Tsunami 145
The kayak shop I go to has 3 branches, the branch in Ozark, MO put on craigslist tonight a used Tsunami 145 for $900 that is practically new!! Unfortunatly that is over 3 hours from me but they are going to talk with the haulers and see when they could get it to their store that is an hour from me. As long as I fit I will probably pick it up, even has a rudder. Here’s hoping for the best!
Tsunami 145
The 145 is a big person’s boat. At 110 pounds, you’ll rattle around in there.
North Shore
– Last Updated: Jan-03-15 1:12 PM EST –
Aspect and Aspect LV 3 layer poly Brit style picket sea kayak with skeg.
Pics are now up on the Blog
http://wp.me/pFgdM-NR
I don't know if the brand is in your neck of the woods.
See you on the water,
Marshall
The River Connection, Inc.
Hyde Park, NY
www.the-river-connection.com
hudsonriverpaddler.org
My tsunami 145
At 5’11" with a 38 waist I find the cockpit spacious. It is nice for people with big feet.
Hey willow, Minicell?
Can you tell me about minicell? I looked it up and know what it is, but how exactly is it used? Do you attached it to the sides of the seat to technically make the cockpit smaller?
Since I have big feet I can’t really compromise if my feet don’t fit, but how much would I be able to compromise with a bigger cock pit if I add minicell?
Update
– Last Updated: Jan-03-15 7:08 PM EST –
Alright, I threw together a quick spreadsheet, comparing the Tsunami 14.5, Vision 135R, Expression 14.5, Tsunami 140, Alchemy 14L, Pungo 140, Zephyr 155, Carolina 14, and Whistler. Let me know if I left anything out.
The Pungo having a 22" cockpit width and Carolina with 21.5 (plus being sluggish) is kind of a turn off if I am being told the 19" on the Tsunami 145 will be too big. Really though the only boats under 19.5" is the Vision (17.2") Alchemy (18.5") and Whistler (16.5").
I know deck height doesn't mean a whole lot since they measure them differently but the Tsunami 145 has a much higher deck than any of the others.
Really the Whistler looks great, why was this boat not mentioned? Is it hard to get or not in production or something?
I go up next Saturday to get inside the Tsunami 145. I would say, looking at my sheet, if I had to rate them without me being in them it would be Whistler, Tsunami/Alchemy then Expression/Vision if deck height isn't too low.
Edit: I'm not really wanting to mess with skin on frame or any specialty kayak. Necky isn't available from my local shop so I left it out.
Don’t
The Tsunami line is not very maneuverable. If you are thinking rivers, then you need to be able to turn.
How?
How is the Tsunami less maneuverable than other 14.5 ft kayaks?
Length not the only parameter
I admire how gung-ho you are, but you’re asking questions that lead me to believe you’d be better off investing in a lesson or two before you spend your hard earned money on a boat that you may quickly find doesn’t meet your needs.
Length is not the only parameter when it comes to maneuverability. The tsunami line is designed to be fairly straight tracking boat. I’m not an expert on hull design; there are many more on this board who know much more than I do and can articulate it better.
At 6’ and 110 pounds, you’d have to double your weight for the 145 to fit you as it was designed, leading to more difficulty in maneuvering.
Whistler/Pachena
– Last Updated: Jan-04-15 11:10 AM EST –
The CD Whistler is basically a poly Pachena, but a little longer, which CD discontinued a while back - there are a lot of positive reviews of the Pachena here at p-net, and should be relevant to the Whistler.
I've had a Pachena for 9 years, and still paddle it regularly. It is very forgiving in rough seas, and is quite maneuverable. Mine has a rudder, and I do use it most of the time. I'll never get rid of this boat - it's my wife's favorite and a perfect loaner boat for novice paddlers. I thought I would outgrow it, but I still use it about half the time, especially for winding rivers or in situations where I know there will be confused seas and boat wakes (East River/LI Sound).
