Day 14 - Wilderness Systems 'Northstar'

Thursday night again and this week the group grew by another couple participants. I believe the head count was about 25 for the night (thankfully I wasn't the one doing the counting). As I was signing folks in at the front counter the Rebolledo family stopped in to join in the fun. I had planned on paddling in a single kayak but when I caught word that the head of the family didn't think she'd be able to participate (for fear of not being able to keep up) I offered her the opportunity to join me in a tandem for the tour. This worked well for her because she wouldn't have to work as hard or worry about slowing the group down and it worked for me because it gave me a chance to review one of our tandems which wound up being the Wilderness Systems Northstar. It ended up being Tina Rebolledo's first time ever in a kayak but she settled in quickly and we were under way. Tina thought she wouldn't be able to keep up to the group but after talking to her abut her thrice weekly yoga and almost daily water aerobics somehow I think she would have done just fine on her own.

Northstar Revisited 5/3/09 - Today I snuck away from work long enough to catch up with Otto Herrman (the 15 year old local kayak rolling phenom) on our dock here at Aqua Adventures. Our plan was to try to roll the Northstar tandem. I had rolled tandems only twice in the past but Otto, having only started paddling last August, hadn't had the opportunity. After a little discussion about which side we were going to roll on we gave it a go and got the boat over and back without a hitch. After testing the limits of the boat a bit, we dared to edge it over and scull for support which was easier than we expected. After several attempts Otto and I only missed one roll which was a shot at a tandem butterfly roll, even then we were able to recover and get the boat back upright with a regular roll. I'm not sure our success came from the fact that the Northstar is easy to roll, that Otto is a really good roller, or that he and I seemed to be pretty well coordinated (check out the nearly synchronized ear drain head tilt we did between tricks on the video).

Northstar Review

Manufacturer = Confluence
Brand = Wilderness Systems
Model = Northstar
Length = 18'-6"
With = 29"
Weight = 94 lbs
Capacity = 600 lbs

Location = Aqua Adventures Thursday Evening Paddle on Mission Bay
Time = 6:00 PM
Distance = Approx. 5 miles
Duration = 2 hours
Avg. Speed = 2.5 mph
Conditions = Sunny and light breeze - very nice

Day 13 - P&H 'Cetus'

We at Aqua Adventures consider Sean Morley "Vancouver Island circumnavigation record setter" to be a good friend. It seems as though he's an even better salesman. Now that he's on P&H's pro paddler team he has his hands on a small fleet of P&H and Pyranha boats. It 'just so happened' that he had to leave the P&H Cetus behind after our symposium last month. Of course you can't leave a boat on our dock and not expect folks to give it a try, all part of his master plan, I'm sure. It seems like everyone that's been in the Cetus has enjoyed it and today I finally had my chance to give it a try.

It was once again time for the Wednesday Morning Paddle and we were joined by many of the familiar faces as well as Bill from Napa CA who is in town for a conference. Our plan was to head out around the Ocean Beach pier but things were a little rough outside the channel so most of the group headed into Mariner's cove while three of us; Greg, Jane, and myself challenged the rough water a bit by rounding the red buoy at the end of the jetty. This gave me a chance to see how the Cetus handled in rough water and I was impressed. After rejoining the group we all headed to the Barefoot Bar dock then back in to Aqua Adventures. The short five mile loop was not enough to really appreciate the Cetus. With it's solid feel, easy glide, and ample gear hauling capacity that boat feels like it is meant to be taken somewhere big. Although the Cetus seems to fit guys much bigger than me, I felt very well connected and quite comfortable in it. I'm looking forward to getting back in it to give it a more serious try. The front deck 'day hatch' is a nice feature and much to my pleasant surprise when I opened it up this morning I discovered an unopened bottle of Gatorade, BONUS!

So far I must say that this kayak would be an excellent pick for anybody my size (5'-10" 160 lbs) or larger that is looking for a good gear hauling, expedition ready boat.

P&H Cetus Review

Manufacturer = P&H
Brand = P&H
Model = Cetus
Material = Fiberglass
Length = 17'-10"
Width = 22 1/2"
Weight = 57 lbs.

