question for owners of multiple kayaks

Our experience

– Last Updated: Dec-21-12 7:28 PM EST –

I'll get rid of the obvious - the four WW boats, the one canoe and the 6 sea kayaks all serve different masters.

Within the sea kayaks, one is not wet all that often because it is heavy plastic and doesn't track for crap, the Necky DS Elaho. It would be good for rock gardening if we lived closer to surf. It is fun for wet work too, and can be nice in pool sessions because it is relatively short for a long boat and can be dropped on pavement on a cold night without getting hurt. It is also a stranded boat, only two years of them, and it is a hard boat to give up because of fitting a unique niche.

After that there are five (two day boat short and three long) sea kayaks between the two of us. The choice of which boat depends on considerations about rescue platform need (two of them aren't great there), speed (three of them aren't the best there), how much attention needs to be paid to the boat (the Nordkapp LV loses votes there) and how long a boat we want to haul (the two day boats win that one).

Suffice to say that there is overlap in each boat between these characteristics. So we make the best choice for the day.

It can be easier if we are taking someone else out and are loaning them a boat. Usually they'll fit one of my husband's boat, so he can switch off with them over the day. I don't have as much fun - hardly anyone fits in my boats.

my momma used to say

– Last Updated: Dec-21-12 8:41 PM EST –

"don't ya know you can only paddle one boat at a time." She told me this when I was in college using her garage to store my boats. I think she did have a point. I have a two year rule. If I haven't paddled it in two years then I sell it or give it away.
Here’s the current fleet: Lliquid logic xp10- better whitewater boat than tourer- although I have used it on sections of the northern forest canoe trail, overnight trips. I do find it is the boat that I use most of the time because it is so versatile, and has a comfy seat, very forgiving in whitewater. Its biggest drawback is that it is heavy to lug around but it does fit inside my van.

Perception mirage- old school whitewater kayak but fast on the flats- drawbacks are a small cockpit, seat not very comfy although I do use it as a crossover boat, tippy feeling in whitewater. On the plus side it is super easy to roll and only cost me $2oo.oo

Wavesport Y- use it as my creek boat and to take to roll sessions since it is easier to carry and load. It is the lightest boat I have to carry. Unfortunately I share this boat with my son so when we creek together I end up back in the xp. Biggest drawback is its kinda hard to get out of it when I had to wet exit.

Madriver plastic Adventurer Canoe- good for up to class II, overnights but not longer- hard to portage, hard to solo for long. It does fine on the flats, my wife thinks its tippy- limit it to class I, II only, well sometimes we get venturesome and paddle class three in it.

Three duckies- Riken Cherokee, Aire Tomcat, and Sevylor- very user friendly for easy whitewater with beginners, although my son, and his friends do takem out in the New River Gorge and Lower Gauley; if you got some current, just layin back in em is great for relaxing, also easier to take pictures from than the canoe or the kayak, as you get old its kinda hard to sit upright in em, beer gut gets in the way and the seats are crappy- don’t provide much support.

2 rafts- Miravia 12’ and I have an old campways Shoshone that I spend more time patching than paddling- great for group fun on whitewater- biggest drawback is packen everything up and putting it all away, I usually end up doing that part myself

7 of the 9 boats I bought used, total spent on fleet $3,7000…..It doesn’t have to cost a fortune to have a bunch of boats. The important thing is if you're happy with em, don't worry about what other folks think. I'm a boat slob, not a boat snob. I say that because there are some folks that are more about the boats than the paddling. If you paddled a crossover you know what I'm talkin about. I love the paddling but have never felt that way about a boat. If you paddle a particular boat a lot you get familiar with how it handles and you kinda trust it. tdaniel

canoes, but
that’s a good question. Still have my first canoe, a 15’ Dagger Reflection, and that has become my all around “go to” boat. Cl.2, decent enough for poling, center seat for paddling, nice comfortable boat for long days. The Dumoine went from cl.2-3 tandem to a dedicated poling boat, though I could tandem if i wanted I suppose.

The Whitesell; dedicated ww tandem pig, but fun in the big water. PITA, dedicated side for paddling, seats both near center, fun having 420 pounds of paddler surfing though.

Dagger Encore pretty dedicated ww river runner.

Millbrook Flashback, a ballerina of boats, nice ww runner, twitchy, deceptively dry, but a fragile boat, not used on ledges.

The boats i got rid of were all specialized. Squirtboat for going underwater, a couple c1’s, which were specialized only due to the fact that after 20 minutes I needed out…so they became park and play boats.

