best boat Valley has ever made for touring and liked by some who don't normally like Valley boats. Definitely try it out. There's some other great boats out there not on your list but may be harder to acquire where you are (?). Check the Ecomarine website and maybe Western Canoeing and Kayak to see what folks paddle on the coast. I'd say the Legend was out and might be poor even advice. The Foster Shadow is an awesome tripper, harder to roll back up but then harder to go over. Boreal are making some great boats but try them out in a variety of conditions first, please. Often with Boreal, they come out with a good design finally, right about the time other manufactures are coming out with more evolved boat designs. You can never go wrong with a Capella but again, there are other boats out there you might find more suited to your style. The Cetus makes a nice tripper too. Impex models are all reliable standbys if you can get a good deal. The Necky Chatham might be worth a paddle to you. Delta has come a long way and offers some innovations. I know guys who love them but don't know anyone with the skeg version yet. It's so hard to know what attracts certain paddlers to certain styles of kayak but if British style is your gravitation, that narrows it down some. Seat comfort, leg length/cockpit entry and egress, hatches, price and weight, and handling can really guide a paddler these days. Handling either empty or loaded or both if possible are considerations to take seriously. My short listed boats include the Maelstrom Vaag, Norkapp LV and RM, Sterling Reflection, Northshore Atlantic, Tiderace Xplore, a self-designed stripper, Cunningham's SOF (last two will be started at some point), and a maybe a double-Baidarka stripper (in retirement years). Got 5G back from tax yesterday but holding off jumping on a new boat as our family has some ongoing challenges right now and I don't want to be selfish - though after 30 years, I deserve and need a new boat! Waaaaaa (that's me whining, etc.) :-) Doug After a number of years putting up with my kayak which is too small to store all my gear on long and/or cold-weather trips, I have started looking at new kayaks. I have a second issue with my current boat: I love playing in decent waves, but I'll have a "whoopsie!" moment and then I'll tense up and everything just goes downhill from there. So I'm looking for more stability in a boat. At my age, it's doubtful that my skill level is going to increase to any extent, so please don't suggest I learn a new skill to make me feel better, and that isn't going to solve the storage issue in any case. I have read a number of glowing reviews of the Valley Aquanaut and plan to drive to the nearest dealer (a day's drive away) later in the spring when he gets his full complement of boats in. He has suggested a few other boats I might want to try: Current Designs Infinity Delta 17 Skeg Boreal Baffin Boreal Ellesmere Impex Force 4 Seaward Quantum Nigel Foster Legend P & H Capella 173 The Impex Force 4, as I recall is a fast, narrow boat more suited to day trips and speed demons (which I am not), so I probably won't test it. But I am interested in comments about the Aquanaut, vis-a-vis its overall stability, or any of the other boats listed. I am just under 6' (and shrinking with age), about 185 pounds. I consider myself a decent intermediate paddler. I do not roll. (Or rather, I do not roll back up.) Things seem rather slow on the list these days, so perhaps it wouldn't be too much of an imposition to throw myself on the mercy of other paddlers who may know these boats better than I. Thanks in advance, Darryl *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Darryl Johnson wrotes. I have a second issue with my current boat: I love playing in decent waves, but I'll have a "whoopsie!" moment and then I'll tense up and everything just goes downhill from there. So I'm looking for more stability in a boat. ______________ We are using Valley PE Avocet, Aquanaut LV and Aquanaut HV in our club and we like them and are buying more of the same. The Avocet is the best but it is too small for me. We had the boats delivered with the seats separate so that we could install them in positions of our own liking. We didn't quite agree with the Valley location. Only a matter of a few centimetres but we want to have a good layback when rolling. To our surprise the Aquanaut HV (High Volume) didn't have as much room for legs as the Aquanaut LV. Test it for yourself. The deck control for the skeg wire has been changed recently. Be sure to get the new one if possible. Good luck. Regards Jens Viggo Moesmand *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Hi Darryl, I paddled an Aquanaut rented from the outfitter in Elkhorn Slough N of Monteray, CA. Nice boat, quick and nimble. But, and this depends on your bias toward stability, I ended up buying a Current Designs Caribou in Kevlar. I do camping in the Everglades, and there's not a lot of rocks to play in here. I was all about tracking, stability and speed. The volume is huge, similar to my older (and sold) Seaward Vision. I can pack anything I want in the Caribou, including a full-size folding chair to keep my butt up above scorpion