Location = Wednesday Morning Paddle - Around the red buoy in to the Barefoot Bar dock
Time = 7:00 AM
Distance = 5 miles
Duration = 1:30
Avg. Speed = 3.3 mph (group speed)
Conditions = Overcast and chilly (for San Diego standards) rough in channel and out to buoy - calm in the bay.

Day 12 - Necky 'Manitou 13' plastic

What a surprise! I must admit that I mined through the boat name envelope this morning trying to avoid another sea kayak to keep some variety in these reviews. When I drew the Manitou 13 I thought "good a recreational kayak I haven't done one of those yet." I fully expected the slow paced leisured ride you normally get from a 'rec' boat, the Manitou 13 however, was a different experience. It was when I was about a mile out from the store when I realized that I was actually enjoying this little boat.

It started with the fit. While the cockpit is sized to be easy to get in and out of it's not so huge as to prevent a truly functional skirt from being used. That conservatively large cockpit opening also allows for a good thigh connection allowing the boat to actually be edged, as comfortably as can be expected for a nearly 25" kayak anyway. I was also impressed with the speed I was able to get out of such a short boat. I had no problem at all maintaining a comfortable 4.5 mph on the bay this morning. To me this boat performs more like a little sea kayak than a recreational kayak as many would like to label it. With a spray skirt and float bags securely fastened along side the foam pillar up front I could even see taking this little kayak to explore the open coast on calm days.

Necky actually puts this boat in their day touring line up and after giving it a test run I have to agree that it is definitely a big step above the average rec. boat. The Manitou 13 is a great choice for someone looking for a stable platform that will provide comfortable rides with a smooth surprisingly efficient glide. At the same time this little boat will allow folks to dip a toe in the waters where the bigger kayaks play.

Manitou 13 Review

Manufacturer = Johnson Outdoors
Brand = Necky
Model = Manitou 13
Material = Plastic
Length = 12'-10.5"
Width = 24.75"
Weight = 45 lbs.

Location = Aqua Adventures dock past Sea World to South Shores boat ramp and back
Time = 6:20 AM
Distance = 4.59 miles
Duration = 1:00
Avg. Speed = 4.5 mph
Conditions = Calm and overcast

Day 11 - Necky 'Chatham 18'

"Kayak design is a world of compromise and not everybody is looking for the same thing from a boat as you are." That is what a friend reminded me of this morning when we were discussing my take on the Chatham 18 from Necky. At only 20" wide this nearly 18 foot boat is on the slim side of the touring kayak spectrum. That narrow width limits this boat to folks that have a skinny butt like mine. For those of us that the 18 does fit it provides a good body connection allowing the paddler to put every body movement into the boat resulting in easy edging and a more stable feel than one would normally expect from a narrow boat. That length and narrow width also equal speed and I had no problem maintaining over 5 mph as I cruised to the far end of Mission Bay this morning.

Part of the compromise that my friend was referring to was the recessed hatches and low volume of the Chatham. While this reduces the surface area that wind and rough water can catch, thus reducing weather cocking and improving tracking, it limits the amount of gear you can haul for camping trips. I have friends that are skilled wilderness campers that can pull off comfortable week long camping trips out of a Chatham 18. I, on the other hand, am not so disciplined and am famous for bringing along chocolate birthday cakes and six packs of bottled root beer, so the limited storage in the Chatham just isn't for me. This boat would probably be best for anyone looking for a fast moving well connected boat for putting in long miles on day paddles in calm or rough water.

Chatham 18 Review

Manufacturer = Johnson Outdoors
Brand = Necky
Model = Chatham 18
Material = Fiberglass
Length = 17'-9"
Width = 20"
Weight = 53 lbs.

