Kayak Shopping

After a recent kayaking trip I began shopping around to find the perfect kayak for local paddling. This isn't a new fascination for me. I've liked kayaks ever since my Scout Troop build little kayaks when I was a kid.

The kayaking event I remember most is when we took the kayaks to the city pool to learn how to use them. We even tried turning them over and then recovering to an upright position. That was not as easy as the guys on TV made it look. I think my lack of hunger for the remainder of the day could be related to the amount of pool water I drank that day.

In early August, my family went on a little kayaking trip in Dungeness Bay, in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The day was beautiful. The water was smooth. We had a little coaching, made some adjustments in the kayaks and got going. At first they felt a little tippy. We were in tandem kayaks that were roto-molded plastic. They felt heavy out of the water but in the water they glided nicely.

The most important thing I learned about the journey was that the foot pegs, along with working the rudder, were important to position correctly so that my legs could snug into the sides and top of the boat. I knew this was important before I got in but I didn't know how to get it done. I made the mistake of thinking that my legs should be able to fully stretch out.

The problem with stretching out is that my huge gut isn't used to keeping me in a sitting position. So, while paddling with all my might, I was sinking down in the seat and my paddle stroke was ghastly. I soon learned that pulling my food pegs closer would help me use my upper body in my stroke. The improvement in my paddle stroke due to being able to push my butt back in the seat and get my knees into the sides of the kayak was a huge relief.

Uh, my left leg is going numb. I had no idea that sitting on a relatively comfortable kayak seat would have the ability to make my leg go numb all the way from my butt to my toes. That can't be good. I still don't know exactly how to solve this problem but I know that the seat and my position in it are important.

So, the trip went well. I got the best upper body workout of my life. The beauty and wildlife was awesome. I was distracted by the views so much that I didn't really think about my leg problem or my fatigue. The outcome of this trip is still to be determined but my kayak research has yielded a few choice bits.

First, plastic is heavy and difficult to repair. Second, fiberglass is lighter and, allegedly, easier to repair. However, composites come at a price. Perhaps the most expensive of these are carbon fiber and Kevlar. Yes, some kayaks are made with Kevlar. The price range from plastic to Kevlar in the touring kayaks is about $900 to about $5,000. That's enough to make one think carefully before purchasing. I'm clearly more of a $900 kind of guy.

Having made my financial position clear, I can't deny that there are a couple of kayaks that make my glasses steam up. Feathercraft Kayaks make an amazing kayak that folds into a large suit case or backpack. This brand looks like an aluminum frame with a waterproof fabric shell. It's amazing. But, it has an amazing price at $3,400. This is the $2,400 price of coolness, lightness and portability.

A few of contenders for my purposes are the Dagger Alchemy 14, Perception Carolina, Perception Tribute (for smaller folks like my wife). These are all traditional touring kayaks made out of plastic or fiberglass. The new trend in kayaks appears to be the Sit On Top kayak. Of these, the Malibu Kayak X-Factor and Stealth 14 are pretty appealing (also plastic). These are all available in about 14 foot lengths.

Most of these boats range between 48 and 60 lbs. I've chosen a shorter length that should provide a good balance of maneuverability and speed. Typically, longer/narrower boats are faster but less stable. The SOT kayaks are the widest of the bunch at 33 inches. More stability will be nice for their stated purpose as a fishing and diving platform. Big guys with long legs should like being out of the confines of a traditional kayak. And, just so you don't worry about the lack of kayak to body connection, the SOT kayaks often come with knee straps.

The last bit of this long post is about kayaks you can build. Pygmy Boats (http://www.pygmyboats.com/) make a bunch of boat kits that get great reviews. These boats are plywood that is stitched together, glassed, and epoxied. They look beautiful when finished right. They are probably the lightest of the affordable boats. The combination of fiberglass and wood means less fiberglass and epoxy than a pure fiberglass boat. The relative strength is comparable with Kevlar. The price is right around $1,000 for their Arctic Tern 14. This boat weighs 32 lbs. But, it will cost me in terms of hours of labor, space in the garage and then the inevitable ballerina-shoes period where I won't want anything to scratch or touch it.

So, there you go. Of course, there is much more to talk about regarding wetsuits, Personal Floatation Devices, paddles, and stuff. These are the odd bits that drive me crazy. I hate collecting tons of stuff. But, I love researching it all. Fortunately, most of these boats can be rented.

GF