level. You know the chairs everyone brings to outdoor concerts and soccer games? $12 I think it cost. So it's not a small camping thing. I did replace the back band with a better one, or maybe one more to my preference. The stock one would pinch me between the back band and seat. So I swapped back bands with the one I bought for the Vision. Love the boat now. YMMV Take care, Carey On Sat, Apr 2, 2011 at 5:11 PM, Darryl Johnson <Darryl_Johnson_at_rogers.com>wrote: > He has suggested a few other boats I might want to try: > Current Designs Infinity > Delta 17 Skeg > Boreal Baffin > Boreal Ellesmere > Impex Force 4 > Seaward Quantum > Nigel Foster Legend > P & H Capella 173 > > The Impex Force 4, as I recall is a fast, narrow boat more suited to day > trips and speed demons (which I am not), so I probably won't test it. *************************************************************************** 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 own a Nigel Foster Legend from Seaward which you list below, and I would not call it a "stable" boat. It is narrow and fast, but I think it is tippy and difficult to keep upright unless you are a fairly skilled paddler. I am an intermediate paddler, so expert paddlers may have a different view. However, it is very easy to roll if you want to learn to roll in the future. Mike Kory -----Original Message----- From: Darryl Johnson <Darryl_Johnson_at_rogers.com> To: "PaddleWise" <""PaddleWise""_at_paddlewise.net> Sent: Sat, Apr 2, 2011 2:19 pm Subject: [Paddlewise] Kayak recommendations sought After a number of years putting up with my kayak which is too small to store all my gear on long and/or cold-weather trips, I have started looking at new kayaks. I have a second issue with my current boat: I love playing in decent waves, but I'll have a "whoopsie!" moment and then I'll tense up and everything just goes downhill from there. So I'm looking for more stability in a boat. At my age, it's doubtful that my skill level is going to increase to any extent, so please don't suggest I learn a new skill to make me feel better, and that isn't going to solve the storage issue in any case. I have read a number of glowing reviews of the Valley Aquanaut and plan to drive to the nearest dealer (a day's drive away) later in the spring when he gets his full complement of boats in. He has suggested a few other boats I might want to try: Current Designs Infinity Delta 17 Skeg Boreal Baffin Boreal Ellesmere Impex Force 4 Seaward Quantum Nigel Foster Legend P & H Capella 173 The Impex Force 4, as I recall is a fast, narrow boat more suited to day trips and speed demons (which I am not), so I probably won't test it. But I am interested in comments about the Aquanaut, vis-a-vis its overall stability, or any of the other boats listed. I am just under 6' (and shrinking with age), about 185 pounds. I consider myself a decent intermediate paddler. I do not roll. (Or rather, I do not roll back up.) Things seem rather slow on the list these days, so perhaps it wouldn't be too much of an imposition to throw myself on the mercy of other paddlers who may know these boats better than I. Thanks in advance, -- Darryl *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
What is your current boat? Dave Carlson "Darryl Johnson" <Darryl_Johnson_at_rogers.com> wrote: >After a number of years putting up with my kayak which is too small to >store all my gear on long and/or cold-weather trips, I have started >looking at new kayaks. > >I have a second issue with my current boat: I love playing in decent >waves, but I'll have a "whoopsie!" moment and then I'll tense up and >everything just goes downhill from there. So I'm looking for more >stability in a boat. > >At my age, it's doubtful that my skill level is going to increase to >any extent, so please don't suggest I learn a new skill to make me >feel better, and that isn't going to solve the storage issue in any >case. > >I have read a number of glowing reviews of the Valley Aquanaut and >plan to drive to the nearest dealer (a day's drive away) later in the >spring when he gets his full complement of boats in. > >He has suggested a few other boats I might want to try: > Current Designs Infinity > Delta 17 Skeg > Boreal Baffin > Boreal Ellesmere > Impex Force 4 > Seaward Quantum > Nigel Foster Legend > P & H Capella 173 *************************************************************************** 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'll have a shot at this. Who knows, but if you are looking for stability, I am not sure the Ellesmere by Boreal will give you "more stability" due to its reverse chines, but it certainly is a playful boat. A friend has one, and every summer when I paddle with him, I play with it. It is extremely responsive though -- turns on a dime. I love it. But I don't think you would be comfortable in it. Don't count the Force 4 out. I own one, am about the same size and weight you are, and despite its 18 foot length, It is more responsive than the Impex Currituck which is 17 feet and wider and has much more rocker than its sibling Force. I find the Currituck very squirrelly. The Force is extremely stable and tracks beautifully, even in heavy winds. I hardly ever