Location = Aqua Adventures dock to Crown Point then Campland and back
Time = 6:30 AM
Distance = 6. 51 miles
Duration = 1:15
Avg. Speed = 5.2 mph
Conditions = Calm and overcast

Day 10 - Wilderness Systems 'Tempest 180 Pro'

Whew... this is a big boat! Certainly designed for someone with a bigger frame than me, but it fit me well enough for a quick cruise around the bay. I've yet to find a series of boats that has a more comfortable "out-of-the-box" fit than the Tempests. The upholstered seat pad with adjustable under leg thigh support and padded thigh pads under the deck make this a very comfortable ride. It seems like many 'brit boat' purists turn up their noses at this American designed kayak but after trying one out they have to admit that it is nice to paddle. Putting this 18 foot giant on edge is all it took to weave gracefully under the dock pilings in the marina. With it's length and extra free board with my light weight in it I did experience weather cocking with quartering winds, but rather than drop the skeg, all it took was a little edging and the boat stayed on track with ease. A comfortable cruising speed of five mph. allowed me to explore the far north end of the bay at the Catamaran Resort before returning to open the doors at Aqua Adventures this morning. I wouldn't hesitate recommending this boat any person in the 6'plus 180lb or more size range that is interested in an easy handling sporty boat.

Manufacturer = Confluence
Brand = Wilderness Systems
Model = Tempest 180 Pro
Material = Fiberglass
Length = 18'
Width = 23"
Weight = 64 lbs.
Capacity = 400 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay - To the Catamaran Resort and back
Time = 6:00 AM
Distance = 6.33 miles
Duration = 1:16
Avg Speed = 4.99 mph
Conditions = Partly cloudy and breezy

Day 9 - Wilderness Systems 'Tarpon 120'

Cut and paste yesterday's Tarpon 100 report, add 2 feet to the boat's length and you have my experience in the Tarpon 120. The extra two feet did add some speed and today I had no trouble maintaining a comfortable 4 mph. At one point I experienced a little weather cocking while running across the wind, a rudder could be added to the boat but I don't see where it'd ever be necessary as all it takes is an occasional stern draw kept things going straight.

Manufacturer = Confluence
Brand = Wilderness Systems
Model = Tarpon 120
Material = Plastic
Length = 12'-3"
Width = 30"
Weight = 64 lbs.
Capacity = 350 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay - Santa Barbara Cove and back
Time = 6:00 AM
Distance = 5.04 miles
Duration = 1:13
Avg. Speed = 4.14 mph
Conditions = Partly cloudy and breezy

Day 8 - Wilderness Systems 'Tarpon 100'

From a 17' touring boat last night to the 10' Tarpon 100 this morning, quite a switch for sure. This year saw the Tarpon SOT kayaks from Wilderness Systems come with the same Phase 3 seat systems found in the Tsunami line from Wilderness. I must say that it's hard to find a more comfortable seat. I'm not a huge fan of high seat backs and how they inhibit good torso rotation that really lets you power your stroke. But on a ten foot long sit on top, seriously... what does it really matter... sometimes you just go for comfort. This little boat trades a bit of maneuverability for tracking but it's well worth it and the hull sliced through the water much more quietly than the other SOTs I've tried so far. I didn't have much trouble keeping my speed up over 3.5 mph but trying for anything more than 4.2 or so was a waste of energy. No surprise for a short stable boat. Overall it's a fun little boat to paddle for not-to-long casual trips. One thing I have to wonder when I look at the ample 30.5" width is if manufacturers are forgetting about folks that just want to paddle while they make SOT's more and more fishable.

Manufacturer = Confluence
Brand = Wilderness Systems
Model = Tarpon 100
Material = Plastic
Length = 10'
Width = 30.5"
Weight = 55 lbs
Capacity = 325 lbs

Location = Mission Bay - loop around Mariner's Cove and back
Time = 6:00 AM
Distance = 3.59 miles
Duration = 1:00
Avg Speed = 3.59 mph
Conditions = Partly cloudy and slight breeze

Day 7 - Valley 'Aquanaut HV' plastic

Tonight was Aqua Adventures 'Thursday Evening Paddle' and I was on call to be the leader of the group. Over 23 people showed up for the event, a surprisingly large number for mid April, which made for a fun night. Two young ladies asked if they could paddle a canoe rather than kayaks because they are planning on participating in a dragon boat race and wanted to practice with a single bladed paddle. They had very little canoeing experience so I figured I'd take a canoe paddle along in my kayak to see if I could give them some advice along the way. That's how it came to be that at one point in the night I was sitting on the back deck of the Aquanaut with my feet in the cockpit paddling with a canoe paddle giving dragon boat paddling advice to two girls in a canoe. Hats off to variety I guess.


