Day 45 - Valley 'Avocet RM'

If I had to decide on one single boat to paddle the Avocet would be very high on the list of boats I'd consider. Somehow everything feels right when I'm in this boat. Very often it's the kayak I choose to take out on lessons when I want everything I demonstrate to look right. It has an excellent glide, comfortable primary stability, great secondary stability, and it carves turns very gracefully on edge. Our plastic version is the boat the staff all but fights over when we go rock gardening in Baja, the way it handles in the tight quarters around rocks is fantastic. The Avocet isn't quite the right choice for larger paddlers but folks with an average build from about 6'-2" on down to 5'-8" should fit it well, smaller people can try the low volume version.

This morning I was feeling like trying something different so I paddled north out of the jetty and up the coast (playing around in the surf zone) as far as the Belmont Park roller coaster. At the roller coaster I landed and portaged a half block inland and put in behind Miso's Sushi (the best sushi in San Diego by the way). I then paddled a mile and a half back to Aqua Adventures. I used to do ocean to intercoastal portage routes like this all the time when I lived in South Florida but I'd never done one in Mission Bay. It worked out well and I think a small set of fold down wheels to make portaging a bit easier would open up several routes up the coast and back across into Mission Bay. It's a little more work but it adds variety and doesn't require backtracking or car shuttles.

Avocet Review

Manufacturer = Valley Sea Kayaks
Brand = Valley
Model = Avocet
Material = Plastic
Length = 16'-0"
Width = 22"
Weight = 54 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay - Roller coaster loop
Time = 6:15 AM
Distance = 5.10 miles
Duration = 1:02
Avg. Speed = 4.9 mph.
Conditions = Overcast with 1' wind swell

Day 44 - Feelfree 'Nomad'

Although the Nomad is a foot and a half shorter than it's 'fished out' brother the Moken for me it proved to be a bit faster. It's a relatively short, very maneuverable, stable SOT that you can cruise around on but also can handle surf. So being I'd put this boat in the ranks of the Ocean Kayak 'Mysto' and possibly the Wilderness 'Tarpon 100'. While I didn't exactly have to fight to keep on track, I did find the tracking of the Nomad to be a bit squirrely. The interesting thing is that there is a skeg attachment that can be added to this boat which I didn't get a chance to try but should improve the tracking for those times a person just wants to cruise. When the opportunity or desire to surf presents itself all you'd have to do is remove the skeg and go to town. The thigh strap and seat attachment points are an interesting molded in stainless bar which looks much more solid than the plastic pad eye on most sit on tops. With all of the above and two hatches to access storage inside the boat, along with a tank well, you have a fairly versatile little sit on top. Not a bad pick for someone who wants a boat that can surf a few waves and cruise around the bay but won't require a large space to store it.

Nomad Review

Manufacturer = Feelfree Kayaks
Brand = Feelfree
Model = Nomad
Type = Sit On Top
Material = Plastic
Length = 9'-10"
Width = 30"
Weight = 44 lbs.
Capacity = 300 lbs.

Location = Quivira Basin to Dania Landing Marina then Barefoot bar and back
Time = 6:00 AM
Distance = 3.89 miles
Duration = 1:01 hours
Avg. Speed = 3.8
Conditions = Rain (can you believ it?)

Day 43 - Valley 'Anas Acuta'

I had every intention to blog about the Valley Avocet which I paddled for the better part of three hours this morning during a private lesson with a paddler named Mike from the Portland area. Things changed this afternoon, however, when some after work shenanigans went awry revealing what I like to paddle when I'm not paddling a boat from the big list and providing some interesting material for this post. Besides that I sort of have to post about the Anas Acuta now because I may not be able to paddle it again before the end of this 100 boats challenge, because...um...I'm not sure I'll have the hole patched in time.

It's Otto's fault. ;-)

Always blame it on the 15 year old kid. After all it was Otto's idea to paddle tonight and it was him that BEGGED me to go along. Not to mention it was the bow of his boat that skewered mine like a shiskabob in the waves at Dog Beach. How could I possibly be to blame.

Actually it was all on me for not following the very same surf zone rules that I taught Otto last fall. It was my words that probably sounded something like "Never get stacked up in the surf zone, you never know when a wave is going to catch an outside boat and bring it in on somebody inside." Sometimes even the teacher has to be taught the lesson again to be reminded of why.

We were catching some really nice rides in 1-2 sometimes 3 foot surf. I was outside and watched Otto grab a nice long ride in to the beach then turn around and start paddling back out. I hadn't been paying attention and in the mean time had drifted a little too far inside and ended up getting broached by one of the occasional larger waves that were rolling in. My first reaction was a bit slow and I got stuck in the wave and was headed directly toward Otto. In most broach situations on small waves I can pull myself around pretty well on the wave and maneuver to miss any obstacles down wave from me, but this time I was using a Greenland paddle which I'm still not too experienced with. Without the familiar traction of the large euro blade I normally take in the surf zone, I found my self digging in trying to move but with limited results. A slow motion moment passed and we finally collided with the instantaneous (and too familiar) crruunch sound of breaking fiberglass. Otto got knocked over and pulled off an awesome roll that dislodged his bow from my hull. After I saw that Otto was ok I paddled to shore hoping for the best.

My heart did stop a little when I saw the fist size hole in my hull but I couldn't get mad at anyone or anything but myself for screwing up. Amazingly, even with the giant hole in the bottom of my hull, I was able to paddle the remaining mile up the San Diego river back to our shop without taking on much more than a gallon of water in my front hatch. After a more thorough inspection I realized that the impact happened in the most accessible part of the front of the boat directly below the front hatch opening. This easy access will make doing the repair infinitely easier than just about anywhere else in the front of the boat. Now I just have to find the time to do the work.

The Anas Acuta is one of my favorite boats to paddle right now. Like I said in the beginning it's one of the kayaks that I take out when I've already paddled one off the '100' list for the day. This boat fits me like a glove and surfs better for me than almost any other sea kayak I've taken in the waves. It's quick, comfortable, and responsive. I just plain love to paddle it. If you can squeeze your butt into it's famously narrow seat (which I hear is wider in newer versions) I recommend giving this boat a try. It's certainly not set up to haul a lot of gear for extended trips but as a day tripper it's great fun.

Anas Acuta Review

Manufacturer = Valley Sea Kayaks
Brand = Valley
Model = Anas Acuta
Material = Fiberglass
Length = 17'-2"
Width = 20"
Weight = 49 lbs.

Location = Dog Beach long boat surf session and up San Diego river
Time = 6:15 PM
Distance = about 4 miles
Duration = 1:00
Avg. Speed = NA
Conditions = Overcast

Day 42 - Wilderness Systems 'Tsunami 120'

Mike Boren from the Aqua Adventures staff drew a boat name from the envelope for me tonight and came up with the Tsunami 120 from Wilderness Systems. Having just paddled the 145 yesterday I was curious to see how a very similar hull shape would compare in a different sized package (this time more appropriate to my body size). The boat's girth still made edging feel a bit clumsy, but because I fit the boat better I was able to hold the 120 on edge and carve turns fairly effectively. I shouldn't complain too much about edging I guess, the Tsunamis aren't advertised or expected to be performance hulls so what can I expect. We did have a fairly small and fast moving group tonight and I had no problem keeping up in the 120 which moves pretty well for a 12' boat. All in all it was a good night and a fun paddle and what it boils down to is when "armchair like" comfortable flat water cruising is the name of the game the Tsunamis have you covered.