Think I need a new composite all around boat. No problem paddling flatwater in a moderately rockered boat, thinking Millbrook Coho with an extra layer of glass or 2. Soon as my Reflection bites the dust which will be any decade now…

question for daggermat?
is the Millbrook flashback the same design as the madriver flashback of the 80s? My experience was that the madriver version was responsive and a great class two surfin boat but became very wet when the gradient picked up.

sorry I jacked the thread.

kayaks
Ten years ago, I had a P&H Quest and a Pintail and was perfectly happy. Then got into Greenland paddling, and soon had a variety of kayaks for special purposes. Now looking to simplify again…



Used a lot

–Tiderace Xplore M–all rounder, surfing, and camping

–Betsy Bay Aral – day paddles

–Black Pearl–Greenland play and rolling



Occasional paddles

–Pintail (looking for a new home, b/4 teaching and surfing)

–OC Impex Outer Island (looking for a new home, b/4 A to B)

–Impex Temiskawa (paddling with spouse)



Sold

–NDK Explorer (2)

–Superior Arctic Hawk

–Keyhole Outer Island

–Dagger RPM Max

–Plastic Capella

–Plastic Wildnerness Systems Tandem






I might be the odd one
I might be the odd one with 5 sea kayaks that are very similar to each other and of the same style, only the 6th one is different.

Then again when I was mad keen on mountain biking I also had several bikes of similar style.

But just like my bikes, each kayak rides just a little bit differently.

All of my kayaks are with skeg, no rudders.

All of them are glass (actually carbon/Kevlar).

The difference between them is the volume and beam, rocker and hull shape, chines.

The largest one is for trips of a week or longer, while at the other end there is the low volume and low deck.

But every time I take one out for a paddle I feel how each one responds differently to the conditions.

Do I have a favourite? Not really.

Am I searching for the “it” kayak? Not at all.

For me there is no such thing: a kayak that does it all with absolute grace does not exist.

Just like my mountain bikes, each one has merits and shortcomings. Each one is enjoyable for the virtues and the faults, so I have to hone my skills to be able to paddle with confidence.

If You Paddle Extreme and Hard
Then you need back up boats while your damaged ones are in the “OR.” If you race, best to own a pair: one for training and the other to race. So if you race whitewater, flat water, and ocean, you can have a minimum of at least six (6) boats stored somewhere in the yard? Anything does happen, and having to sit out a race, event or outing due to a broken boat is a catastrophe. Now go add a bunch of doubles and the family cruisers? I’m over a dozen now, plus the kids.

Just 2 boats
Necky Chatham 16 Poly is by far my favorite. Great in rough water, surf and very maneuverable. easy to roll. My other boat is an Impex Assateague fiberglass. Paddled maybe 3 times in past 3 years. A foot longer than the Necky, harder to roll due to higher back deck, but enough space for a 2 week expedition, and much faster than the Necky, so I use it for 25+ mile paddles. Anybody want to buy a slightly used Assateague?

yup it is

– Last Updated: Dec-22-12 8:33 AM EST –

a 27 pound version, anyways. The decks and light weight keep it surprisingly dry. Not a boat to punch the waves though, as i found out one day and fortunately had the brace of my life. Bobs like a cork...

Different uses
Among the sea kayaks:



CD Caribou (1998 Model) She excels in rough water, has good gear storage, surfs real well, and above average speed. Rear coaming is a little too high, though. Overall, the best compromise for all uses IMO. Been paddling her for all uses since she was brand new.



Valley Anas Acuta Just plain FUN. Slow, a bit on the unstable side when sitting still for many inexperienced people, but super maneuverable, and can handle most any sea conditions. Great roller, too.



Betsie Bay Recluse FAST easy roller. Also unstable when sitting still for the inexperienced. I can’t paddle her anymore since surgery last year - deck is too low, making it way too painful to do so. Was my boat of choice for long day paddles in mild seas.



Of my better half’s fleet, she has:



Foster Silhouette Fast, easy roller, playful, unstable. I really like this boat. It’d get a lot more use if she hadn’t outfitted it so that nobody but herself could fit in it. It only gets used in fresh water and flat seas nowadays.



NDK Explorer LV The original LV, which was just a regular Explorer with a lowered deck. Slow, maneuverable, great in rough water, decent cargo room even though the deck is lowered.



Necky Arluk 1.9 Another fast all-around boat with good characteristics. Hardly ever gets used anymore, but it’s a good boat all the same.



Both the Necky and the Betsie Bay are for sale. The Necky casually for sale if the right offer made, and the BBK is for sale if the offer is the right price (We use if for guests on the lake down the street otherwise).