I think it would work well for your intended usage, and should be roomy enough for your size. It does have a deep deck - I personally prefer this, and you're tall enough that it shouldn't interfere with your stroke. There is a chance you're a little light for the boat - then again, I've had many smaller paddlers in my Pachena, and it didn't seem underloaded.
rocker
The Tsunami has almost zero rocker in the stern (plus a built in keel) and just a tiny bit of rocker in the bow. They are designed to go straight.
CD Whistler
Please see my review on this site. I highly recommend this boat. Very versatile.
Thanks
Alright, thanks for the information!
good information
Hey Silvercobra, good thread you started here. I’m in the same boat you are as far as the purposes for which I want a kayak. About the only difference is my body type which is short and stocky (5’9", 200), not so tall and slim as yours.
Many of my questions have been answered here by the very helpful and knowledgeable members on this site. To said members, thank you.
So, would it be ok, since this seems to have been an active thread, that I ask a question as well?
I have been solo paddling a 60#, 16’6" Bell Northwind tandem canoe in Royalex from a kneeling thwart amidship and heeled onto an edge. Even though it is a great paddling canoe, when I go out to cover some miles on flat water the boat gets to feeling heavy. I am looking for something for lakes, flat rivers, the occasional southern Missouri stream that presents no more than Class II rapids.
What I am asking you all is, should I get something similar to the CD Whisper, would it be a noticeably more maneuverable/easier boat to paddle for my solo trips?
I’m not trying to hijack this thread and if I’m in the wrong to post this way…sorry.
Bud
move the post
You’ll get a much better response to your question if you post it as a new topic under the canoe heading. Canoeists are not likely to see your inquiry buried in a thread about kayak sizing.
He wants a kayak, but you are right
This person is considering the use of a kayak in place of his canoe, but usually this kind of question works better if asked independently.
thank you all very much
I really appreciate your pointing me in the right direction.
Tsunamis
– Last Updated: Jan-06-15 7:28 PM EST –
the Tsunami 145 will be way oversized for your proportions. Even the 140 may feel too big; assuming you are slender you would actually fit better in the 135. It is easy to add hip pads and get a more custom fit.
The 140/145 are good kayak camping platforms if you need that much volume.
Yes they are a harder tracking hull but will turn with a bit of edging; we have taken Tsunamis on some very twisty rivers and creeks, even fully loaded. The 135 might be worth a look, it's quite different than its bigger brethren.
the general rule is
that longer boats go faster but are more difficult to turn.
shorter boats turn easier but are slower.
Wider boats are more stable but slower.
I like a 10-12 foot for day trips lakes and slow rivers as they are easy to manuver. BUT, I’ll never win a race.
When I go upriver, I like a longer and narrower boat to slice through thye current.
So I have a 10’ Mallard for day trips, a 12’ Dirago for overnighters or larger lakes and a 14.5’ Carolina for longer trips where I may be fighting current.
One thing you did forget…
if you are going in a group or with a paddle-buddy, take boats that are the same length. Otherwise you in your 12’ boat will be left behind by the faster 14’ boat.
Not all boats paddle the same. Deliana’s 12’ manteo is much faster than my 12’ Dirago which I can do 3knots all day, 3.5 kn for a short burst.
My 14.5 Carolina will do 3.5kn all day with 4.2 in a short burst.
Short boats and group trips
It’s very often said here that anyone in a relatively short boat will be left behind or at least have trouble keeping up on group trips if those in the group have longer boats. That may be the case on open water with skilled paddlers who are in a hurry to get somewhere, but I’ve never seen it happen on river trips with casual paddlers. Just because a long boat can go faster doesn’t mean most paddlers will put forth the effort to make it happen. Most casual paddlers don’t go any faster than 4 mph on average, and in my experience, most groups of paddlers go a bit slower than that. Cruising at 4 mph is pretty easy in nearly any boat. In fact, at 4 mph, a decent 12-footer is likely to require less effort than a comparable one that’s a few feet longer. Push the speed up to 5 mph or faster and the 12-footer becomes a barge, but no group trip I’ve been on ever moved that fast.