Tsunami 120 Review

Manufacturer = Confluence
Brand = Wilderness Systems
Model = Tsunami 120
Material = Plastic
Type = Touring
Length = 12'-0"
Width = 25.5"
Weight = 50 lbs.
Capacity = 275 lbs.

Location = Thursday Evening Paddle - around Vacation isle to Bahia pt. into Mariners and back
Time = 6:00 PM
Distance = about 5 miles
Duration = 2:00
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Overcast breezy and chilly (San Diego chilly)

Day 41 - Wilderness Systems 'Tsunami 145'

It was the Wednesday morning crew at the Aqua Adventures dock once again. Many of the usual suspects were there with the addition of Jim Alsup's daughter and son in law. A flat calm morning allowed us to lead the less experienced guests to the OB pier, back past the red buoy (loaded with sea lions) then on in to our dock.

On our way out I was giving Jim's son in law a few pointers on maneuvering strokes and edging which he picked up pretty fast. It was right then while I was trying to demonstrate edging that I made the decision to try not to put my students in the Tsunami 145 for lessons that involve edging. Edging the 145 boat is like trying to get a weeble-wobble to stay on it's side, it just doesn't want to go there. Granted, I don't come close to fitting the 145, which is designed for larger people, so it may perform much better for someone else. However, I have been in other big boats and have been able to handle them just fine (the Tsunami 175 for instance) yet the 145 was trouble for me. If you're a bit bigger than average and are looking for generous amounts of primary stability and a very comfortable ride on calm to moderate water the Tsunami 145 fits the bill wonderfully. If you're looking for a boat that will give you more control to be able to go into rougher water, then you may consider another boat.

Tsunami 145 Review

Manufacturer = Confluence
Brand = Wilderness Systems
Model = Tsunami 145
Material = Plastic
Type = Touring
Length = 14'-6"
Width = 24.5"
Weight = 56 lbs.
Capacity = 350 lbs.

Location = Wed AM paddle to the pier and back
Time = 7:00 AM
Distance = about 5 miles
Duration = 1:30
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = High thin marine layer, warm, and glassy

Day 40 - Surftec 'Laird 11-6'

This afternoon I closed the shop as fast as I could to try and catch up with a paddleboard group that our friend Ryan Levinson has been organizing on Tuesday nights. They launch at the Bahia resort at 6:00 PM every Tuesday and do a run out to the open ocean and back. I have to close the shop at 6:00 so my plan was to launch from our dock and catch the group as they pass by our marina on their way out. As luck would have it today I ran late after helping a few customers after hours so I missed the group by about 10 minutes and spent the better part of the paddle playing catch up. I did finally meet the group about a quarter mile off shore where they were taking a quick break. From there we turned around and ran with the wind, swell, and incoming tide back in the channel to the Bahia.

This was only the second time I've been in any appreciable chop or measurable swell on a standup. I quickly discovered that as long as I kept moving I felt quite stable on the Laird 11-6 that I was on. For rough water paddling though I don't think I'd mind sacrificing a little speed for a bit more rocker up front which would make a board ride over the chop rather than plunge into it which is what I was experiencing on the relatively flat Laird. It was a fun workout run and thank god most of the group had raced this weekend and were taking it easy because I don't think I could have kept up otherwise.

Laird 11-6 Review

Manufacturer= Surftech
Brand (shaper) = Laird
Model = Laird 11-6
Type = SUP
Material = Softop
Length = 11'-6"
Width = 29"
Thickness = 4 3/8"

Location = Mission Bay past red buoy and back to the Bahia resort.
Time = 6:15 PM
Distance = Aprox 3 miles
Duration = 1:00
Avg. Speed = Aprox 3 mph
Conditions = Overcast and chilly

Day 39 - Bell 'Northwoods' and... IT'S A BOY!

When I got up this morning I was thinking about my brother Aaron and more importantly his then pregnant wife Aurise and the fact that she was due any day now. I've pretty much been sleeping with my phone next to me waiting for news of a new baby. At about 8:30 I checked in to see if Aurise was still pregnant and sure enough no baby yet. I started to blab on about some of the strange people we see come through the marina until Aaron cut the conversation short because he "was in the middle of something." Apparently Aurise had just gone into labor a moment before I called and they were on the way to the hospital. At about noon today I got a call from Aaron saying that I was an uncle the forth time over and that our deer hunting gang just got another boy! His name is Jonas Aaron Stachovak I don't know any of his specs yet but I'm sure he's good looking and super smart (as long as he took after his mother anyway).

Oh yea, I paddled today too.

This time it was the Bell 'Northwoods' open canoe on loan to us from our friend Teresa Boli. At 18 feet long it's the most canoe I've tried to handle by myself but had no problem moving it around. It's length certainly gives it a good glide, and if I worked at it I could get it up above 5 mph. I should have been working on my 3 star skills but I was in the mood to cruise so I did a loop out to Government Island and back. I got plenty of work on my J stroke which is feeling very solid on my right but my left side is still a bit flimsy. While I was cruising around in such a beautiful canoe I couldn't help but think of how nice it would have been to have a canoe like that on some of the longer trips I've done.

Northwoods Review

Manufacturer = Bell Canoes
Brand = Bell
Model = Northwoods
Type = Open Canoe
Material = Carbon
Length = 18'-6"
Width = 36"
Weight = 51 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay to Government Island and back
Time = 6:00 AM
Distance = 4.55
Duration = 1:12 hours
Avg. Speed = 3.8 mph
Conditions = Warm with high marine layer

Day 38 - Ocean Kayak 'Mysto'

This morning had me giving an introductory surf lesson to a gentleman named Scott who just learned to roll last week. Thing of it is that rolling is all Scott had ever done in a kayak, so some more basic instruction was needed before we hit the waves. Scott wanted to be in a decked boat thinking that his roll was solid enough to allow him to handle things if he got knocked over. Of course rolling in a pool is one thing and rolling in the surf is another, so I wanted to bring along a SOT surf boat so I could swap with Scott if need be. The Mysto is a new SOT surf boat from Ocean Kayak which I haven't been in much so I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to give it a try.

What we did was drop in on the San Diego river just across the street from the shop and paddle out to Dog Beach about a mile away. Along the way we hopped into an eddy to get out of the incoming tide flow to work on some basic strokes. The Mysto paddled pretty nice on the flat water of the river and didn't feel as slow as many surf specific boats I've been in. After an hour of practice Scott looked solid with the basics of the basics so it was time to hit the knee high surf at Dog Beach. Scott did well in his first go round in rough water and impressed the hell out of me by pulling off several combat rolls in the waves. After working with Scott in the waves I had a chance to take the Mysto for a couple rides and it did alright. If I got lazy and let the boat wallow in the soup a bit it tended to scoop water with its down wave edge and despite my efforts it would resist being brought back upright. As long as you stay on your game the Mysto surfs pretty well. I'm going to have to get back out on some cleaner waves to really give it a fair test.

Mysto Review

Manufacturer = Johnson Outdoors
Brand = Ocean Kayak
Model = Mysto
Type = Sit On Top (surf)
Material = Plastic
Length = 9'-9"
Width = 31"
Weight = 43 lbs.

