Day 105 Oru (Oragami Kayak)

It suffices to say that up here in Wisconsin we lived through one of the roughest winters in recent memory. So it was with much anticipation that I waited for the local lakes to finally thaw so I could get the Oru out on the water. Ironically it was on my very first outing that a twist of fate allowed me to benefit from the boat’s most notable feature. I was about a mile up the Eau Claire River having been forced into the main channel due to my favorite backwater short cuts still being iced over. I had just rounded the top of a mid-channel island to turn around and right there stuck upside down on a sand bar was a Wenonah canoe. The canoe was a bit beat up after apparently being stuck on/in the frozen river all winter. But, after a brief inspection, I figured with a little TLC (and a lot of glass and resin) this canoe could be nice to have, so I decided to take it home. At first I was kicking myself for not bringing a rope that I could use to tow it, but then it occurred to me that I could just fold up the Oru put it in the bottom of the canoe and use the kayak paddle to paddle the canoe home. It worked like a charm and all I could do was smile at the fortuitous chance of being there with a folding kayak. 

At twelve feet long and twenty five inches wide, the Oru tends toward the “Recreational” kayak genera of kayaks and its speed and basic handling reflect that (ie… deep seat, roomy, stable, easy to turn, not exactly a race horse). One notable difference is that impressed me is, unlike so many “Rec” boats, the Oru does not have an oversized cockpit opening. Instead the cockpit is sized like many sea kayaks and can be fitted with a ‘normal’ (Snap Dragon –large-) spray skirt. This normal sized cockpit combined with a not-too-deep deck allows for good body contact. It’s that body contact that allows a paddler to edge and roll the Oru effectively putting its overall handling more toward that of a touring kayak.

Of course there are always tradeoffs when you design a boat that can be stored in the trunk of your car. This is engineering not magic after all. And the Oru has a couple quirky things that at first I was a bit skeptical about. The first is the unusual foot brace which consists of a flat bar that is held in place by two straps anchored on the sides of the kayak. While the foot brace allows you to push firmly, it can “swing” up and down on the straps. At first I found it a little distracting but quickly came to enjoy the ability to change my foot and leg posture in the kayak while still maintaining contact on the foot brace. The second quirky thing that is a byproduct of the Oru’s foldability is the neoprene end caps that pull over the bow and stern of the boat and a few flat washered anchors that protrude through the hull. I feared these would create a bunch of drag and slow the boat down. Really though once you’re on the water you forget they’re even there.

So as far as paddling goes I feel the Oru fits in the “recreational” end of the spectrum in line with boats like the Necky Manitou 12 or Current Designs Kestrel 12.  As far as the Oru’s packability, I have to say it is by far the easiest kayak to set up and take down that I have ever seen. While other manufacturers SAY their boats can be assembled in twenty or even ten minutes, it’s actually true with the Oru. My first go at setting up the boat, with the Oru rep standing by offering pointers, was 15 minutes. The second try, even after not doing it for a while, was 11 minutes. This last time only 9 minutes and I know with practice I could do it even faster. I wager that when you compare the time it takes to load and unload a hard shell kayak on top of your car, overall it takes less time to get an Oru from storage to the water and back again.

Oru Review

Manufacturer = Oru Kayak
Brand = Oru
Model = Oru
Type = Packable Recreational
Material = Plastic
Length = 12'-0"
Width = 25"
Weight = 26 lbs.

Location = Eau Claire River - Schofield WI -
Time = 5:00 PM
Distance = aprox 3 miles
Duration = 1:00
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Cloudy and chilly with snow on the ground

Day 104 - Mayan Seas - Point Bennett - Duane Strosaker Design

It’s been so long since I posted on this blog that I’d almost forgotten how. In fact, August 4th 2009 was the last post of the 100 Boats challenge which was actually the 103rd day in a row that I’d test paddled boats that year. The months/year following the 100 Boats challenge brought huge changes in my life with a move home back in Wisconsin. Before getting settled in to life back home, however, I got involved with an adventure that took me on a 5000+ mile loop around the eastern US by kayak. (The Ikkuma 17 by Seda if you’re wondering).

