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
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
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
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
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
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!
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!
Monday, May 4, 2009
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
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
Sunday, May 3, 2009
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
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
Saturday, May 2, 2009
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
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
Friday, May 1, 2009
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
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
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