Location = San Diego River to Dog Beach
Time = 9:00 AM
Distance = About 2 miles
Duration = 2:30 hours
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Sunny and nice

Day 37 - Seda 'Ikkuma 15'

I was joined by my 15 year old tandem rolling buddy Otto and his dad Larry to guide a group of singles club folks around the bay. We were expecting a group of about 38 people but apparently there was a social gathering the night before at which many folks "over indulged" and were unable to crawl out of bed this morning. The twelve people that did arrive were a fun group and consolation to me getting to the dock at 6:00 AM in order to have all the needed boats (all 38 of them) laid out and ready to go before the big group was supposed to arrive. Our fault for not getting payment upfront I guess. Otto is going to be working for us this summer and I'm sure will be a great addition to the team. Today's trip was a sort of training run for him and he did a great job. Larry (Otto's dad and driver until next fall) did most of the steering up front leaving Otto and I free to sort out any problems with the rest of the group. The smaller group size gave me time to coach Otto on some of the finer points of route planning on the bay with groups. The singles club was going to be having a reception on one of the paddle wheelers parked behind the Bahia Resort so we stopped there and took a group photo from the water.

The Ikuma 15 was a great choice for this trip being very stable and comfortable to paddle. It's maneuverability allowed me to work around the boats in the group to mingle a bit. The boat's surprising speed (for a 15 foot boat) was useful for zipping around to shuffle in any guest that wandered a bit too far into the boating lanes. The Ikkuma 15 is a great day touring boat that will work well for a wide range of body sizes. Like the 17 foot version, the Ikkuma 15 tracks very well and can still carve nice turns when on edge.

Ikkuma 15 Review

Manufacturer = Seda
Brand = Seda
Model = Ikkuma 15
Type = Touring
Material = Fiberglass
Length = 15'-0"
Width = 22"
Weight = 44 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay - Singles club tour
Time = 9:00 AM
Distance = About 3.5 miles
Duration = 2:00 hours
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Sunny and nice

Day 36 - Feelfree 'Moken 12 Angler'

This boat has a wheel in the stern and thank the lord for that. With all of the fishing do-dads and the plastic lid on the front hatch this boat comes in on the very heavy end of the 59 lbs the Feelfree web site lists as the boat's weight (my bathroom scale says 79 lbs). Because of the boat's heft, the wheel felt more like a necessity than a luxury when it came to moving the boat off the water. I launched from our dock bright and early this morning in the mood to make a run out to the red buoy outside the channel and back. I only had time for an hour paddle but figured I'd make it to the buoy with time enough to take a little break. I don't know if I was dragging or what, but I barely made it to the buoy inside of a half hour. I just didn't feel like I was getting anywhere fast this morning. The Moken is comfortable enough and the large hinged front hatch is an interesting approach toward gear maintenance when fishing. One thing I suggest if you get a chance to try this boat out is to start out in a stopped position and do a few nice wide sweep strokes one one side to turn the boat in a circle, you may be surprised at the results.

Moken Review

Manufacturer = Feelfree Kayaks
Brand = Feelfree
Model = Moken 12 Angler
Type = Sit On Top
Material = Plastic
Length = 12'-4"
Width = 29"
Weight = 59 lbs. ? (the quickest way to loose weight is to hop on a scale at a kayak factory)

Location = Mission Bay channel to red buoy and back
Time = 6:00 AM
Distance = 3.57 miles
Duration = 1:00 hours
Avg. Speed = 3.57
Conditions = Partly cloudy

Day 35 - P&H 'Scorpio LV'

It was time for the Thursday Evening Paddle once again tonight and we had a great time following a meandering course around Santa Barbara Cove on Mission Bay. I entertained the group by carving 'kelp critters' out of bull kelp floats to adorn the bows of a few of the kayaks (kinda like carving pumpkins but without the seedy guts). Before the tour started I ended up on the dock pulling boats for the guests and didn't have a chance to select a boat from the envelope so, in the interest of time, I grabbed another P&H kayak on loan from Sean Morley which ended up being the Scorpio LV.

I liked this boat, which shouldn't be too much of a surprise as I already enjoyed paddling the regular Scoripo as well as the composit bigger brother the Cetus. What wasn't quite right about the other two was the fact that they fit me a little looser than I prefer. This low volume version gave the snug fit I like, and along with that better connection (and slightly shorter length) I could edge turns and maneuver this boat even better than the other two.

Scorpio LV Review

Manufacturer = P&H
Brand = P&H
Model = Scorpio LV
Type = Touring
Material = Plastic
Length = 16'-7"
Width = 21"
Weight = 55 lbs.

Location = Aqua Adventures Thursday Evening Paddle
Time = 6:00 PM
Distance = Approx 3.5 miles
Duration = 2:00 hours
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Sunny and beautiful

Day 34 - Ocean Kayak 'Scupper Pro TW'

Back by popular demand the Scupper Pro TW represents what sit on top SOT kayaks were before they were fisherized. At 15 feet long and a respectable 26" wide this boat retains some of the glide you find in closed decked kayaks. For that reason it tends to be a bit faster than many of the new wide and stable platforms that are on the market today. This morning I was heading out with the Wednesday morning group from our docks at Aqua Adventures and figured I'd draw from the bag until I got a sea kayak that would allow me to keep up. The first draw gave me the Scupper Pro and although it is a SOT I knew it would be just fine.

I did have to work a bit harder than I would have in a equal length decked boat but I did keep up. One thing to expect from the Scupper Pro is the potential for a wet butt. The seat is set very low in the boat which is what helps it feel more stable but because of that water doesn't have to travel far up the scupper holes in the seat to leave you a bit wet. I deal with that by simply sitting on top of a padded seat which keeps me above the water. The big front hatch provides access to the entire inside of the boat for storage. Back in the day Aqua Adventures did overnight trips with Scupper Pros utilizing the storage capacity provided through the hatches. Back then the Scupper Pro came with two hatches (front and rear) the Scupper Pro that has been re-introduced is the TW (tank well) version which eliminates the rear hatch in exchange for a tank well where a dive tank, cooler, or fishing gear can be stowed for easy access while on the water. Because it does handle a bit more like a decked kayak, the Scupper Pro is one of my favorite SOT kayaks. You can fish off of it but if cruising is more your game you'd be using it to it's higher potential.

Scupper Pro Review

Manufacturer = Johnson Outdoors
Brand = Ocean Kayak
Model = Scupper Pro TW
Type = SOT
Material = Plastic
Length = 14'-9"
Width = 26"
Weight = 55 lbs.

Location = Ocean Beach Pier Loop
Time = 7:00 AM
Distance = Approx 5 miles
Duration = 1:30 hour
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Partly cloudy and breezy

I'M BACK!

Hi everyone,

It's been a while since I was at a place that didn't have cell coverage nor an internet connection for any amount of time. But that was the story while I was in up state New York, which will hopefully explain the seven day gap in my blogging. It was a gap in blogging but not a gap in paddling to be sure, I'll be getting all of the reviews and reports up as soon as possible. With any luck I'll finally have time to get some video and pictures up as well. While I'm trying to get caught up with the out of town posts I'm falling a bit behind on what I've paddled since I got back. While I work to get the reports and reviews posted you can keep track of what I've been paddling with the list below.