use the skeg on the Force. And it accelerates rather quickly. I find plenty of room in the Force for gear and have taken it on five day paddling journeys with room to spare. So yes, the Force is narrow and long and fast, but it is also very stable and responsive. Another one you might consider is TideRace Xcite or Xplore, which I have tested at NY Kayak Company, and loved, though if I recall, I was surprised that the smaller model that Randy had at the time fit me well. I think the TideRace, being designed by Fins, who tend to be bigger, may be the reason for this. (My apologies to any small Fins out there.) But then again you need to try them out for fit, and I need to retry them as I love these boats and am seriously considering adding a TideRace when I can. They also have a new model called Xcape which I haven't tested. Oh yes, I also got to play with the newer CD Infinity and found the secondary stability to be very good and the primary to be a bit tipsy, but I think the boat didn't fit me and I was in flat glaswater when I tried it out and couldn't really play in any waves, so I don't have any real feel for it. I am sure others more knowledgable than me can be of better assistance, but I hope this helps. My best, David On Apr 2, 2011, at 5:11 PM, Darryl Johnson wrote: > After a number of years putting up with my kayak which is too small to store all my gear on long and/or cold-weather trips, I have started looking at new kayaks. > > I have a second issue with my current boat: I love playing in decent waves, but I'll have a "whoopsie!" moment and then I'll tense up and everything just goes downhill from there. So I'm looking for more stability in a boat. > > At my age, it's doubtful that my skill level is going to increase to any extent, so please don't suggest I learn a new skill to make me feel better, and that isn't going to solve the storage issue in any case. > > I have read a number of glowing reviews of the Valley Aquanaut and plan to drive to the nearest dealer (a day's drive away) later in the spring when he gets his full complement of boats in. > > He has suggested a few other boats I might want to try: > Current Designs Infinity > Delta 17 Skeg > Boreal Baffin > Boreal Ellesmere > Impex Force 4 > Seaward Quantum > Nigel Foster Legend > P & H Capella 173 > > The Impex Force 4, as I recall is a fast, narrow boat more suited to day trips and speed demons (which I am not), so I probably won't test it. > > But I am interested in comments about the Aquanaut, vis-a-vis its overall stability, or any of the other boats listed. > > I am just under 6' (and shrinking with age), about 185 pounds. I consider myself a decent intermediate paddler. I do not roll. (Or rather, I do not roll back up.) > > Things seem rather slow on the list these days, so perhaps it wouldn't be too much of an imposition to throw myself on the mercy of other paddlers who may know these boats better than I. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
One of my boats is a Seda Ikkuma. It is very stable with its hard chines and 22 inch beam. Very reassuring in moderately rough water. The slim skeg is very effective, but the boat is also easy to hold on course in wind without it. Seda will work with you to get the construction you want. Mine weighs slightly less than 41 lbs but you probably want their expedition layup. On Apr 2, 2011, at 2:11 PM, Darryl Johnson wrote: > After a number of years putting up with my kayak which is too small to store all my gear on long and/or cold-weather trips, I have started looking at new kayaks. > > I have a second issue with my current boat: I love playing in decent waves, but I'll have a "whoopsie!" moment and then I'll tense up and everything just goes downhill from there. So I'm looking for more stability in a boat. > > At my age, it's doubtful that my skill level is going to increase to any extent, so please don't suggest I learn a new skill to make me feel better, and that isn't going to solve the storage issue in any case. > > I have read a number of glowing reviews of the Valley Aquanaut and plan to drive to the nearest dealer (a day's drive away) later in the spring when he gets his full complement of boats in. > > He has suggested a few other boats I might want to try: > Current Designs Infinity > Delta 17 Skeg > Boreal Baffin > Boreal Ellesmere > Impex Force 4 > Seaward Quantum > Nigel Foster Legend > P & H Capella 173 > > The Impex Force 4, as I recall is a fast, narrow boat more suited to day trips and speed demons (which I am not), so I probably won't test it. > > But I am interested in comments about the Aquanaut, vis-a-vis its overall stability, or any of the other boats listed. > > I am just under 6' (and shrinking with age), about 185 pounds. I consider myself a decent intermediate paddler. I do not roll. (Or rather, I do not roll back up.) > > Things seem rather slow on the list these days, so perhaps it wouldn't be too much of an imposition to throw myself on the mercy of other paddlers who may know these boats better than I. *************************************************************************** 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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