don't have both front and rear sealed bulkheads which is a safety feature (beyond the "dry" storage function of these compartments with hatches) -- keeps the boat floating and horizontal if swamped.
I suppose in shallow ponds that might not matter. If you paddle with companions in 14 footers, why not that? I think a 14 can be lifted onto the roof of a car -- I guess you don't want to go so heavy that it is difficult to transport.
What's ideal for me? I have a 14 and a 16.5; I guess neither one is ideal!
14’-15’ This is a personal choice. I don’t like to store, load, or transport long or heavy kayaks. It also depends on the conditions, whether flat or rough.
The minimum would be 12’ with two hatches. Most people would consider that too short for touring, but I know of at least one or two twelve footers that would work for touring. Example: Delta 12.10 (Okay, that’s more than twelve feet.)
14’-15’ is a nice middle ground. 14’ is certainly sufficient.
How much you can store in the hatches is a function of the length, but may depend even more on the depth of the kayak, especially at the ends.
Try a Conduit 13. From Dick’s. Do some research. I have found it to be the best kayak for me. It may not be the best kayak out there, but for the price it can’t be beat.
I could see this being a good 'second boat/loaner boat' for me when I have non-kayaking friends come along and paddle with me.
How's the paddling position on the Conduit? From the pics, it looks like the deck is raised considerably near the front of the cockpit, so that you might be able to paddle with a bit of a 'knees high and close together' position (i.e. somewhat of a 'surf-ski-like' position).
If true, that would be great. I think subjecting ppl to the 'frog-legged/yoga' splayed-out position is tough on newbies' backs (a la boats such as the Tsunami).
If not true, oh well. The Conduit's still the most inexpensive front & rear bulkhead boat out there. =]
For me it’s 19’-2" When I first got into kayaking, I could never have imagined me having such a boat, but now I can’t imagine ever being without it. NC Expedition.
Ideal for what? You said Touring Kayak, but you didn’t really say what you want from the kayak. Do you want to cover a lot of distance? Camp from it? Fish from it? Take photos from it? Race it? Take it out on open seas?
The Great Lakes? The Great Lakes, where i do 99% of my kayaking have sunk a lot of big ships and can be just as challenging as the ocean ( minus tides and dangerous sea creatures).
Most kayaks 17ft+ can handle just about everything except narrow waterways and hard core white water.
Oh, yes! It has a pretty large cockpit, and the (I don’t know if they are knee or thigh) pads extend down into the inside so that if you want they can be used as thigh braces, but if you get cramped, you can bring you knees up.
In general, do you think it’s a semi-capable boat for a little bay/gentle-ocean-conditions action? At what point would you say, “Uh, I’m not going out in that with this”?
I have no experience on the ocean or a large lake, so I shouldn’t say anything, but it has very good secondary and initial stability, and I would be comfortable trying it in 1-2 foot swell. Not sure about the open ocean, but I don’t think so.