The 4
3 piece Nordkapp great for going straight and keeping in an apartment or hotel but at 80+ lbs, heavy



Mariner Express my usual boat



Northwest Sportee fun boat for waves and big water and light



Feathercraft Khatsalano for travel

Multiple boats
When someone or usually my wife, asks about my multiple boats and the old line “you can only paddle one at a time” comes up I just say, “you can’t expect Tiger Woods to golf with only one or two clubs, right?”



Different boats for different conditions. I have a main tripping boat, a poly touring boat with more rocker for rougher conditions, surfing and rock play. I have a boat I use for racing and then a whitewater boat. I also have a barge-like sit on top that will be a fun platform to expose the kids when they get old enough.

A shed full.
Nothing serious or dedicated. We enjoy our friends and company whether we’ve met them yet or not.

9

– Last Updated: Dec-22-12 5:19 PM EST –

7 WW boats, 1 transition boat(Jackson Rogue 10) for floating slow rivers, and 1 sea kayak (QCC700X). The WW boats are differentiated by purpose (playboat: Dragorossi Fish; River Runner w/play: Dragorossi Pintail; mild creeker: Dragorossi Mad Boy; Dagger Redline: class boat, visitor boat; assorted boats from the past including my namesake boat the Riot Disco)

None of them is specialized
The whitewater boat (Jackson Side Kick) is a generalist model.



The two sea kayaks (NDK Pilgrim Expedition, NDK Explorer LV) are generalists also, though biased towards hauling camping gear. I’ve never had any specialist kayaks because I haven’t needed them.



I intend to sell the Explorer LV and try to get a rock-gardening/surf play boat in plastic, when one small enough for me is made. I’ll keep the other two kayaks. If I get tired of waiting, I might buy a SOT that could be used for the same purpose even if it’s not the best way to go.



There’s been no lack of fun using the nonspecialized boats, so I’m not exactly obsessed with buying another boat.

Aside from the uses mentioned
My preference is to go with specialized boats as opposed to compromises. In addition, I have some buddy boats, for lending, and beaters that I employ for giving instruction where contact with other boats is frequent.

it’s an addiction
Clearly kayak collecting is an addiction. Current inventory consists of :

Island Kayak Expedition, great boat , not made any more, great for extended trips

NDK Explorer- slow , great once you cut out the stock seat and replace with a foam. Good boat to lend to inexperience guest

Current Design Caribou - hard chinned surfer

Pygmy Artic Turn 17 - light, nice looking, fast

I’m always looking to buy a new boat and to sell one, fun just to ride different designs in different conditions.

ditto
I actually have the exact same two boats (though something like a Cetus, Force 4, Explorer, etc would serve the same purpose as the Aquanaut), and I think they’re a good pair. Both tend towards opposite ends of the distance/play continuum, but they’re both capable across a wide range.



Sea kayaking is not like golf, where you can choose a different club for each shot. If that were the case, I’d probably choose something more like a white-water boat, and a surf ski. But those are too extreme for the range of needs that each outing presents when sea kayaking. Every day involves a variety of conditions and environments, so even if you’re going rock-hopping, you may want a boat that can paddle at 4 knots for a couple hours to get there and back. Similarly, when out on a multi-day trip, I want a boat that can maneuver well in rough water, and surf those following waves when they come up.


all specialized except one each
We each have one one that we could do everything with.



For me it is the Current Designs Kestral 140; it does every kind of water and trip well except for the fact that on many of the places we go it would need repairs afterward. (I’m starting to save the repairs and do them all twice a year)



For her it is the Dagger Alchemy L.





Then we have some sea kayaks that are not so good for rivers; a Wilderness Cape Horn 140 and a Cobra Expedition.



We have a whitewater only boat; a New Wave Buzz that we need to sell or give to a good home. We don’t paddle any water that is would be the best boat for.



We have a rec boat that is a hoot in the ocean and bays; the Wilderness Manteo.



And Finally we have a couple of surf boats; A dagger Kaos and a Cobra Revision. The Revision is a decent rec boat for rivers and swamps as well if you are willing to put up with it’s slowness off a wave. The Kaos is a one trick pony.



If we each only could have one boat I think we’d get another Alchemy and sell everything else.


Fiberglass and plastic
NDK Greenlander Pro made with fiberglass for big water(lake Erie/Ontario). Plastic WS Tsunami 140 for creeks with rocks and such. Plus really need one more out of plastic a bit longer and sleeker too for big water were I might be landing were its ruff were I dont want to scratch or gouge fiberglass gelcoat.