Not to mention getting it on and off the car and carrying it to the water. The perfect size for weekend camping for smallish women (I'm 5'6", 130). Here, you will find specifications, prices, reviews and where to buy Current Designs kayaks. They can keep you informed on lead times for boats and have insight on what is coming down the pipeline. I bought this Kayak two years ago. for a plastic ocean touring kayak isn't unreasonable We have owned our Northstar for 3 and have been kayakers in singles for about 8 years. Evolutions of these early Current Designs kayaks include the Solstice and Equinox, two classic designs that are still available today. Anglers who use different seat positions will appreciate the built-in adjustability (240cm to 260 . Love the extra room behind the seat for stuffing a jacket & my platypus water bottle. This can be particularly annoying (and even a bit painful) if your hands slip on the shaft. See and review all Current Designs kayaks here. 53 and not as strong as I used to be , I find it impossible to load alone on my Montero as I cant manage the 14 ft length without hearing Danger. The low-profile, backband seating makes it easier for experienced paddlers to perform a roll in these boats. You can fit an army in the cockpit, which means most people will need lots of outfitting to make it usable. The purchase of two new Northstars on different continents is a tangible indication of our respect for this craft. As to outfitting - there was NONE. Check out a few other kayak recommendations below or explore all kayaks to find the perfect one for you! Use Current Designs dealer locator tool to find a local retailer near you. Its quite fast: my wife and I, using wing paddles can maintain a speed of 6.2 m.p.h. harshly as well. The Werner Camano is one of the best kayak paddles on the market. Kayak Rack. I'm small (5'2") yet I am able to carry it on my shoulder, even though it weighs 40#+. quad cities. It's classified 'Light Touring' due to storage, (just a back hatch). The cockpits are big and easy to get in and out of. It is versatile, lightweight, and compact, making it ideal for weekend getaways, fishing excursions, or camping trips with friends. I get compliments on it everywhere. Moving the seat up also allows me to lock in to the non-adjustable thigh hooks. However, we were pleasantly surprised to find that the paddle continues to deliver a trustworthy and reliable performance regardless of what length you set it at. We will continue to work non-stop to get you out on the water as soon as possible. (moderate initial). On a more tangible note, the prismatic coefficient clearly suits our weight. My husband and I own 2 ocean kayaks weighing each between 85-87 lbs. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support. This cuts down on wind resistance and makes it easier to climb back aboard in a paddle float or assisted rescue. Tell us more about your interests so we can deliver you the most relevant paddling information. Beautiful, fast, comfortable boat. Sometimes the choice is made for you, and the kayak is only available in a select build. It has an great blend of speed, stability, and manuverabilty. Build quality of the seats, hatches and rudder has been excellent as has the durability of everything holding up. Our advice is to discuss your needs with your local Wilderness Systems dealer. Check out a few other kayak recommendations below or explore all kayaks to find the perfect one for you! Also, the extra weight makes it necessary to add an extra weight in the bow for proper balance. Read Tchaika Pro reviews or submit your own review to share with the paddling community. After our initial struggles.we purchased a Thule 897XT Hullvator which effortlessly loads the boat on top of my 3-dr Geo Metro and a NRS boat cart.thus problem solved !!! It turns easily when leaned, tracks well on the straights and did not disappoint. If an outfitter near you rents Current Designs kayaks, chances are they will be replenishing their fleet as the kayaks get olderask if they are planning to do so at the end of the season. Kudos also to my faithful Lightning brand paddle. Prior to this kayak we borrowed an Easy Rider Sea Eagle and took this on several trips. NADA 3. such a problem. The thigh braces had to be padded a little. Aside from the fact that it is a hard shell boat and wide enough for the modern build, it is very like some historical Greenland boats. I was able to have a chance to paddle this boat in Sydney Harbor and was rather unimpressed with the performance. I love the low weight, incredible looks, high speed performance, and good stability. At 5'8" and heavier than I want to be it is a tight fit getting in and out. It is not constructed like my Nordkapp with the glass lay up, watertight bulkheads. I do think that the front hatch should be recessed, because of the way it shoots water in your face. I paddled a rental plastic Sealution II and was not impressed. Well explain how tow belts work and basic towing techniques. You can unsubscribe at any time. Overall I am quite impressed with it. for sale. Alpha Angler Fiberglass Paddle . I put my nephew in it and he struggled for about 15 minutes, and then get the primary stability under control. 