Lincoln Chebeague
Depending on layup 30-37 lbs. at 14’6".
See you on the water,
Marshall
The River Connection, Inc.
Hyde Park, NY
www.the-river-connection.com
fb.me/theriverconnection
Other Suggestion
– Last Updated: Jun-30-16 10:32 AM EST –
Have you seen the Shrike? I wish I could tell you how it behaves but I've never paddled one. I just think the specs look great and visually it looks like a piece of art. Hey. I'm retired now. Maybe I'll try to build one.
http://cnckayaks.com/project/shrike/
Another vote for Epic GPX
I have a CF one in the fleet. Its nearly plumb bow & stern make it faster than you’d think for a boat that length. Fun little boat & so light I can lift it with 2 fingers.
Thanks, Kudzu.
– Last Updated: Jun-30-16 2:15 PM EST –
Kudzu, that sort of comment makes all my work worthwhile, thank you. Here's a link to one of my ten granddaughters and her Shrike LV weighing 28 pounds. She built it herself as her first ever woodworking project: http://cnckayaks.com/project/shrike-lv/
Clearstream Custom Watercraft will make one for you if you don't fancy building one.
Lowering the deck-line to produce a rolling version for a 75 year old lady roller produced this 19 pound beauty: http://cnckayaks.com/project/shrike-lv/
A lady coach from Minnesota built this 23 pounder,http://cnckayaks.com/2014/10/22/cindy-petersen-shrike-r/ and another lady coach built this 25 pounder: http://cnckayaks.com/2015/01/24/renee-dufresne-shrike-rlv/
Light kayaks like these transform the paddling experience. A kayak half the weight takes far less effort to turn. (Rotational moment of inertia for the nerds among us.)
The plans are free, by the way.
Nick.
More info
Exactly what type of paddling are you doing at this time? Lakes, easy rivers? How long are your trips? You have a 12’ boat now that is known for being pretty stable. The Tsunami has two bulkheads and the Tribute has just one. So does the suggestion that I’ll throw out, the LL Bean 12’ Calypso. That is a lighter weight boat that is very similar to the Tribute, both being made by Perception. Assuming you’re in MI, when they open the new store near Detroit, perhaps you could take a $25 discovery course and use a Calypso so as to get a “demo”.
more specific
Per your specs (low volume, light weight) 12 to 14 feet) I would recommend this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Pakboat-Quest-135-Folding-Kayak/dp/B00WKUGJ1W
23" beam, 13’ 9" long, 29 pounds, designed for smaller paddlers, super comfortable seat and stable. I just loaded mine on my car this morning for a trip to a local lake – I can lift it with one hand. Paddling it feels just like using a hardshell and I can fold it down into its duffel bag and take it anywhere in the world with me as checked baggage on an airline.
Hurricane Sojourn 126
14lbs to 18 lbs Hornbecks
A wile back saw a older lady pick one of these up like it was nothing. http://www.hornbeckboats.com/index.php (you will have to copy and paste do not know how to do live link) She had switched to this light weight pack canoe as her SOT and Kayak were just to much for her most of the time with out help. Still used her kayak paddles. She seemed to be able to get in and out easily with out a cockpit in her way and was able to shift around a little.
Sometimes we must make major changes to as one elderly person told me to quote her “to just get out on the water any way I can.” She was experiencing the dry dock version of cabin fever. Do what you can to stay active and out on the water.
Another Eddyline
Eddylines are beautiful, well made boats. Again, depending on what kind of water you’re paddling, the Rio at 11’ 9" long 35 pounds could be a possibility for you.
age and weight lifting/carrying capacity
We too are ‘enjoying’ the advancing limits of the aging process. Out next more it adding SOTs. We have chosen Eddyline Caribbean 14’s; at a supposed 50 pounds they’ll be manageable for a while but we have already made notice of the Hornbeck’s for the next step in our evolution.
Another elderly kayaker story
The folks at Pakboat in New Hampshire had a local customer in her late 70’s who for years would bring her Puffin folding kayak to them every Spring so they could set it up for her. In the Fall she would bring it back for them to fold up for her to store. At 20 lbs she could easily get it to the water herself.
Folders are great for us oldsters because, besides being light, they can go on vacation with us and be stored in a closet if we downsize to housing without a garage. And I figure the exercise required to put them together helps keep me flexible.
how to move the kayak
with the Eddyline s.o.top 14’ they are VERY balanced centerwise off those handles. But their greater surface area makes them vulnerable to breezes on shore when carrying them sideways. When picking it up from the side, using those middle handles, make sure you’ve taken all your stuff off the kayak and the lift is easy. Leaving one full water bottle in the front hatch, with no counter balance weight in the rear, and you will be cussing because she will want to dip down in front - these boats are that sensitive. Then if it dips, and the wind blows hard… harder to coordinate the lift.