Day 28 - Pyranah "Master TG 265" general purpose white water kayak
Day 29 - Old Town "Penobscot" open canoe
Day 30 - Old Town "Discovery 158" open canoe
Day 31 - "Vampire" racing kayak
Day 32 - "Qaarsut" greenland inspired sea kayak
- Return to San Diego -
Day 33 - "Admunsun" standup
Day 34 - Ocean Kayak 'Scupper Pro'
Day 35 - P&H 'Scorpio LV'

Day 33 - Aguaglide 'Admunson'

I departed my friends Steve and Melissa's house in Upstate New York at 9:00 AM and a bit more than 15 hours of travel put me in San Diego after 9:00 PM west coast time. On the East coast where I started my day the stroke of midnight had passed by a full hour by the time I got on the water in Mission Bay at 10:15 PM. so I'll leave it up to debate if I truly paddled this board on May 19th or the 20th. I honestly was a bit tired after the long day of travel and didn't want to fuss with digging out the gear for a kayak, so a simple outing on a standup board was just the thing. I circumvented the bag o' boats selection process and just grabbed the SUP board that was easiest to pull off the top of our rack which happened to be the Admunson.

I had plans to paddle around Vacation Island in Mission Bay but changed my mind and opted for a fun route that leads to the north end of Mariner's cove then a short portage across West Mission Bay Drive back into the water behind the Bahia resort and back around to our dock. It's the simplicity of gear (board-paddle-leash) and the ease of transportation that I really love about standup paddling. The fact that there is so little gear involved and that you can carry the board (very easily) for blocks is what opens up a whole new world of routes that you can paddle in the San Diego area and I'm sure other places as well.

A year and a half ago our Werner paddle rep Dan Gavere convinced us that we needed to carry Werner SUP paddles and of course if we had the paddles we certainly needed a board. Hence he sold us the Admunson board and we all gave it a go and fell in love with standup paddling. Dan is sort of the Johnny Appleseed of standup paddling to the non-surfing population. He is at the forefront of whitewater standup paddling which has certainly taken this 'new' sport to a place nobody ever expected. You absolutely don't need to surf to enjoy this sport, just cruising with the higher vantage point a standup board provides can change your experience on a body of water you've paddled a thousand times in a canoe or kayak. Folks worry (too much) about falling off of these boards. It may sound strange but I take out a paddle board when I DON'T want to get wet. Once you've got a grasp of the board's limits they feel very stable. If you ever get a chance to give standup paddling a try I highly recommend it. The Admunson has proven to be a confidence inspiring board for most of the beginners we get at Aqua Adventures. The entirely foamed top and rails also means beginners won't be banging it up with their paddles. The board feels very stable right from the start, has a nice glide, and handles very easily.

Admunson Review

Manufacturer = Aguaglide
Brand = Aquaglide
Model = Admunson
Type = Stand up paddle board
Material = Fiberglass/foam
Length = 11'-3"
Width = 29.5"
Weight = 29 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay (Mariner's cove portage loop)
Time = 10:15 PM
Distance = Aprox 3 miles
Duration = 1:00 hour
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Partly cloudy and breezy

Day 32 - Island Kayaks 'Qaarsut'

With the Level 2 coach training over I had one day to spare in New York before flying home so I decided to check things out on Lake Champlain. When I had originally looked at where I could paddle on the lake my interest was quickly drawn to the possibility of doing a circumnavigation of South Hero Island which is situated east of the town of Plattsburgh NY. After scaling off the mileage I quickly realized the 37 mile distance might be out of reach for a solo day paddle. With thoughts of an island circumnavigation scrubbed I was on to figuring out plan B with the help of Steve Maynard. Steve helped me plot a course consisting of a 24 mile loop on the west side of the lake that would take me north into the wind up the New York side of the lake across the lake and down the Vermont side then back over to my put in at the Valcor Conference Center.

For the trip I was going to be borrowing Melissa Maynard's Island Kayak 'Qaarsut' which is a greenland style touring kayak. It's not exactly a boat one would consider for a 24 mile day but it was new to me and I was happy to try a boat I couldn't find at home. After helping the rest of the folks get ready for a 3 Star open canoe training I launched into Lake Champlain at about 10:00 AM. Two and a half hours and ten miles into the wind later I took a break at a boat launch on the Vermont side of the lake. After reviewing the chart I realized that I was only a few upwind miles shy of rounding the top of Hero Island a few extra miles across the top could have me running down wind on the back side of the island. Seems how I pretty much had the hard part done the plan was hatched to turn my 24 mile day into a 37 mile day and actually do the run all the way around the island.

So it was with a remaining peanut butter sandwich, four granola bars, an apple, and two bottles of water (in a boat designed more for trick rolls and shorter day trips) that I continued on up and around the island. The next two hours and seven miles were a hard earned crawl into a head wind but the payoff was worth it as I surfed from wave to wave 11 miles down the back side of the island. As I neared the south end of the island luck was with me as the wind died making the five mile crossing back over to my put in an absolutely beautiful walk in the park.

The Qaarsut proved to be a bit plungy in the 1-2' wind chop I encountered on the north bound part of the paddle. By plungy I mean that when I came down the back side of a wave into the base of the next the bow would pierce the wave which would then slap back together over the deck of the boat and wash up and into my chest. This meant I took several blasts of 45 degree lake water in the face as I paddled into the wind. During the downwind surf on the back side of the island the boat proved to be a bit squirrely. I spent the better part of that 11 mile run edged into the wind with the paddle fully extended to that side. It worked well but I must admit I wished for a better tracking boat when a couple waves managed to overpower my efforts and turn me up wind. I was quite pleased with the speed of the Qaarsut and despite the troubles I had I was completely comfortable for the entire length of the trip. If long trips are your game it'd be best to grab a more appropriate boat than the Qaarsut. But if greenland tricks and day paddle are what you're interested in then if you happen upon one the Qaarsut is worth a look.

The Island Kayak brand and Qaarsut are new to me and I tried to find their web site on line with no luck. The boat specs I listed were found on a kayak forum so I can't attest to their credibility.

Qaarsut Review

Manufacturer = Island Kayaks
Brand = Island Kayaks
Model = Qaarsut
Type = Greenland style touring kayak
Material = Fiberglass
Length = 16'-7.5" ?
Width = 21" ?
Weight = ?

Location = Lake Champlain (South Hero Island Circumnavigation)
Time = 10:00 AM
Distance = 37 miles
Duration = 8:19 hours
Avg. Speed = 4.45 mph
Conditions = Partly cloudy and breezy

Day 31 - Kayak Pro 'Vampire'

Knowing that I would be back in an open canoe for the bulk of our training for the day, I figured I'd sneak out a bit early and get a few laps in on Steve Maynard's Kayakpro 'Vampire' racing kayak. Of course I was stuck on the pond at the Twin Valleys outdoor center where we were training so it made for a lot of turning followed by quick sprints across the 10th mile long pond.

I rigged my GPS to the deck with duct tape and tried to better my sprint speed before running out of water on the far shore. The best speed I managed on those short runs was 9.1 mph, of course at that point my form was pretty much falling apart and was nothing that resembled the performance racing folks that paddle this kind of boat regularly. It didn't take much energy at all to sustain 6 mph. and just a little more effort put a sustainable cruising speed in the upper 6 to lower 7 mph range. The Vampire is definitely the fastest boat I've ever been in.

After flopping around for a while with a regular paddle Steve loaned my his wing and helped me get better fitted to the boat which made a world of difference in how tippy the boat felt. I thought the regular 'euro' paddle would help me feel more stable but, in fact, I could almost 'lean' on the wing paddle when I was paddling which actually felt much more stable. If you ever get the chance to try out a flat water racing kayak don't miss the chance. Once you experience the kind of speed you can obtain in a boat like that you'll never look at a regular touring kayak the same. Of course you'd never want to take a boat like that rock gardening or surfing either.