The plastic Aquanaut is not a boat I paddle very often. It's a fine handling boat but somehow I just don't get much out of paddling it. Perhaps the grey color of this one predisposes me to a dull experience in the boat. All I know is that in the Aquanaut it just feels like I'm pushing around a lot of boat. Folks often ask how it compares to a Nordkapp which I love to paddle. To that I'd have to say that for me the Aquanaut is more stable but less maneuverable but I still can't say which is faster. Perhaps with a stop watch and an hour to kill I'll finally have a solid answer to that question.

Manufacturer = Valley Sea Kayaks
Brand = Valley
Model = Aquanaut HV
Material = Plastic
Length = 17'-7"
Width = 22 1/2"
Weight = 58 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay 'Thursday Evening Paddle'
Time = 6:00 PM
Distance = 4 miles
Duration = 2:00
Avg. Speed = NA*
Conditions = Overcast but nice
* These large group paddles are a thing all their own when it comes to speed.

Day 6 - SKUK (NDK) 'Explorer LV'

Most of the usual suspects assembled on the Aqua Adventures dock this morning for our weekly "Wednesday Morning Paddle". The unusually nice weather we've had the last two days didn't hold into today and we launched under an overcast sky with a bit of wind. When I drew a boat name from the hat this morning I first came up with a stand up board but put it back and drew again knowing I'd need a touring boat to keep up with this crowd. The very next pick put me in the Explorer LV from SKUK (formerly NDK). The Explorer's reputation as an expedition worthy kayak is world renowned. It's a kayak that I love and would certainly be on the top of my list if I had to choose just one boat to paddle. The low volume (LV) version of the Explorer is (not surprisingly) a bit tighter fit than I care for, mainly because the low front deck puts my legs in a straighter posture than I'm used to. Anybody probably 5'-8" and under 150 lbs or less should certainly give this boat a try, especially if they're considering multi day trips. I like the Explorer for it's handling and mainly because it just "feels" right. Folks say a kayak should fit like your favorite pair of blue jeans. For me that's exactly how the Explorer feels, like a worn-in pair of relaxed fit Levis. However, the Explorer LV, bit too small for me, feels like I'm wearing another person's favorite pair of blue jeans.

After watching my GPS this morning I discovered that it's not as fast as I had thought but I still cruised at 4.5 mph with ease. I may have to re-visit this kayak when I'm not chatting with all the people around me. Today's paddle on small wind chop hardly does this boat justice knowing from past experience that rough water makes this boat come alive.

Manufacturer = SKUK
Model" = Explorer LV
Material = fiberglass
Length =17' 8"
Width = 21.5"

Location = Mission Bay out the jetty and north to roller coaster
Time = 7:00 AM
Distance = 4.69 miles
Duration = 1:15
Avg. Speed = 3.7 mph (lots of talking on the tour this morning)
Conditions = Small wind chop and breeze

Day 5 - Necky 'Eliza' composite

First of all you should know that our composite Eliza is hot pink. If it wasn't for that fact and the fact that Necky advertises this kayak as being a woman's kayak, I would probably paddle it more often. Not that there is anything wrong with a guy paddling a hot pink kayak designed for women....what ever works for you man... It's kind of too bad actually that this boat has been deemed a "women's" kayak. I think that may be scaring a lot of men away from trying it who may actually like it, perhaps in a color other than hot pink though.



The Eliza surprises me every time I paddle it. At only 15' long I never expect it to be as fast as it is, whenever I paddle it with a group I have no problem keeping up. It's a stable but nimble boat that turns very easily on edge. The hull and seat system are designed to fit a women's hips which means it's a bit loose on my frame but that's nothing a little foam couldn't cure. The one thing that does disappoint me about the Eliza is the lack of a day hatch behind the cockpit. I don't know who ever decided that day touring boats don't need day hatches, but it seems to be a curse of kayaks in this class. Anybody (women OR men) looking for a lightweight, great handling, day tripper should consider this kayak.


Manufacturer = Johnson Outdoors
Brand = Necky
Model = Eliza
Material = Composite
Length = 15'-3"
Width = 21"
Weight = 47 lbs.


