Kayaks and Trawlers

[ksanders]

Originally Posted by AKFish

I picked up the orange "Thing 1" and "Thing 2" at West Marine in Anacortes. I'm not sure of the brand. The blue one is from Costco and is a Canadian boat. I have a yellow one like it too. They are labeled as a 10.3 extreme something or other. I like them the best.

Since were only a couple of slips away, you should take a look. I'll get some details next week.

I will do that, The admrial was thrilled seeing you and the kids paddling around that she wants a pair of kayaks now.

Last year we bougt a pair of stand up paddleboards, and the admrial loves to use hers at home, but she's a little concerned about trying it out in the ocean. The Kayak will fill her need for exercise and allow us to get to shallow areas that the skiff cant reach

[AKFish]

Ken, FYI, Costco just got in the Equinox 10.3 kayaks as described. They were around $350 and yellow.

[ksanders]

Originally Posted by AKFish

Ken, FYI, Costco just got in the Equinox 10.3 kayaks as described. They were around $350 and yellow.

Thanks! Lisa was wanting me to get ahold of you and see if that's what you have.

I'll be picking up a couple this next week.

[AKFish]

BTW, I just saw a flier in the mail for Cabela's opening. Inside, the advertised a 10ft orange kayak with a dry hatch, sit in type, for only $249. They open tomorrow. Go get em, Ken, save (.20 x boatbuck)=$200 over Costco prices.

[ksanders]

I have a question about kayaks

We went to several stores today and looked at kayaks.

We saw...

sit on the top models
Sit in the unit models with where your legs are enclosed
and sit in the unit models where your legs are not enclosed, it the top is open.

The helpful salesmen had of course never even been in a kayak so while they where nice they were not really all that helpful.

Our application is to have a kayak that we can use to explore a perfectly calm anchorage. The challenge is that our water is cold so we do not want to get wet.

We really liked the sit in but open type because we felt like the high sides would be better at keeping us dry.

So when I asked the salesman how we drain rainwater, and spalsh water out of the kayak he looked at me like I was a zombie. he said to just tip the kayak over and it would run out. When i explained to him that the design with its interior lip would not allow water to drain out he clearly did not understand.

So, not finding a drain plug, how do you get the water out, or was the unit that I looked very closely just not a good design. Do these things have drain plugs?

[Northern Spy]

Mine do in the stern. I have two perception prodigy 10 kayaks. I like them.

[Nomad Willy]

We have matching yellow 15' rotomolded Necky "Kyoouks".

Dated design but very user friendly except for the weight.

[hollywood8118]

one of those small hand bilge pumps and a bailing sponge,

HOLLYWOOD

[AusCan]

Hoolywood has the right idea for bailing.

Kayaks come in a variety of styles, for use in a variety of water. The sit on top models can be a little unstable and wet. Good for playing in the surf.

Sit in models lower your centre of gravity, so send to be more stable, although a soft chine model takes some practice. The are much "twitchier, and can roll over, although (with practice) can be rolled 360 degrees upright again.

Foe a beginner, I'd suggest a hard chined enclosed model with a spray skirt. This effectively seals off the interior and you stay 100% dry. The skirt is like a waterproof waist coat with an elasticized band which fits over the kayak cockpit. BUT - learn how to exit an overturned kayak. If you roll over 180 degrees, you have to release the spray skirt and eject yourself. Best to get comfortable doing in a planned way, before needing to do it in an unplanned situation. A hard chined kayak is usually more difficult to roll 360 degrees (eskimo roll).

Without a spray skirt you get wet regardless of conditions, as water gets splashed, or runs down your paddle as you alternate your strokes.

[AKFish]

KSanders...did you get your kayak yet? Last week was nice...

BTW, there is a plastic screw plug fitting that you can retro into the bow and stern with a couple of rivets and washers if your boat doesn't have drainage, like my two orange boats are missing. There's always a little water in those two but it's not an issue. Dog seems to tolerate it, and I sit up on the seat. Problem solved.