Now, if you have 2 people grabbing each t-handle from the end, this is not an issue, but it’s more for when one person is going to grab the middle handles to heft the boat up onto their thighs a second, to just move it around a few feet or get it started going up onto your vehicle.
I’ve made jokes about the Famous Wind-Aided Flying Dismount when my kayak was untied and unstrapped, I was parked on a un- level surface, and the strong breeze suddenly shifted and a strong gust started to blow the Eddyline off my truck before I was quite ready on the ground to receive it. With a much smaller kayak other people can just grab it - but this is a fishing kayak and it’s harder to stop when it gets going on that slick plastic bed liner.
This is why I tend to try to not use steep boat ramps if I have the option. I am still fascinated by how the wind can be blowing one direction on shore and another direction going around the peninsula at the local lake, then everything switches backwards just before sunset when the colder air starts coming down from the mountains and the Delta breezes start kicking up from the southwest, and the result is a swirling mix. Then there is a LOT of uplift when we have "unsettled’ weather and fronts are trying to come through from the west and coming up the first ridgeline.
On the water, a great boat considering it hasn’t got a rudder. On traversing my bed liner on the tailgate… sort of a prankster.
When I bring the kayak back up to the shore, once out of the water, I will grab one end and use the other resting on the ground to pivot the length of the boat, then put it down, go to the back, and pick that up and bring it around. This way I can bring the kayak up easily in a few swings, without bothering with the cart, and don’t have to worry about picking up the entire 50 lbs plus whatever stuff I have in it. (ground surface=lots of sharp rocks) I try to take the “warning: lake water levels may suddenly increase” sign seriously, after seeing a few vehicles sitting in the water where someone was too eager and took off on their ski doos or other boats before moving their vehicles back up the shore several feet. Hate getting stuck… but just letting your brakes and whatnot stand in a foot of water for any length of time is REALLY not good, either.
where do you paddle?
That makes a difference. For example, a solo pack canoe may be what you need.
If you’re a Michigander Tigers’ fan,
There is a Tampico on Craig’s List in the Lansing, MI area.
http://lansing.craigslist.org/boa/5654487637.html
New Sojourn Craigslist Raleigh
Actually TWO are listed! Beautiful boat and light too. Almost bought one but cockpit opening too small for me as I have flexibility issues. Think boats priced at $900.00 and $999.00.
Look
at the Sea Eagle Razor Lite RL391. Its 12’10" and easily the best performing inflatable available. I had a Puffin and this yak is faster and 28lbs and fill time is 8-10 minutes. My gf has broken her clavicle twice and has a shoulder problem from my biking and this is one impressive kayak. It goes everywhere with us.
Some more to look at.
If price is not too big a problem, look at what Stellar Kayaks has. You should have tried to win the 12’ Stellar in the just completed sweepstakes. Stellar also has some pretty light weight 14 footers.
If you want a sea kayak that is light, but a bit longer and for higher performance, consider the 15’-8" NC (39 lbs). nckayaks.com
Thank you all for your suggestions
I apologize for being MIA. Was having second thoughts about the whole thing but I just got back from a 4-day kayaking trip in the San Juan Islands (WA) and was so happy to be back in a boat. So, back to searching for real.
To answer some questions. I’m in Michigan and mostly kayak rivers. I live 1/4 mile from the Huron River and am often in the northwest part of the lower P, on the Pine, Manistee, Pere Marquette, Platt, etc. The 12’ Tsunami has been a really good length for where I go.
I do overnights on occasion, so need some decent storage. I chose the Tsunami because it was a good balance of weight, size, storage, bulkheads and price.
That said, out of all of the suggestions, I’m totally intrigued by the Hornbecks. I’ve done a few canoe float trips and can see me in one of those. Hard to argue with 15lb! I’m going to be driving to the east coast next week, so I’m going to see if I can see them in person.
FWIW, my budget is $1,500 to $2K, though I’d prefer to stay closer to the $1,500.
pack canoe
check out Dave Curtis’s Hemlock Canoe Works 5407 NY-15A, Hemlock, NY 14466 south of Rochester and south of the NYS Thruway.www.hemlockcanoe.com I am very happy with my Hemlock Nessmuck which is comparable to a Hornbeck Lost Pond? 10.5 length. In your price range.
And
If you’re in the Ads checking Hornbecks and Hemlock, might as well go by Placid Boat Works, a Spitfire would fit the bill, although way out of the price range…