Location = Run out the jetty and one mile straight off shore from Mission Bay
Time = 5:45 AM
Distance = 4.5 miles
Duration = 1:01
Avg. Speed = 4.5 mph
Conditions = Flat calm and beautiful

Day 4 - Wilderness Systems "Tempest 170" plastic

The luck of the draw put me in the Tempest 170 this morning. I didn't get my fill of the surf yesterday so I grabbed a helmet and headed out to Dog Beach to play in the waves. Most of the waves were small which gave me a chance to practice bracing and maneuvering in the soup. A couple bigger sets did sneak in which provided a little extra excitement as went almost entirely airborne off the back sides of a few very steep waves. The Tempest 170 is a pretty quick boat even in the plastic version I was able to easily cruise at over 5mph this morning. On edge the kayak is very stable and maneuverable. I prefer the fit of the smaller Tempest 165 for rough water paddling but the 170's slightly looser feel is more comfortable for a long haul. I had the same boat on LA Bay in Baja last February guiding a high school group from New Hampshire. While on the five day trip the boat handled all of my gear (and a fair amount of the kid's gear) with ease. I was impressed how well it handled fully loaded as well. If someone is looking for a boat that would perform well as a playful day tripper and still pull off a longer camping trip from time to time I think the Tempest 170 would be a great boat to consider.

Note: I re-visited the Tempest 170 later today when I did a quick after work paddle with a friend Mike Franklin who is a professional photographer that does amazing work. He has a couple cool ideas for slide/video clips that will be fun include so watch for those. We did a quick paddle out around the buoy enjoying the sunset. He snapped a few quick photos one of which is my profile picture.


Manufacturer = Confluence
Brand = Wilderness Systems
Model = Tempest 170
Material = Plastic
Length = 17'-0"
Width = 22"
Weight = 56 lbs.
Capacity = 325 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay channel to Dog Beach
Time = 7:00 AM
Duration = 1:01
Distance = 4.54 miles
Avg. Speed = 4.5 mph*
Conditions = 1' surf with occasional 3-4'
Activity = Surf zone practice**

* Avg. speed reflects time spent playing in waves my average cruising speed was about 5 mph and top speed on a wave 12.8 mph.
** Please get professional instruction in surf zone dynamics and kayak handling before taking kayaks in the surf.

Day 3 - Dagger "Kaos"

A twist of events this morning left me with two Dagger Kaos SOT surf kayaks in the back of my truck destined for a surf lesson for a person that was not able to participate. Rather than just scrub the whole morning I ended up going out at Tourmaline Surf Park in Pacific Beach with some friends (Theresa, Peter, Thom, and Steve) to give the Kaos a shake down in the mellow 2'-3' surf that was rolling in. Tourmaline is known by some as "Old Man's" because it is favored by long board surfers who tend to have a bit more grey hair than the youngsters so often seen on the waves. The long boards are there for a reason as the waves there form slowly and slide in toward the beach in almost slow motion. At 10' long the Kaos was a great match for these waves allowing me to get on twice as often as the guys that were with me in high performance (but much shorter) surf kayaks. Because the boat is long and heavy (at surf kayak standards) maneuvering was a bit more challenging than in my composite surf boat, but with good pre-rotation and timing I was able to do easy top and bottom turns and the occasional cutback. The boat is very forgiving (with not too aggressive rails) it is solid on and off the waves and the rockerd bow makes paddling out over the soup a little easier. Overall the kaos is a fantastic way for someone to get started in surf kayaking.

Manufacturer = Confluence Watersports
Brand = Dagger*
Model = Kaos
Material = Plastic
Length = 10'-2"
Width = 27"
Weight = 41 lbs.
Capacity = 250 lbs.

Location = Tourmaline Surf Park (Pacific Beach CA)
Time = 8:00 AM
Duration = 2:00
Conditions = 2'-3' waves at 12 seconds, a bit mushy but many good clean shoulders

* The Kaos used to be sold under the Wilderness Systems brand. Same boat...different logo.