Vampire Review

Manufacturer = Kayakpro
Brand = Kayakpro
Model = Vampire
Type = Flat water Racing Kayak
Material = Fiberglass
Length = 21'-1"
Width = 18.75"
Weight = 40 lbs.

Location = Twin Valleys Pond
Time = 6:00 AM
Distance = N/A
Duration = 1:10 hours
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Partly cloudy and breezy

Day 30 - Old Town 'Discovery 158'

We started this day on the pond in sea kayaks in beautiful warm sunny weather. During lunch rain began to fall and ended up driving in pouring rain to our put in at the Boquet river about eight miles north of Essex NY. Our craft of choice for the afternoon was to be open canoes. I angled for a Discovery 158 and was joined by a fellow classmate and friend Melissa Maynard who took the front seat. The name of the game for this outing was for each of us instructor trainees to teach one session (stroke, concept, technique etc.) of a progressive series of sessions as we journeyed down the river and back. I was on first and used a quick warm-up exercise to discuss our environmental impact as paddlers namely in beach erosion and such. After that we launched and Melissa the the others in our group did their thing. The rain had stopped soon after we arrived and stayed away most of the day until the last half hour or so of paddling. Melissa pointed out that despite the weather we were all so focused on the class and having fun that it didn't seem to matter. Toward the end of the trip we had a chance to work with Steve MacDonald (the course director) and Shawna Franklin (tutor) in tuning up many of our open boat techniques.

I am no stranger to the Discovery 158 it's the first boat I ever owned and is still in the family (so to speak) parked behind my brother's garage in Wisconsin. I paddled my Discovery hundreds of miles on downriver trips back home. You could probably credit the time I spent in that boat (and the fun I had) with me being involved with paddle sports today. I only wish that I had half the skills and understanding of boat handling that I have now when I was doing all those trips with nothing more than a crude J stroke and a rudder. While the The Old Town Discovery doesn't excel in any one aspect of open canoeing is an excellent all round boat that almost anybody can handle well in a variety of situations.

Discovery 158 Review

Manufacturer = Johnson Outdoors
Brand = Old Town
Model = Discovery 158
Type = Open Canoe
Material = Plastic
Length = 15'-8"
Width = 35.5"
Weight = 80 lbs.

Location = Boquet River to Lake Champlain and back (8 miles north of Essex NY)
Time = 1:30 PM
Distance = about 5 miles
Duration = 3:30 hours
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Rain

Day 29 - Old Town 'Penobscot'

Without knowing exactly what was planned for the day, I got on the water before our classes started to practice some of my slowly improving open canoeing skills. Because we don't have one at home I decided to paddle the Old Town 'Penobscot'. The 10th mile long oblong pond was plenty of space to practice my sweeps, draws, rudders and other strokes that are ever so familiar from my sea kayaking experience but require a bit more thought in a canoe. The Penobscot was fun to paddle with a nicer glide and straighter tracking than I'm used to in the canoes we have at the store.

Penobscot Review

Manufacturer = Johnson Outdoors
Brand = Old Town
Model = Penobscot
Type = Open Canoe
Material =
Length =
Width =
Weight =

Location = Twin Valleys pond
Time = 5:45 AM
Distance = N/A
Duration = 1:00 hours
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Dead calm and warm

Day 28 - Pyranha 'Master TG 265'

It was planes, ferries, and automobiles to get to the Twin Valleys outdoor center in Upstate New York where I took part in the first 'new' BCU Level 2 coach training. The facility is owned by SUNY Plattsburgh and has several rustic cabins as well as a kitchen/communal area with a bunk house attached where we ran the classroom portion of the training. Much of the on-the-water portion of the training took part on the pond at the facility.

The pond at Twin Valleys Outdoor Center

SUNY Plattsburgh - Upstate New York

On the first day of training we were working on kayaking fundamentals. In an effort to always challenge us by paddling something other than sea kayaks our instructors asked us to paddle white water boats. The boat I ended up in was the Pyranha 'Master TG 265'. This is the first I've seen these boats which are often referred to as GP or general purpose boats. They're very stable with high volume and a drop down skeg for tracking. I played with the skeg a lot as we paddled around in the pond reviewing - posture, connectivity, power transfer, and feel - the fundamentals of paddle sport.

Master TG 265 Review

Manufacturer = Pyranha

Brand = Pyranha

Model = Master TG 265

Type = Whitewater/General Purpose

Material = Plastic

Length = 8'-9"

Width = 25"

Weight = 31.9 lbs.

Location = Twin Valleys pond

Time = 1:30 PM

Distance = N/A

Duration = 1:30 hours

Avg. Speed = N/A

Conditions = Sunny and warm

Day 27 - Necky 'Looksha 14'

Well here is where it gets interesting. I have to catch a flight that departs at 7:45 this morning destined for Burlington Vermont where I'll find a rental car and continue on to Plattsburg New York where I'll be doing BCU Level 2 coach training for the next four days. I only hope there will be four boats and time for me to paddle them during the training. I don't want any naysayers giving me a hard time about 100 continuous days so I intend to make it happen one way or another. I'm not sure there how much opportunity there will be to get on line while I am in NY so there may be a gap in my reporting until I return late next Tuesday night.

In order to find time to get a one hour paddle in and still make my flight I decided to get up very early and make it happen (3:00 AM to be exact). I didn't want to go far so I thought it would be a great opportunity to try out our friend Jim Alsup's new geocache that he recently installed in Quivira Basin. The cache is what is called a multicache which requires you to visit several locations to find clues which provide you with the GPS coordinates of the actual cache. From talking with Jim I already know the location of the cache but I thought it'd be fun to try to locate the clues located around the basin. I took Jen's video camera along and shot video of each of the geocache locations so that I could share them with you to make your search easier. I'll be posting them on this site as soon as I get a chance, so be patient. In the mean time you can log on to http://www.geocaching.com/ and sign in then search for Jim's geocache in Quivira Basin. It's a fun challenge that will take you all over the marina area.

Geocache Clues Revealed

As for the Looksha 14, it was nice. Slow to turn but stable and straight tracking. The cockpit is generously sized so anyone that doesn't like the closed in feeling or needs a larger opening to get in and out will appreciate this boat.

OK folks I have a plane to catch so stay tuned for reports from Upstate New York as long as I can find a computer with an internet connection.

Looksha 14 Review

Manufacturer = Johnson Outdoors
Brand = Necky
Model = Looksha 14
Type = Touring
Material = Plastic
Length = 14'-1.5"
Width = 24.5"
Weight = 57 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay - Quivira Basin Geocach Hunting
Time = 3:30 AM
Distance = aprox 2 miles
Duration = 1:01
Avg. Speed = N/A (geocaching)
Conditions = Dark

Day 26 - Wilderness Systems 'Tarpon 160'

Drawing from the bag of boats put me in the Tarpon 160 this morning. With kayak fishing in mind, the Wilderness Systems Tarpons have been redesigned this year to include, among other things, the very comfortable Phase 3 seat system, accessory rails, and easy opening hinged hatch covers. I didn't have time to fish this morning so my main interest was just a nice easy paddle around the bay with a friend who happened to be on a stand up paddle board. The 160 didn't provide any big surprises the seat was very comfortable, it was very stable, and it moved along easily. It's longer length helped it track better and provided more speed than the Tarpon 100 or 120 which were the 8th and 9th boats I paddled in this adventure. Because it is designed with fishing in mind I'm planning on taking it out when I have time to wet a line to give it another test paddle as a fishing platform.