This week an interesting series of events brought me to San Diego. Then, yesterday, with an impromptu trip to Tijuana Mexico to retrieve a kayak for a friend, I ended up with a brand new boat to try out. Seems how I was going to be on the water with Aqua Adventures “Wednesday Morning Paddle” I figured I’d dust off the keyboard and post another review.

Designed by Southern California paddler Duane Strosaker, the Point Bennett is now being manufactured in fiberglass by Mayan Seas (and with Duane’s permission comes with a drop skeg). After paddling with Duane for years with numerous long distance crossings to the Channel Islands, I am quite familiar with the Point Bennett, especially by seeing it from the outside. This morning was the first time I paddled one for more than a few minutes at a kayak club picnic.

The Point Bennett was designed by Duane to fit Duane. Thankfully I am about the same height and build (5’-10” 165lbs.) and the boat fits me like a glove. Folks that range much bigger than that may feel a bit cramped in the low decked cockpit. I’d like to see Mayan develop a “high volume” version to fit larger paddlers.

In the four foot swell and off shore wind we experienced this morning the boat handled like a dream. The Point Bennett has little trouble holding a line in a crossing wind. In fact, the way Duane builds them without a skeg, all he has to do to correct for weather cocking is weight the stern with a small bag full of water. Those of us who appreciate modern technology can also appreciate the fact that the Mayan Seas version of the Point Bennett comes with a drop skeg. I learned quickly this morning that it takes VERY little skeg to fine tune the boat and keep it in line.

With a request from Duane to keep it off the rocks I ran a very conservative line along the jetty today still enjoying a little help by catching a few rides on the incoming swell. I only wish I had time to take it out for a long paddle on open water where it truly excels.

The Point Bennett was designed and refined by a man that has spent more time on the water than anybody I know. It’s a fun boat to paddle and can take an able paddler as far as they choose to go.

Point Bennett Review
Manufacturer = Mayan Seas
Brand = Mayan Seas
Model = Point Bennett
Type = Sea Kayak
Material = Fiberglass
Length = 17'-6"
Width = 21.25"
Weight = 52.9 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay - Ocean Beach Pier with the Wednesday Morning Group
Time = 7:00 AM
Distance = aprox 3 miles
Duration = 1:20
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Partly cloudy and a bit chilly by San Deigo standards

Day 103 - Epic 'V10 Sport' - HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!

This was the last boat I paddled way back in April before I started the 100 Boats Challenge. On that day it was already the 100th day I'd paddled in the year, today was the 206th. I was tempted to take the V10 out on the ocean to try to catch some swell but instead I opted for my workout run around Fiesta Island inside Mission Bay. It had been a long time since I timed myself around the island so I wanted to see how things would go. Ultimately I didn't even get close to my best time on the seven mile loop. After picking up a gob of sea grass on the boat's rudder and stopping to clear it, I ran into a friend on the back side of the island and stopped again to chat for a couple minutes. Both stops, and so much time away from the surf ski, slowed me quite a bit but it was still a fun run.

This Sport model is similar wider than the other V10's in Epic's line up which allows folks that are new to surf skis (me included) to feel more stable and confidant than they would in a super narrow racing ski. This boat isn't near as fast as it's narrower siblings but it's fast enough for me to enjoy a nice workout on the bay once and a while. As today's experience showed, weed cutter in front of the rudder would be a nice feature.

V10 Sport Review

Manufacturer = Epic
Brand = Epic
Model = V10 Sport
Type = Surf Ski
Material = Fiberglass
Length = 20'-0"
Width = 19"
Weight = 37 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay - Fiesta Island Loop
Time = 6:00 AM
Distance = aprox 7 miles
Duration = 1:20
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Partly cloudy and pleasant

Day 102 - Necky 'Looksha 12 Si'

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

Day 101 - SKUK 'Romany S' fiberglass

The 100 consecutive days has ended, in fact yesterday was the first day since March 29th (and the 7th day in 2009) that I didn't paddle anything at all. Add it all up and I've already paddled over 203 days this year alone. There are still a bunch of boats in the Aqua Adventures' fleet that I want to paddle, so if I'm going to paddle more boats, I see no reason to stop blogging at 100. The difference from the 100 days challenge is that I'm now paddling whatever I feel like paddling whenever I feel like paddling it. However, when the opportunity to paddle something new comes my way I figure I'll give it a try and post my experiences.