Day 2 - Ocean Kayak "Drifter"

The details of how this thing is going to work are still being ironed out and this afternoon a few parameters were suggested by my friends Thom and Lynn Underwood. They decreed that the 100 boats must be paddled in 100 consecutive days. After having pulled off only five missed days in the last 107 days I, for one, appreciate the challenge 100 consecutive days will present especially when I fly to New York for BCU coach training next month. Just the same it will ad a little edge to the challenge and will keep me honest. Another bug I'm working out is how to choose which boat to paddle every day. The solution I came up with was to write the name of each boat in our fleet on a small scrap of paper and put them in an envelope. I thought of separating out the performance touring boats and stand up boards but I thought to keep things fare and more interesting I would simply paddle the boat that I draw from the hat, so to speak. Because I do often need to paddle a specific type of boat for a lesson or tour this may mean that I have to either paddle twice in one day or occanionally keep drawing until I pick an appropriate boat. Some of the boats I'll be paddling will be borrowed from friends so I will have to mix them in when time allows.

With my new boat choosing system in place I drew the second boat to be paddled which was the Ocean Kayak "Drifter". Just like that I managed to go from one of the smallest boats in the Ocean Kayak lineup to one of the biggest. There was no doubt that the 32 1/2" beam on this boat provided for a very stable platform. With a capacity that tops out at 500 pounds I was like a fly on a horses back sitting on that boat. It was a very comfortable and surprisingly quick run out the Mission Bay jetty and around to Dog Beach to scout the surf for a surf kayaking lesson tomorrow. At the end of the jetty I encountered a pod of dolphin and tried in vain to get a picture of them on the surface. After checking the surf at Dog Beach I paddled around the "Red Buoy" where I paused to take some pictures of the sea lions and then paddled around the north jetty to check out the surf at South Mission. The kayak handled nicely but I did find that the huge width of the boat caused me to bump my paddle on the sides of the boat more than normal. I've been moving to a shorter and shorter paddle favoring a more vertical stroke but the Drifter is one that requires a longer paddle and lower stroke just to get the blades in the water.

Manufacturer = Johnson Outdoors
Brand = Ocean Kayak
Model = Drifter
Material = Plastic
Length = 12'-7"
Width = 32.5"
Weight = 56 lbs.
Capacity = 450-500 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay (Red Buoy loop)
Time = 6:30 PM
Distance = 3.90 miles
Duration = 1:05
Avg. Speed = 3.6 mph*
* Average speed reflects the time I spent taking pictures and such.

DAY 1 - Ocean Kayak "Venus 10"

Well I had to start somewhere.

When I stepped on the Aqua Adventures dock this morning faced with two walls of boats stacked three rows high I didn't know how to choose the first one for this game. I did know that I need to save some of the decked touring kayaks to paddle during lessons and open coast tours and such. Surf kayaks would be saved for days when it'd be a shame to not get on the waves and I'd want to save paddling the stand up boards for those mornings when it's so calm and glassy that you can see right to the bottom of the bay. That left our sizable selection of SOT's and some open canoes to get stared on. So with the thought that every big job starts with one small bight I selected one of the smaller boats in our fleet, the nine foot ten inch "Venus 10" from Ocean Kayak.

The Venus 10 is a fine example of a boat that I'm not the appropriate size person to paddle. Most definitely designed for smaller paddlers, at 160# I'm only a few pounds away from it's maximum capacity. I have not been in this boat much before and I have seen it cause a swim for more than one unsuspecting person yet it felt stable enough for me but certainly not as stable as most sit on tops. I paddled a simple four mile loop around Vacation Island on Mission Bay and was able to average a comfortable 3.5 miles per hour. The boat has a nice enough glide for a short boat but one thing I noticed was the rather noisy bow wake the hull pushed up. It may have been due to the fact that my weight had the boat pushed into the water further than normal or it may just be a quirk of the boat's hull shape. The fact that the 10' boat was very maneuverable was no surprise and I liked the fact that it actually responded to edging. Overall it was a pleasant paddle and a great boat to start out with.

Manufacturer = Johnson Outdoors
Brand = Ocean Kayak
Model = Venus 10
Length = 9'-10"
Width = 28"
Weight = 34 lbs.
Capacity = 160-175 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay (Vacation Island loop)
Time = 6:30 AM
Distance = 3.84 miles
Duration = 59:00
Avg. Speed = 3.9 mph