About 32 people joined us on the bay tonight for our Thursday Evening Paddle. With that number of people I thought we'd be moving at a slow pace but the group moved along nicely enabling us to sneak up behind Sea World to catch the end (and behind the stage view) of their "Circ de la Mar" show. From there we continued on around Vacation Island then back to our docks at Aqua Adventures.
I'm still working my way through all the boats on our dock so tonight I chose the Looksha 12 Si from Necky to take along for the tour. It's a relatively wide and short day touring boat which, not unexpectedly, provided a comfortable and stable ride with easy maneuverability. The kayak also tracked well enough and I had no problem keeping up with the group. This is a confidence inspiring kayak that would fit anybody my size (5'-10" 160#) or smaller. If you're looking for a boat that will enable you to cruise comfortably and see the sights on relatively placid water this would be a good pick. But if you have any aspirations of advancing your skills and taking on more challenging conditions you may consider something else.
Looksha 12 Si Review
Manufacturer = Johnson Outdoors
Brand = Necky
Model = Looksha 12 Si
Type = Day Touring
Material = Plastic
Length = 12'-1"
Width = 25"
Weight = 49 lbs.
Location = Aqua Adventures "Thursday Evening Paddle"
Time = 6:00 PM
Distance = aprox 5 miles
Duration = 2:00
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Partly cloudy and pleasant
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I admit I do not have the experience of this author. However based on my own 4 years of monthly paddling, I must disagree with this statement
ReplyDelete""If you're looking for a boat that will enable you to cruise comfortably and see the sights on relatively placid water this would be a good pick. But if you have any aspirations of advancing your skills and taking on more challenging conditions you may consider something else.""
Based on my experience, and in conversations with experienced outfitters, the Looksha series (including the 12) are capable of handling some of the roughest conditions most of us should ever try to paddle in.
I have personally paddled the Looksha14 in the infamous San Francisco Bay tide rip known as Yellow Bluff.
I understand that reviews like this are a matter of opinion. On the other hand, when someone makes a blanket statement like this, they should be more specific about the reasons why they make such a statement. Is the tracking insufficient for rough water? Does it lack sufficient responsiveness or secondary stability when on edge?
If a boat can handle 8 foot ocean swell as well as a 3+ knot tide rip, what more capability does the average paddler need? I have paddled the Looksha 14 many times. I have paddled the Looksha 12 on two occasions. In my opinion, if there are conditions that these two boats cannot handle, those are conditions that no one, except perhaps world class extreme paddling champions should be paddling in.
The bottom line is that everyone needs to paddle a boat themselves. If your primary concern is speed, then yes choose something other than a Looksha 12. If speed is not a concern, then I would love for someone to explain exactly what kind of conditions a $4000 21 inch beam 18 foot fiberglass boat can safely handle, that a Looksha 12 cannot, provided the paddler has sufficient skill.
Anthony,
ReplyDeleteIf you'd read Jake's introduction (to the left of this post and on every page), you would find he makes exactly the point that you're arguing. I'll quote him for you: "Before anyone pays too much attention to my reviews they should remember that this is FAR from a scientific study. I won’t be paddling the same course in the same conditions to allow for a truly head to head comparison of each boat. More importantly, because not every boat is designed to fit me (height, weight, strength, experience, etc.) not every boat will perform as it might for a person that is the appropriate size and skill level. The truth remains that nothing, absolutely nothing, can take the place of paddling a boat for yourself. So, take my reviews for what they are (my personal experience and opinion) and use that to gain just a little more info about these boats, then get out on the water and give them a try for yourself."
You might also read again the phrase that you quote yourself: "But if you have any aspirations of advancing your skills and taking on more challenging conditions you MAY consider something else." Emphasis on MAY. It doesn't really sound like a "blanket statement" to me.
With a bit more experience, you might find how important speed can be in difficult conditions. In difficult conditions, speed is almost ALWAYS a concern! Narrow boats are also easier to edge and rough conditions require excellent edge control. You're right that kayaks are largely limited by the skills of the paddler rather than their own design characteristics and a good paddler can make most boats perform well. That doesn't change the fact that speed is your friend when things get rough and longer, narrow boats with upswept bows dance through wind and waves with a skilled paddler at the helm. Yes, the Looksha 14 would be fun for an afternoon play in Yellowbluff (the Looksha 12 is not the same boat as the Looksha 14 and my guess is that it would just feel like a lot of work there) with it's huge eddy for safety and a safe harbor not 5 minutes away. But I wouldn't want to be paddling it when safe landing was several miles away against a building headwind or if the ebb began earlier than expected while I was outside the Gate. Once you've found yourself in a strong wind or current that is sweeping you towards danger, and you need every ounce of speed you can eek from your kayak, you're going to wish you weren't in a 12' bathtub.
Im in the process of shopping for a kayak I have no clue where to start. I am a female 5`2" and 140. I have been debating on the necky manitou sport.. I recently found a looksha for 600 dollars and this seems like a good deal. But I dont want to buy something that wont work well for me. I will mostly be in slow moving creeks and open rivers. Is the looksha 12si a good buy for me?
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
A girl in need :)
Yes
DeleteYes
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