This morning (my arms rested from the one day off from paddling) I joined the "Wednesday Morning Group" which featured Neil sporting a new hat (inside joke). The boat of the day was the Romany S in fiberglass known around here as the "John Deer" boat, mainly because of the fact that it's green with yellow trim and more because we put John Deer logos on it. This boat is a treat to paddle, very responsive, comfortable (as long as you stay off the but chomper seat back) and quick enough to keep up with the group this morning. I wouldn't pick this boat for long crossings or if I was the type that focused on lots of long distance paddling. But as a day paddling or weekend camping boat, the Romany is hard to beat. The 'S' model is a bit roomier than the regular Romany which makes it a bit looser than I prefer but I still feel solid in this boat. Anybody a few inches and pounds bigger than my 5'-10" 160# will fit this boat like a glove.

Romany S Review

Manufacturer = SKUK (formerly NDK)
Model = Romany S
Type = Touring
Material = Fiberglass
Length =16' 0"
Width = 22"

Location = Mission Bay - Wednesday Morning Paddle
Time = 7:00 AM
Distance = Aprox. 4 miles
Duration = 1:30
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Warm, calm, partly cloudy

*Day 100 - Necky 'Manitou Sport'

The surf is big in Southern California right now. That's why, despite the fact that I didn't get to bed till nearly midnight last night, I got up at 4:30 this morning in order to get out on the waves before work. Paul and I took advantage of the low tide this morning and headed down to Sunset Cliffs at a break called "Garbage". It was running pretty well and we enjoyed some screaming fast rides on waves that were well overhead. The size of the waves, and tremendous power they seemed to carry, left me feeling a little humbled. Consequently, I didn't feel quite confidant enough to do many cutbacks or moves instead I pretty much dropped in and ran for my life toward the shoulder before getting caught in the massive chundering pile closing in behind me.

I knew I'd need speed to play on waves this big so I brought my Mega Airforce along with me this morning. Seems how it's my favorite surf boat and tales of surfing big waves are very exciting, it would make sense to review my Mega for the 100th day of the 100 days challenge. However, folks that have been keeping track will know that I already reported on the Airforce a few weeks back. So when a great group of friends stopped by today to congratulate me on the completion of the 100 boats challenge (complete with a creatively decorated giant cookie) it was, in fact, a bit of a pre-celebration because I still needed to get in another boat for an hour to make it official. I told everyone that I figured I'd go out after work in a nice graceful touring boat like the Romany S or the like. However, after a long, hot, busy work day, when I realized that we had six people signed up for a fireworks tour launching at 8:30, I didn't have the energy to fuss with a special boat so I once again drew from the bag-o-boats and came out with the spunky little 'Manitou Sport'.

This was the first I'd ever been in this 10'-11" recreational kayak and I didn't know if it would be able to keep up with the three tandems full of clients that I launched for the tour, but I was in charge so they could only go as fast as me anyway. Ultimately speed wasn't an issue as we ended up with the typical mysterious couple that couldn't seem to make an 18' touring tandem move above a coasting speed. So it was at that leisured pace that we cruised the bay up behind Sea World to watch their nightly fireworks show. Not surprisingly the Sport turned on a dime but I was pleased to discover that for such a short boat it tracks quite well. In addition, unlike so many recreational boats, the Manitou Sport has a cockpit opening that allows for some knee to deck connection which makes the boat feel more stable and puts the paddler more in control.

Manitou Sport Review

Manufacturer = Johnson Outdoors
Brand = Necky
Model = Manitou Sport
Type = Recreational
Material = Plastic
Length = 10'-11"
Width = 26.5"
Weight = 44 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay - Fireworks Tour
Time = 8:30 PM
Distance = About 4.5 miles
Duration = 2:00
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Calm, clear, and warm

*Day 99 - "Vic's" SUP Board

Forgive me for not having the proper name and specs for this SUP board. All I've ever known it as is Vic's board. It belongs to one of our SUP coaches who stores it here on our dock. I've never taken the time to acquaint myself with exactly what brand it is and since arriving on a plane at 9:30 last night I haven't had time to check into it.