Tarpon 160 Review

Manufacturer = Confluence
Brand = Wilderness Systems
Model = Tarpon 160
Type = Sit On Top
Material = Plastic
Length = 16'-0"
Width = 28"
Weight = 78 lbs.
Capacity = 375 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay - Vacation Island Loop
Time = 6:15 AM
Distance = 3.79 miles
Duration = 1:06
Avg. Speed = 3.4 mph (kept pace with Matt on SUP)
Conditions = Overcast and mild with light breeze

Day 25 - Wilderness Systems 'Tsunami 175 Pro'

I sometimes compare kayaks to different models of vehicles to try to convey their use and who they might be appropriate for. For example the 'Manitou II' from Necky which is a recreational tandem could be compared to a mini van. Nothing too fancy but capable of taking along the whole family. The Necky 'Eliza' compares to the new VW Beetle. It gets you around in playful style, and while guys can drive them, most often you see women behind the wheel. So when it comes to the 'Tsunami 175 Pro' all I can say is that it is the "MACK TRUCK" of the kayak world. Capable of hauling a tons of stuff and driven by big guys that don't mess around at the dinner table.

If you saw my skinny butt climbing into the seat of a giant earth hauler you might think that I looked out of place, well that's exactly how I look (and feel) in the 175. It is a very large kayak that doesn't really fit me in any dimension. I actually reviewed this boat a couple years ago for Canoe And Kayak magazine and during a photo shoot ended up shearing the rudder off it when I got a little too close to the rocks in La Jolla. After that episode I fixed the rudder and tried again at the Ocean Beach Pier where I discovered that even though I roll around in the cockpit like a marble in a coffee can I could surf the boat fairly well. While it's not necessarily the boat for a guy my size it's certainly worth a look by anybody bigger than average that is looking for a freight hauler.

Tsunami 175 Pro Review

Manufacturer = Confluence
Brand = Wilderness Systems
Model = Tsunami 175 Pro
Material = Fiberglass
Type = Touring
Length = 17'-6"
Width = 24"
Weight = 64 lbs.
Capacity = 400 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay - Vacation Island loop
Time = 6:30 AM
Distance = 5.5 miles
Duration = 1:04
Avg. Speed = 5.1 mph
Conditions = High thin marine layer, warm, and calm

Day 24 - Ocean Kayak 'Scrambler XL'

This was day two of sea caves tours with boy scout troop 668. The headcount nearly doubled today to a total of 19. The group consisted of 14 scouts, 1 older sister, 1 little sister, and 3 dads. The mom's apparently earned a reprieve from chaperoning the lively scouts, it being Mother's Day and all. I was joined by Mike Brown who guided with me on this trip. Once again I was impressed at how quickly the group geared up and before I knew it we were launching from the beach. The waves had decreased in size considerably and today the caves trumped the kelp in earning the scout's attention as we were able to put everyone through "Arch Cave" after aborting a run through "The Clam". The surf landing back at the boat launch seemed to be the highlight of everyone's day. With 12 boats coming in, one at a time, through the surf we only ended up with two capsizes, not bad odds at all.

The Scrambler XL was a nice boat to use for the trip, which would explain why we have them in our La Jolla fleet. It is very stable and kept up with the rambunctious scouts in tandems without any problem. The catch is that the XL is no longer in production so you may want to consider a Scrambler 11 or Scrambler XT if this one catches your fancy.

Scrambler XL Review

Manufacturer = Johnson Outdoors
Brand = Ocean Kayak
Model = Scrambler XL (retired model)
Type = Sit on top
Material = Plastic
Length = 11'-6.5"
Width = 29.5"
Weight = 49 lbs.

Location = La Jolla Shores - Sea Caves Tour
Time = 9:00 AM
Distance = 3 miles
Duration = 1:45
Avg. Speed = N/A (group speed)
Conditions = High fog calm winds and warm (leaning toward chilly) with 2-3' surf

Day 23 - Wilderness Systems 'Ripper'

This morning I got the pleasure leading a La Jolla Sea Caves tour for Boy Scout Troop 668 from Escondido. After reviewing the surf report last night I was a bit concerned that the conditions would be too rough to get off the beach. Thankfully a 6:00 AM recon at the beach revealed 2-3 foot (and sometimes larger) swell and otherwise smooth conditions. It was a go for the trip but I knew we wouldn't be getting into the caves. All of these young men had paddled before and it showed as we geared up in record time and joined the parades of kayak geared tourists walking to the beach. The scouts and leaders loaded up on Malibu II tandems while I brought along the little 8' Ripper from Wilderness Systems. Most of these tours go very slow so I thought I'd be able to keep up without any trouble in such a short boat. Unfortunately, I forgot that these kids knew what they were doing, so as we made our way toward the caves I had to work a bit to keep up.

While we watched set after set of chest high waves bash into the cave openings, it was obvious to everyone that there would be no caving done today. After a few quick lessons on some of the local fauna (loads of sea lions and pooping Cormorants) the scouts took an interest in the local flora in the form of a detached and dead Bull Kelp float and holdfast 'root'. Stretched out it went at least sixty feet from the float to the end. Built to hold floating kelp plants in place the root was incredibly tough. The scouts towed each other around with the improvised rope and we set up a tug of war to test our (and the kelp's) strength. A scout also tested the durability of the spherical kelp float itself against the crest of his helmet. All of this interest in the kelp gave me an idea to forget about the caves tours and run La Jolla kelp forest tours. Lord knows how the city would want to regulate that.

If the Ripper wasn't so darn slow it would be great for these tours. The Ripper's maneuverability allowed me to scoot around between the tour boats but most people would get frustrated trying to keep up with longer faster kayaks. Of course that excellent maneuverability allows the Ripper to be controlled fairly effectively on waves. I snuck in a nice surf ride at the very end of the tour and felt the potential of the Rippers surfability. I'll have to get back out with it to give it more time on the waves. While slow, this little boat is still much more cruisable than most 'surf' kayaks so someone looking for a boat that they can toodle around with on flat water and/or get into the surf zone on occasion this would be a good choice.

Ripper Review

Manufacturer = Confluence
Brand = Wilderness Systems
Model = Ripper
Type = SOT
Material = Plastic
Length = 8'-0"
Width = 30"
Weight = 41 lbs.
Capacity = 225 lbs.

Location = La Jolla Shores - Sea Caves Tour
Time = 9:00 AM
Distance = 3 miles
Duration = 1:45
Avg. Speed = N/A "Tour speed"
Conditions = High fog gentle breeze and warm - 2' swell

Day 22 - Ocean Kayak 'Caper'

This was day three in a row that I actually did two paddles in one day. I was scheduled to be on the water for a two hour private lesson, but after yesterday's gorgeous morning weather I had made plans with our friend Matt P. to get out early on some stand up boards to do another cruise around the bay before work. When we rallied at the store at 6:00 AM we were met with wind fog and faint drizzle. Quickly our plans changed to kayaks where we'd at least be somewhat sheltered from the elements. Rather than mine the boat name envelope for a sea kayak I let fate take its course and ended up drawing the Ocean Kayak 'Caper'. This left me perched on top of a sit-on-top (SOT) come what may with the weather. The weather didn't matter much though as I soon set to work trying to keep up with Matt in an eighteen foot touring boat. I admire the Caper for it's great maneuverability and amazingly dry ride. It somehow gives all of the stability found in much bigger boats but is much easier to handle on and off the water. I did have to work hard to maintain 4 mph. on the bay but that seems to be a pretty average speed for SOTs. When it comes to turning, however, the Caper can scoot around like a waterbug on a frog pond. This is a great boat for a bigger paddler looking for a stable dry ride that doesn't handle like a log raft, or anyone that enjoys a easy handling comfortable boat.

