along with thousands of canoes, have paddled the Allagash for many a season, and for some time now--It's rafts and other craft that are a no-go.
I say, choose any kayak you're comfortable with, that allows you to adequately pack enough stuff, as well as make up the length and beam difference between you and your friend's boat.
Maybe you'll even be fortunate enough to leave some canoeing "traditionalists" behind in your wake, so they can go on contemplating their naval with the antiquated belief that only their type hull can "violate" the sanctity of supposed untrammeled wilderness;-
You would be OK in many boats You are close into “average paddler” boat. The sizing is still based on male forms, hence heavier and taller than average female. You don’t need a big person’s boat.
the 145 is too big for you I’m a similar size to you plus a few more lbs and have a Tsunami 140, with hip pads added. Too bad you’re not closer, I would let you try it since I have it up for sale. A Tsunami or similar kayak might be a good transitional step for you coming from a Pungo.
tsunamis I just stopped by my local eastern mountain sports and they have tsunami 145, 160 and 165 on clearence brand new 750$…would the 160 be any faster?
being both longer and narrower it should glide more easily and cruise faster than the 145, but also may be a bit harder to turn. interestingly the weight is about the same for a 160 vs 145. that is a fantastic price, and you can add a rudder kit if desired for about $200.
not seeing that as a deciding factor for the OP’s desire overall for “something faster, good storage space and comfortable seat”, even if he takes the same trip. various other 15-16’ kayaks and canoes (including his friend’s Old Town Nantucket) have made it down those rapids just fine; I don’t recall them being terribly difficult. He’ll have to assess what types of paddling he intends to undertake in general, and pick a suitable craft.
Okay, I am curious Do you know the reason for this requirement regarding the ratio of length/width? I wonder if it’s the result of someone’s good intentions run amok, or if it’s totally nonsensical (and oh, maybe there could even be a legitimate reason that I can’t seem to think of).
verdict so I purchased my new kayak tonight. I decided to go with the tsunami 140.
After sitting in them all. I really did not like the seating of the 160 and thought it was a very shallow cockpit. The backband seemed extremely low for my liking. we will be doing a lot of fishing too so some extra space is nice to have which the 140 offers, plus a much more comfortable seat for my lower back.
I talked to a woman who worked there that said she ran Alot of their kayak day trips that EMS offers and she claims the 160 tsunamis additional length only offered minimal speed gains and the storage hatches were much more shallow.
anyways I’m sure this kayak will by far out perform my Pungo 120 lol
congrats and enjoy the new boat! sounds like it’s a great choice for what you want to do with it; a mix of river and lake touring, camping and fishing. you could probably add a flush-mount rod holder behind the cockpit if you wanted to. you can get a whole lot of mileage out of a Tsunami, I know I have! add hip pads and learn to edge it some and the turning will become easier.
thanks thank you. this thread has turned into what’s the traditional way to paddle the allagash…
I appreciate everyone’s inputs on what my actual question here was. sorry to everyone on canoes that will now have trouble sleeping at night knowing there’s a kayak on the allagash.
any place that has any restrictions other than the usual no glass and carry everything out that you bring in is not "wilderness to me"
I think after reading this I'll take the Allagash off my bucket list
if you can make a short pole. Its not expected you can stand in your kayak and use an 11 or 12 foot pole.
I plan to do Allagash Lake from Johnson Pond in a pack canoe. Its like a kayak as you sit on the bottom and paddle with a double or a single.
As far as tradition goes its as about you can get for an Adirondack boat ( not an Allagash boat). It'll be a breeze without a cart on the Tramway portage.
JsckL. I don't know if you consider the Everglades a wilderness. The Allagash is wilder. Visitation is a tenth of what it was when it was designated a wilderness waterway. Its got a ton of history too.
Kayaks on the Allagash It is true that only “canoes” are allowed on the Allagash. They go by an old definition for a canoe which states that the width of the vessel must not be greater than 25% of the length. A Pungo 120 does fails with this criteria. I remember warning a kayaker of this when we saw her on Eagle Lake with a wide, short kayak. Her kayak remained in the storage rack at Churchill dam where the ranger would not let her proceed down the river with it. While this rule may be antiquated and originally designed to keep rafters destined for day trips down Chase Rapids away it was still in effect just a few years ago when I was there last.