It was 9:30 PM when our plane landed after flying in from the east coast. By the time we got picked up and I made it down to the Aqua Adventure's dock it was nearly 11:00. Even with the help of time zones I was cutting it close to get my hour of paddling in to make it on the 99th consecutive day. I had paddled a Malibu II SOT that we still had a the North Carolina beach house in the morning mostly so I could experience the novelty of paddling both Atlantic and Pacific waters in the same day. But in order to make it count I needed to paddle something else. Whenever I don't want to have to fuss with much gear, and when I want to stay dry, I go with a standup board. So with that in mind I grabbed our friend's standup board and headed out for a quick hour long tour of the bay.

The board was plenty stable and I set a nice easy pace as I visited the Barefoot Bar dock then went across to the Mission Bay Yacht club where I watched the crew there clean up after a wedding reception. From there I stopped to let the Bahia Bell paddle wheeler pass by on it's way back into Santa Barbara cove before I headed back to our dock.

Vic's SUP Board Review

Manufacturer= x
Brand (shaper) = x
Model = x
Type = SUP
Material = x
Length = x
Width = x
Thickness = x
Weight = x lbs.

Location = Mission Bay - Barefoot bar to Yacht Club and back
Time = 10:45 PM
Distance = About 3 miles
Duration = 1:00
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Flat calm and warm

Day 98 - Cobra 'Tandem'

With Jen's ten year old cousin CJ as a co-pilot, we set out today to do a quarter-navigation of Sunset Beach Island. With a bag full of bottled water, sunscreen, and other on the water necessities we launched into the small canal in the interior of the island and started our way north west up the inside of the island. Along the way we drifted with the tail end of the ebbing tide viewing thousands of fiddler crabs scuttling across the beach in clouds and snowy egrets wading in the shallow water to feed. As we neared the end of the island storm clouds threatened to the inland side of us so we landed to wait and see which direction the storms would move. After a half hour it was obvious that the storms were headed further inland so we set out again out the river mouth and into the open ocean.

It was a pretty exciting run through the bumpy river mouth and once on the ocean we were dealing with rather lively sea conditions. We worked our way south about a mile until I asked CJ if he thought we were being more stupid than safe. At first he said "probably a mix of both" but just then as a rather large swell rolled under us he said "maby a bit more stupid." So with that we turned and headed through the surf (which was no problem with all the practice we had earlier in the week) landed safely on the beach then called for a ride.

The Cobra handled well enough and as they are known for, it was quite stable. I'm not sure it's a boat I'd care to spend much time in the surf with as it's sharp rails seemed a bit catchy.

Cobra Tandem Review

Manufacturer = Cobra
Brand = Cobra
Model = Cobra Tandem
Type = Sit On Top Tandem
Material = Plastic
Length = 12'-6"
Width = 36"
Weight = 60 lbs.

Location = Sunset Beach North Carolina
Time = 3:00 PM
Distance = About 2.5 miles
Duration = 2:00 hour
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Mix of sun and clouds with thunderstorms in the neighborhood - strong winds and choppy water with some whitecaps

Day 97 - Perception 'Lana Kui 12.5'

When I got back to the beach with this boat the first thing the kids did was count the scupper holes up front to make sure we didn't have the same experience as we did yesterday with the Pelican. With the kids approval we launched into the surf again to give it a go. The Lana Kui surfed pretty well but because the boat was so slow, paddling out was a challenge. Jen's cousin CJ enjoyed standing up in the front seat again to do some "real" surfing. A short run to the fishing pier and back with Jen's neice Mackenzi gave me a feel for how well this boat cruises and it was no surprise that it was a bit sluggish, stable for sure, but sluggish.

**Day 96 - Pelican

With several hours of rental left on our kayak I went back down the street this morning to swap out the Malibu II for something different. Never having the chance to paddle a Pelican SOT before I figured one would be worth a try. It was during our very first launch through the surf that I quickly realized that I had picked a bad boat for the beach. The one small scupper hole in the front seat was entirely inadequate resulting in waves filling the front of the boat with water and dangerously slowing our progress out through the surf. Once through the breakers my co-pilots up front took to hand bailing the water to lighten the load. Surfing back in was interesting as the low volume bow tended to plow toward the bottom threatening to endo on several waves. Jen's cousin and I took a quick cruise down the coast and enjoyed the ride with the current but as soon as we turned around to come back it became a frustrating slog back to our camp on the beach. I can think of several things that could be done to improve these boats but I figure Pelican gets plenty of feedback from all the pros that sell them at Costco.