Caper Review

Manufacturer = Johnson Outdoors
Brand = Ocean Kayak
Model = Caper
Type = Sit on top
Material = Plastic
Length = 11'-0"
Width = 31"
Weight = 45 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay Vacation Island Loop
Time = 6:00 AM
Distance = 4.23 miles
Duration = 1:07
Avg. Speed = 3.8 mph
Conditions = Windy, overcast, chilly, and misting.

Day 21 - Surftech 'Laird 12' Standup

This was another two outing day. I originally planned on catching up with my friend Thom to do some kayak surfing in La Jolla but I managed to over sleep a bit and missed my chance. Knowing that I was going out tonight with the Thursday Evening Paddle anyway I figured I'd get to work early and try to get some paperwork done. However, when I looked out at the flat calm water without a lick of wind and already warm sunshine, I couldn't resist. It'd been a while since I did any standup so I rooted around the 'bag of boats' and went with the first stand up paddle board (SUP) that I found, it happened to be our 'big guy board' the Laird 12. Stand up paddling is one of the few things I do around here where I don't expect to get wet and when I drew the big Laird board I knew that would be a sure thing. The Laird 12 is a very stable board that can accommodate a person much larger than me without any trouble. For a smaller person (with a little practice) it's like standing on a table. This is a great confidence inspiring board that handles very nicely especially for larger paddlers.

What surprised me the first time I paddled SUP with a GPS was how fast they really are. I know it doesn't seem like it should be true, but those boards can cruise, beware of head winds though. What's really cool about standup is how new the resurgence of the sport is. Because it's so new nobody has it all figured out yet which is freeing everyone up to experiment with board shapes, paddle designs, and paddling technique; just try to find two standup paddlers that agree completely on how long a paddle should be. The fact that the interest in the sport has come more heavily from the surfing world than the paddlesport world has lead to a lack of advanced paddle strokes being used on these boards. It's easy to spot folks with a solid kayaking or canoeing background because they're the ones doing cross deck draws and bow rudders while the surfers flounder around with half hearted sweep strokes that barely work. When I've been on boards lately I've been trying out different postures to see what gets me the most speed. I borrowed something from C1 canoe racing toward the end of my paddle this morning and can't wait to give it more of a go soon.

Laird 12 Review

Manufacturer= Surftech
Brand (shaper) = Laird
Model = Laird 12
Type = SUP
Material = Tuflite
Length = 12'-1"
Width = 31"
Thickness = 4 1/8"
Weight = 30.4 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay Vacation Island Loop
Time = 6:30AM
Distance = 4.07 miles
Duration = 1:00
Avg. Speed = 4.1 mph
Conditions = Too nice to not go

Day 20 - Wilderness Systems 'Tsunami 140'

I actually ended up paddling two boats today. The Tsunami 140 in the morning with the "Wednesday Morning Paddle" and (after realizing that the surf was pretty good) my Mega surf boat for a couple hours after work. I ended up choosing the boat that I'm least likely to revisit for today's review. The Tsunami 140 doesn't thrill me but, of course, it's not exactly designed to be 'thrilling'. It's a very stable and comfortable boat that beginner to early-intermediate paddlers feel secure in and can handle quite well. If someone is interested in casual paddles in relatively moderate conditions this would be a great choice. Someone looking for a boat that will allow them to advance their skills and boat handling abilities, I feel that this boat would be one that they'd outgrow in a hurry. I had a nice time in it this morning and dared to ride the swell along the rocks on the south jetty but only wished I could get a better body connection and edging control. Take it for what it is, a comfortable stable boat for casual paddles, and I think you'll like it.

Tsunami 140 Review

Manufacturer = Confluence
Brand = Wilderness Systems
Model = Tsunami 140
Type = Touring
Material = Plastic
Length = 14'-0"
Width = 24"
Weight = 55 lbs.
Capacity = 300 lbs.

Location = Aqua Adventures Wednesday Morning Paddle to the red buoy and back.
Time = 7:00 AM
Distance 3.76 miles
Duration = 1:23
Avg. Speed = 2.7 mph
Conditions = Sunny and clam with large smooth swell

Day 19 - P&H 'Scorpio'

What a great way to start the day. I was joined by past Aqua Adventures employee Matt P. (in town to help out while Jen is away) he paddled the P&H Scorpio LV and I was in the standard sized Scorpio. It had been a while since I challenged the surf zone and the surf was the perfect size for long boat surfing so we headed out the Mission Bay channel and over to Dog Beach to have a little fun. I mentioned the other day in my P&H Cetus review that it was 'left' here by our friend Sean Morley for us to play with untill he could pick it up. Well he stopped by the other day and instead of picking up the Cetus he left a trailer load of boats for us to try out and this Scorpio is one of them.

Just like it's composite brother the Cetus, the Scorpio with it's triple layer plastic, is a very solidly built boat. The seat system is very comfortable and the boat fit me quite well. These boats come with a front deck day hatch which I was sceptical of the first time I saw one, but the more I paddle with them the more I like them. It's nice to store small items like sunglasses, a GPS, or cell phones where you know they won't get slammed around like they can in a behind the seat day hatch. The Scorpio moves along quite well and handles rough water very comfortably. I had a great time catching rides running with the swell but when it came to actually surfing breaking waves I didn't have all that much luck. It may be that I was rusty this morning but I had a heck of a time picking up waves and once I did it was a challenge to hold a line and not get washed off the back. The boat was just a lot for me to handle on the waves. I think I'd save the Scorpio for longer distances in potentially rough water and choose a more playful boat when my main interest is surfing. Overall it's a fun boat to paddle and we had a good time this morning.

Scorpio Review

Manufacturer = P&H
Brand = P&H
Model = Scorpio
Type = Touring
Material = Plastic
Length = 16'-11"
Width = 22"
Weight = 63.5 lbs

Location = Mission Bay jetty to OB Pier, Dog Beach surfing, jump the weir, and back
Time = 6:30
Distance = 4.99 miles
Duration = 1:18
Avg. Speed = N/A we surfed a bunch
Conditions = Man, it was a beautiful morning!

Day 18 - Ocean Kayak 'Scrambler'

If you've ever rented kayaks at a resort in Hawaii or a lake side vendor in Minneapolis chances are better than not that you ended up in a Scrambler. This is the bare bones - no frills - standby kayak for a lot of rental outfits all over the country. To me it represents the main thing that sit on top kayaks are about....simplicity. The lack of a bunch of bells and whistles is exactly what I like about this kayak, it doesn't have any hatch openings to leak, straps to break, or doodads to loose. On top of all of that it is fun to paddle. Even though it's only 11 feet long the hull shape maximizes the water line length making it faster than one might expect. I had no problem maintaining a comfortable 4.5 mph on the bay this morning. It's wide enough to be comfortably stable but not so wide as to be obnoxious. The hull shape allows the boat to be edged a bit which makes it fairly easy to turn. The one thing I do wish it had was side carry handles but those can be easily added later. When someone comes to me looking for a simple and affordable way to get on the water I frequently recommend the Scrambler. It's too bad it's so often overshadowed by all of the fancy over rigged sit on tops on the market today.