7 Reasons to Consider Kayaking Events This Year, Best Paddling Destinations For Unforgettable Wildlife Viewing, Kayaking the Mouth of the Columbia River's Tidal Influences. This paddle performed on par with paddles costing quite a bit more. The downside is often poor comfort, sometimes less than stellar workmanship and heavy weight. However, this is preferable to the solid water that we have experienced in other designs. The Phase3 seat is probably the Gold Standard for comfort and adjustability. When your fingers are cold, striking the deck fitting can be really painful. Fiberglass or Aramid construction keeps these kayaks lightweight, and priced at the high end of Current Designs lineup. This may not be a dealbreaker if you are considering buying a used kayak, but be prepared to use some elbow grease cleaning it. Fast and stable. The 15- to 17-foot length and efficient hull shapes mean Danish-style kayaks are also well-suited to day or multi-day touring. On the other hand, he stated he felt like he might go over a couple times, and I never did. They may have the part in stock or recommend compatible parts to use in the damaged ones place. Gorgeous little boat. The secondary stability is really good because of the hard chines. Kayaks Lifetime Triton Angler Kayak With New High Back Seats Rod mounts and Paddles $420 Each. It does, in my experience, weathercock in stiff winds when empty. In addition, if you have a variety of crafts, the Pungo can be adjusted to suit the boat size. You could call it a Romany for the West Coast., [ Paddling Buyers Guide: See all Wilderness Systems boats ]. Finally, remember that online research will only get you so far. more-or-less indefinitely. One good feature is the intangible feeling of ease with which it seems to move through the water. Solid performing boat with an equally solid construction. With a high floatation pfd I find that I do not end up completely upside down, a fact that makes the renter and roll easier. I couldn't count the number of lobster bouys that I collided with, because I couldn't see past the brim of my wife's hat! The only aspect of the paddle that slightly disappointed the testers was the graphic adornments. To get a 10 out of 10, it would weigh 50 lbs, still be as strong as an ox, and load itself onto our car on command. but in the real world. this is an excellent value and a great tandem kayak choice for novice or expert alike. The Apex Rec/Touring Carbon paddle weights just 27 oz and is the lightest option in the Apex series. Browse our Paddling Buyers Guide for all the essential details on every Current Designs kayak on the market. With two paddlers-the prime reason one elects a tandem-this otherwise-handsome craft simply cannot track a straight line without using a rudder; it does track in reverse, if thats important to you. Sometimes edging is not enough to correct this, and you have to use a sweep stroke or, with a really stiff wind at a bad angle, use a stern rudder stroke. )It is my favorite and most used boat. beautifully and is well constructed. my time was 1 hour 5 min 26 sec for a 6.5 mile course. One is the position of the rudder lowering mechanism. The Tempest tends to be a bit unsteady in transition from edge to edge, but once on edge its stable and cranks nice tightturns. I've noticed a few slight hardware quality problems on Wilderness System boats, but not enough to compromise their overall design quality, safety and fun. Check out a few other kayak recommendations below or explore all kayaks to find the perfect one for you! Rodgers makes several variations on this design. For my purposes (lazy summer afternoons spent paddling on a placid lake with my wife), it works wonderfully. Fit and finish are good. My only complaint, it is sluggish running downwind, but maybe that's me. It's extremely stable: we've never even come close to capsizing, even in the rough chop that one encounters off the coast of Maine. Paddlers with limited dexterity would prefer this accommodating feature over the standard push-button option typically found on two-piece paddles. This is a long-term investment, and the savings of buying used are likely alreadysignificant. This is really the only negative. When you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission. It VERY GOOD, but rather too heavy. $25. Great boat for smaller paddlers. Almost rolls itself. In foul weather she can put a beginner in a very good footing . This one will do everything the bigger boats will do except carry a lot of gear. A beautiful, light boat. Hobie mirage outback kayak. Wilderness Systems is to be congratulated for creating the most Mac Daddy piece of furniture ever to grace a sea kayak. If you are searching for a particular model, size, or color, you may not find it immediately. quad cities for sale "kayak" - craigslist. If you can, always test paddle before buying any boat. It was, with camping gear, pretty heavily-laden, but still performed well. Finally, if you are ordering replacement parts, please review our Shipping Notice. The boat was purchased for "workouts" mainly, not racing or touring. Although we did not feel that it impacted performance, it did impact some testers' comfort levels during extending touring journeys. My wife and I are moderately-experienced day-kayakers, having paddled singles and tandems on lakes, on Long Island Sound as well as on the lower Hudson.