Pelican Tandem Review

Manufacturer = Pelican
Brand = Pelican
Model =
Type = Sit On Top Tandem
Material = Plastic
Length =
Width =
Weight =

Location = Sunset Beach North Carolina
Time = 11: AM
Distance = N/A
Duration = 1:00 hour
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Mostly sunny with 1-2' waves water temp 80 deg.

Day 95 - Ocean Kayak 'Malibu II'

It was the discovery of a kayak (and beach toy) rental place within a half mile of the beach house that is going to make this weeks four or five boats much easier to come by. If you read my last post you'd know that finding such a close supply of boats is going to save a lot of hastles.

The boat of the day today was the Malibu II tandem SOT from Ocean Kayak. I was pleased to learn that a 24 hour rental would cost only $50 but would include two not-so-great paddles, two all but useless PFD's, and seat backs would cost extra. I'm not sure the renters at Aqua Adventures appreciate us quite enough.

We took the boat straight out to the surf to give Jen's cousin's kids rides on the waves. The Malibu handled great in the small surf, handling easily enough to allow me to hold the line while surfing and had enough speed to punch out without too much trouble. Jen's young cousins caught on quick and I had them edging into the waves to handle getting broached and standing in the front seat to really "surf" in on the waves.

Malibu II Review

Manufacturer = Johnson Outdoors
Brand = Ocean Kayak
Model = Malibu II
Type = Sit On Top
Material = Plastic
Length = 12'-0"
Width = 30"
Weight = 58 lbs.


Location = Sunset Beach North Carolina
Time = 3:30 PM
Distance = N/A
Duration = 2:00 hours
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Mostly cloudy and breezy with 1-2' waves water temp 80 deg.

THE END IS NEAR - And we're on our way to North Carolina -

I'm writing this review at 30,000 feet on an airplane bound for Atlanta. Jen and I are headed to North Carolina to speed the week at a beach house with her family, a summer tradition that pre-dates time. Over the next four days I'll be faced with the challenge of finding four different boats to paddle, (damn you Thom for suggesting 100 consecutive days for this game) but I'm up to the challenge. I've located an outfit that has enough boats available but working out the kinks of how to get to their location to paddle every day is proving to be a bit of a challenge. Their store is 45 min. by car from where we're staying which means that each days one hour paddle will require an hour and a half of driving. I looked their location up on a map and it looks like by water it's only six miles from the beach house to a potential landing near their store, so I e-mailed them with a hair brained idea of keeping the boats over night and paddling over every morning to trade one boat out for another. It may require an 8 block carry inland to their actual location but I'm not sure because after I mentioned the idea they quit responding to my e-mails. Perhaps I scared them away.

The plan right now is to find this shop on the way in to the beach from the airport tomorrow morning. Jen can drop me off while I paddle the first boat over to the house. The next day I'll paddle it back and swap it out for another...so on and so forth for the next four days returning Thursday's boat Friday morning then catching a ride back to the house with a willing driver. Unless I manage to get an hour in another boat Friday morning I'll have to catch up with day 99 late Friday night after we fly back to San Diego.

Saturday July 25th should mark day 100 and the final boat of the original 100 boats challenge. To mark the occasion, our friend Jay Murdock is cooking up a plan to include a paddle and lunch to follow with the folks from the San Diego Kayaking Club. It will be a simple out and back coastal paddle from our dock at Aqua Adventures with lunch at the deli next door to follow. I'm thinking about inviting folks (from San Diego and all of Southern California) to join me for a La Jolla to Mission Bay paddle on Sunday morning to mark day 101. Please let me know if you're interested.