Manufacturer = Johnson Outdoors
Brand = Ocean Kayak
Model = Scrambler
Type = Sit On Top
Material = Plastic
Length = 11'-2"
Width = 28"
Weigh = 45 lbs.

Location = From the Aqua Adventures dock to Sea World and back
Time = 6:30 AM
Distance = 4.93 miles
Duration = 1:04
Avg. speed = 4.62 mph.
Conditions = Partly cloudy and calm

Day 17 - Wilderness Systems 'Tarpon 130 T'

Although my back was feeling much better this morning, I was still sore enough to be walking around like a dancing bear on ice skates. When I pulled the 'Tarpon 130 T' tandem out of the 'bag o boats' I was relieved that it's one of the kayaks that is stored on the lower racks and I wouldn't have to lift anything to get on the water.

Many of the tandems we sell are advertised as being capable of being paddled solo as well as with a friend. I figured I'd give that feature a test while I gave the Tarpon 130 the ol' college try. I had a nice paddle out the jetty, around the red buoy and back. The fact that the boat's main purpose is not to be paddled as a single was fairly obvious when I was on this one. The kayak is very wide in the middle and it is a bit of a reach to get the paddle in the water, and I found that paddled solo the boat tracks like it's on rails but lacks much glide. I paddled a comfortable pace and averaged only 3.6 mph over the hour I was on the water. A lot of the hull design on the Tarpon is to help it track straight which is important for a tandem. Paddled solo, however, it means that turning is a bit of a challenge. I'll be re-visiting this kayak in order to paddle it as a tandem so I can give it a fair review for what it was really designed. But I did learn that it certainly can be paddled solo, fairly comfortably, and as long as you aren't in a huge hurry it will work just fine.

Manufacturer = Confluence
Brand = Wilderness Systems
Model = Tarpon 130 T
Style = Sit On Top
Material = Plastic
Length = 13'-0"
Width = 34"
Weight = 65 lbs.
Capacity = 550 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay out to the Red Bouy and back.
Time = 6:00 AM
Distance = 3.66 miles
Duration = 1:00
Avg. Speed = 3.66 mph
Conditions = Calm and partly cloudy 2-3' swell

Day 16 - Wilderness Systems 'Ride 135'

I woke this morning flat on my back on the couch because I couldn't climb the stairs to bed last night, as I said in the last report my back was jacked up from horsing around the night before. It took twenty minutes and all the strength I had just to roll off the couch and climb the furniture to get to my feet, it was painfully obvious that it was going to be a rough day.

I ended up using a small canoe paddle (thanks Bob P.) as a walking staff all day in order to prevent myself from falling all the way to the ground when my knees spontaneously buckled from the pain in my back. The pain wasn't there all the time only when I did something crazy like bend over to pick up a paperclip or something. I managed through the day pretty much by asking random customers in the store to do all my lifting for me. I was wondering if this would end up being the day that might break the consecutive days of paddling streak that I'm on and possibly wreck the continuity of the 100 days challenge.

By 5:00 I was feeling better but still had to breath deep and bend at the knees to tie my shoes. At 6:00 three friends helped me put the Wilderness Systems Ride 135 SOT on the water. It was the most stable kayak with the most comfortable seat that I could think of and considering my condition those two features were very important. I carefully rolled into the boat and pushed away from the dock wondering what kind of trouble I might be getting myself into. It was then, when I took my first stroke, that a miracle started to happen. I don't know if it was the gentle twisting rotation of paddling or the Ride 135 itself acting like a evangelist tent preacher casting the evil demons out of my lower back. But with every stroke I took my back felt better, and as the lord as my witness, when we got back to the dock an hour later I was a new person. I could bend, lean, twist, lift, and walk almost pain free. There was still a twinge that reminded me to be careful, but I felt healed. So take it for what it's worth but the Ride 135 is a magic kayak, aside from being a ridiculously stable boat that any size person can enjoy for fishing or just paddling around, it can heal an aching back.


Ride 135 Review

Manufacturer = Confluence
Brand = Wilderness Systems
Model = Ride 135
Style = Sit On Top
Material = Plastic
Length = 13'-4"
Width = 32"
Weight = 64 lbs.
Capacity 400 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay to Mariner's Cove and back
Time = 6:00 PM
Distance = About 3 miles
Duration = 1:10
Avg. Speed = N/A super easy paddle
Conditions = Windy, chilly, and overcast

Day 15 - Nova Craft Canoe 'Prospector 17'

The slide show above showing the guy 'seal launching' off of a pier is the source of the end of this trip report and the beginning of the next. With our friend and past Aqua Adventures employee (Matt P.) in town helping out around the store while Jen is in Wales it's been a bit like 'old home week' around here with other past guides (namely Berto) stopping by to visit. Of course you can't put Berto, Matt, and I in boats on the water together without some sort of shenanigans happening.

Last night Berto invited a few friends from school over to the shop after hours to do a little night paddle on the bay. A group of about 12 of us headed out for what started out to be a perfectly calm sunset paddle. Matt and I paddled the Prospector 17 canoe so we could play mother ship to all the kayaks. Berto meanwhile entertained the crowd by doing a bunch of rolls. When we neared the Barefoot Bar dock Matt eyed up the old unused pier on the south end of their cove and wondered aloud if it'd be possible to seal launch off of it. A quick probe with our paddles showed adequate depth (just barely) to pull off a soft landing below the five or six foot drop. All it took was a nod of the head toward the pier and the simple question to Berto "what do you think?" before the ear to ear grin and twinkle in his eye told us that our old 'crash test dummy' was on board. The slide show pretty much tells the next bit of the tale showing me giving our lovable 'boat breaker' a friendly shove off of the pier and his splashdown landing below.

What the video does show, but doesn't really reveal to the untrained eye, is the moment that I realized that my back isn't 21 any more. Somehow when I bent over and launched Berto off the pier I jacked something up in my lower back resulting in a pain like a dull screwdriver hand been jabbed in my spine just above my pelvis. The pain was instantaneous and overwhelming and it took most of my strength to not fall to my knees on the pier. I managed to hobble back to the canoe and finish the night fighting back waves of pain every time the canoe rocked on a wave. The next morning proved to be very interesting as it took me twenty minutes to find the right posture to allow me to roll off the couch then climb the furniture to get to my feet. The rest of this story continues on the next days post.

As for the Nova Craft Prospector 17 canoe itself. Of the canoes in our fleet it's probably my favorite. The slanted kneeling thwart makes paddling it solo very comfortable and as long as the wind isn't blowing on its ample free board it's very easy to move around. When the wind is blowing it can be a lot to handle unless it's loaded and pushed deeper in the water.

Prospector 17 Review

Manufacturer = Nova Sports Equipment Ltd.
Brand = Nova Craft Canoe
Model = Prospector 17
Material = Royalex
Length = 17'-0"
Width = 36"
Weight = 80 lbs.
Capacity = 1200 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay paddle with group of friends
Time = 7:00 PM
Distance = 3 miles
Duration = 1:30
Avg. Speed = N/A clowning around
Conditions = Calm and few clouds