Day 94 - Wilderness Systems 'Zephyr 160'

Surfers must hate me. Most times when I head out into the lineup with the board surfers it's with my 9' long Mega surf kayak which (complete with fins)is really not much more than a surf board that you sit on. Sometimes, however, when the waves are really too small for any good surfing with a short surf boat, I opt for a sea kayak. The speed of these boats allows me to pick up little waves way outside and enjoy smooth long runs all the way to the beach. Granted I'm not exactly carving the face of the wave but it sure beats waiting hours for the one larger than average wave that can allow a short boat or board surfer to get a ride. I don't actually get in the lineup with my long boat, the risk of getting swepted in sideways wipeing out a 16 food wide path along the way is not a pretty thought. Instead I stay to the side picking up the crumbs that nobody else can surf. That was the story today when I met some friends in La Jolla to play on the small but glassy smooth surf.

This time it was the Zephyr 160 that I brought along to play with. I prefer the tighter fit of the smaller 15.5 but this boat still fits well enough. I love hitting the surf with either of the Zephyrs as thier excellent maneauverability and stability make them a joy to paddle in rough water. As one can expect these boats aren't going to keep up with a longer narrower kayak but when it comes to playing in tight quarters and moving water they're hard to beat.

Zephyr 160 Review
Manufacturer = Confluence
Brand = Wilderness Systems
Model = Zephyr 160
Type = Touring
Material = Plastic
Length = 16'-0"
Width = 23"
Weight = 54 lbs.
Capacity = 300 lbs.

Location = La Jolla Shores surf session
Time = 6:30 AM
Duration = 1:30
Distance = N/A
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Very calm with glassy 1-2' waves
Activity = Surfing

Day 93 - Ocean Kayak 'Prowler Trident 11'

Wide, stable, and tricked out for fishing, that's the Trident 11 in a nutshell. As one might expect from a boat over 30" wide and under 12' long the Trident 11 doesn't take any prizes for speed, yet it moves along with less effort than other fishing kayaks I've demoed lately. Today I went from the Aqua Adventures dock around the marina and out the Jetty to check out the surf conditions. It did move along well enough for a boat of it's width and I even clocked a 15 min. mile (4 mph) coming back in the jetty. It is comfortable enough with the low back seat slings that I like so much. The one thing I would do if I paddled this boat regularly is put a scupper stopper in the front right scupper hole. That scupper hole is designed for a depthfinder transducer and without something in there you have a constant slap and suck sound to entertain you.

Prowler Trident 11 Review

Manufacturer = Johnson Outdoors
Brand = Ocean Kayak
Model = Prowler Trident 11
Type = Sit On Top
Material = Plastic
Length = 11'-5"
Width = 30.5"
Weight = 54 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay - Red Buoy and back
Time = 6:00 AM
Distance = N/A
Duration = 1:00 hour
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Mostly sunny and breezy

Day 92 - Valley 'Pintail' - Happy Birthday Neil -

Even as I'm making an effort to stick to SOT kayaks as much as possible, the need for a touring kayak for a private lesson today put me in the Valley Pintail. After taking a closer look at the specs, judging by the similarity's, it's no wonder that to me the Pintail feels like a rounded out version of the Anas Acuta. Just like the Anas Acuta, I love taking the Pintail into rough water including surf and (because our Pintail is already a bit beat up, rock gardening as well). The only thing I don't like about our Pintail is that the skeg slider recess is exactly where I'd like to put my knee. Consequently every time I use the thigh braces my knee pushes up into an uncomfortable lump in the deck. I don't know if the slider placement has been changed in newer versions but if it has then I have only good things to say about this boat. The Pintail is just plain fun to paddle.

Pintail Review

Manufacturer = Valley Sea Kayaks
Brand = Valley
Model = Pintail
Material = Fiberglass
Type = Touring
Length = 17'-2"
Width = 21"
Weight = 49 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay - Private lesson
Time = 7:09 AM
Distance = N/A
Duration = 3:00
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Clear and breezy

Day 91 - Ocean Kayak 'Prowler 13'

I must admit that as I near the finish line of the 100 boats I'm realizing that through necessity for lessons and such I tended a little more toward touring kayaks and away from sit on tops. So whenever possible I've been jumping on a SOT to make sure they get a fair shake. Tonight for the Thursday Evening Paddle I had pulled the Prowler Trident 15 but when a sizable gentleman requested a SOT for the tour I gave it up and opted for the Prowler 13 instead. It was a rather large group tonight and as things kept stretching out a bit too much we decided to split up into two groups. A faster group would continue on around Vacation Island and the rest of the folks in the slower group would take a shorter route to the Barefoot Bar and paddle wheelers.

The Prowler 13 is pretty fast for a SOT but I was happy to stay with the slower group and not have to work so hard to keep up with the others in touring boats. Tonight I opted for the simple back band type seat for the Prowler which gives support only on a persons lower back which I believe is much more comfortable than the high back seats. So often high back seats are somewhat self defeating as they tend to put support too high actually leaving a persons lower back unsupported. The solution for some people tends to be to recline the seat to allow for some lower back contact which seems to cause them to lay back and totally wreck their posture and any chance at effective paddling. Consequently for these folks SOT's can feel tipsy, clumsy, and slow. I find that if you keep the seat support low, sit up like you should, and throw in a little torso rotation, SOT's can actually perform pretty well.

I had a good time in the Prowler 13 tonight it's a good size for me and my leg length luckily allows my feet to fall perfectly into one of the foot wells. Foot wells (rather than foot tracks) run the risk of being either a bit too short or a bit too long for many people. I don't know of anybody that every padded out a foot well on their own boat to make it fit but that would be a simple solution.

This Prowler seems to be popular enough for Ocean Kayak to keep it in their line as they move more toward fishing with their new Prowler Trident series of kayaks. I like it because for someone that isn't into fishing they won't have to pay for a bunch of features that are meaningless to them. In addition it's not over wide and stable, like so many fishing kayaks, so it still has a pretty decent glide and maneuvers quite well. It has been popular with the fishing segment for a few years now so it could be a great choice for someone that just wants to cruise or who likes to cruise but wants to fish from time to time as well.

Prowler 13 Review

Manufacturer = Johnson Outdoors
Brand = Ocean Kayak
Model = Prowler 13
Type = Sit On Top
Material = Plastic
Length = 13'-4"
Width = 28"
Weight = 54 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay - Aqua Adventure's Thursday Night Tour
Time = 6:00 PM
Distance = N/A
Duration = 2:00 hours
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Mostly sunny and breezy

Day 90 - Pygmy 'Arctic Turn 14'

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Today a record sized group of twenty kayakers met at our dock here at Aqua Adventures for our Wednesday morning workout paddle. I'll be out of town next Wednesday so it was the last chance to get Mary's kayak in for the 100 boats challenge so it became the boat of the day. Mary did an amazing job crafting this kit boat putting a lot of effort into not fouling up the clean lines with anything more than her trademark "angry fish" stickers on the deck. She went so far as to use epoxy-in threaded bases in lieu of through hull bolts to hold the foot pegs in place. Truly a beautiful boat, this is probably the most meticulously maintained kayak on the planet. Consequently I took a bit more conservative line around the rocks at the end of the Quivira Basin jetty than I would have normally.

This was the first time I ever took the opportunity to paddle a Pygmy boat and I must say I was pleased. It felt very light on the water with very crisp handling and speed beyond what I normally expect from a shorter sea kayak. Anybody with the space, time, tools, patience, and skills required to put one together may want to consider it. The reward of a nice handling beautiful boat will be worth the effort.

Arctic Turn 14 Review

Builder = Mary
Brand = Pygmy
Model = Arctic Turn 14
Type = Touring
Material = Wood
Length = 14'-0"
Width = 23"
Weight = 32 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay - Wednesday Morning Paddle
Time = 7:00 AM
Distance = N/A
Duration = 1:30 hours
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Sunny and warm

Day 89 - Feathercraft 'K1 Expedition'

A student brought a feathercraft for his private lesson and agreed to let me paddle it for the 100 boats challenge providing me with my first ever chance to paddle a feathercraft. I had always heard how skin on frame boats kind of bend and slide over waves so I took this boat directly out the channel to see how it handled on ocean swell. I made good time out the channel leaving plenty of time before dark to splash around a bit in the small waves at Dog Beach. I was very conservative seems how it was not my boat and had only been on the water a couple times before. It did indeed flex and roll over the waves but it still handled the lively water fairly well. I wasn't too impressed with the seat system but I discovered that it may have been an adjustment issue. One thing I discovered on the way in that impressed me the most was the fact that when you paddle over kelp beds, with your heels on the rubberized skin bottom of the boat, the kelp bumps on your heels giving kind of a heel massage. It was a cool enough feeling the first time that I went looking for kelp to run over after that.

K1 Expedition Review

Manufacturer = Feathercraft
Brand = Feathercraft
Model = K1 Expedition
Type = Touring
Material = Kevlar
Length = 16'-5"
Width = 25"
Weight = 51 lbs.

Location = Aqua Adventures Dock to Dog Beach and back
Time = 7:00 PM
Distance = N/A
Duration = 1:00 hour
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Partly cloudy and warm

**Day 88 - SEDA 'Ikkuma 17'

Today was another one of those days were I end up paddling three times in one day. The first two outings were two hour, basic type, private lessons in the Ikkuma 17 and the third time on the water was on a SUP board as a support paddler for the San Diego Triathlon club workout swim in La Jolla.

Introduced just a couple years ago, the Ikkuma 17 has become a fast favorite around here. It is Seda's first attempt at a "British" style kayak taking a step away from the straight running flat rockered, ruddered boats traditionally seen in their line. This kayak has very good primary stability and confidence inspiring secondary stability that allows for excellent edged turns. I'll have to get back out with this one with a GPS to verify it's speed but in my experience the Ikkuma is a darn fast boat. A friend of ours won first place in the Bay to Bay race this year in the under 17' length class (the length of ours is actually about 16'-10"). The only trouble I've seen with the Ikkuma 17 is with people who fall into a specific shoe size and leg length that puts their toes directly under one of the lumps of the recessed deck fittings. If you're unlucky enough to fall in that zone your feet will feel cramped in the otherwise roomy cockpit. An inch longer inseam or size smaller shoe and no problem. Of course you won't know you'll have that problem until you give the boat a try.

If you're considering a composite "British" style sea kayak that turns easily, runs fast, and has enough space to haul you and your gear, give this one a try.

Ikkuma 17 Review

Manufacturer = Seda
Brand = Seda
Model = Ikkuma 17
Type = Touring
Material = Kevlar
Length = 17'-0"
Width = 22"
Weight = 42 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay - Two Private Lessons
Time = 9:00 AM and again at Noon
Distance = N/A
Duration = 2:00 hours each session
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Sunny and warm

*Day 87 - SEDA 'Tallikut'

Today I had a standup lesson at 9:00 AM and seems how I'm out of SUP boards to review I needed to knock out a kayak before my day got started. This time I ended up in the new SEDA Tallikut, their new recreational kayak. To call it a recreational kayak is a bit of a misnomer as that term instantly puts it in the same class as so many vastly inferior kayaks. Compared to many recreational kayaks this boat is a much more serious boat. It still has the wide and stable beam, large cockpit opening, and grand seat system you'd expect in a rec. boat, but the front bulkhead and two completely dry hatches make this boat infinitely more sea worthy (and therefore much safer) than so many of the others.

When you look at the handling of the Tallikut verses other rec boats there really is no comparison, the Tallikut is that much better. My skinny rear end rattled around in the seat like a marble in a tin can but I was still able to get the boat to carve turns remarkably fast. The deck allowed for a pretty good thigh connection which is almost nonexistent in other boats. That connection allowed me to actually hand roll this boat to cool off at the dock. That kind of body connection will allow anyone who paddles this boat to be more stable and in control than they may normally feel in a rec. boat.

This kayak would be a great fit for anyone looking for a stable, easy entry, relaxing ride that still has safety and performance features that hit toward a full on sea kayak.

Ikkuma 15 Review

Manufacturer = Seda
Brand = Seda
Model = Tallikut
Type = Recreational
Material = Fiberglass
Length = 14'-0"
Width = 26"
Weight = 45 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay - Barefoot Bar to the paddle wheeler and back
Time = 7:00 AM
Distance = About 3.5 miles
Duration = 1:00 hour
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Sunny and muggy hot