Ocean Kayak Sidekick
See if you can find one of these hidden somewhere. I think they quit making it last year… It was made to hold a kid or dog up front but didn’t take off unfortunately.
http://www.oceankayak.com/kayaks/tandems/sidekick.html
Paddling with dogs common
Thanks for all suggestions, looking at everything.
We just confirmed buying the Newfie from Belgium!
Dog will be with 1 paddler in 1 boat.
Did you know there’s a whole organization in Canada called
DOG PADDLING ADVENTURES
http://www.dogpaddlingadventures.com/
that takes dogs + owners out on the water all the time?
Check out their photo gallery:
http://www.dogpaddlingadventures.com/gallery.html
Will find the right boat, might be hybrid, will just keep looking and carefully considering all suggestions. If we have to learn to “paddle better” or learn to enjoy a canoe so be it. But for us a kayak is leagues better feeling than the canoe we tried.
Thanks!
A BIG TANDEM/TRIPLE SOT WOULD WORK BEST
These things have high weight capacity, are VERY stable, and because they’re poly, can take a beating. The OK Malibu 2, a couple of the Cobras, and one or two of the Emotions might do quite well for you. Check them -and more -out. You can get some of these models relatively inexpensively, used, as well.
The big advantage is that even a large dog can manage to scramble back aboard one of these pretty easily, while getting your ‘furkid’ back into a rec boat might be a lot more problematic, as the dog would need to crest the coaming and then kind of ‘fall’ or ‘tumble’ into the boat, and also, the ‘grabbing’ motions of the paws on the coaming combined with the weight of the wet dog trying to get back on board may rock the boat into instability. An SOT has basically a relatively easily accessed and relatively flat deck, plus the tandems/triples have a lot of beam, such that I think stability would be a lot better.
Good luck with your pursuit of canine cavorting on the water. Let us know what you end up with, and, as the dog grows (and grows an grows, LOL!) let us kn ow how hings are (or maybe aren’t?) working out as you and the ‘furkid’
PADDLE ON!
-Frank in Miami
Here ya go
Hobie Adventure Island Tandem. Its not on their website yet but it’s supposed to come out this spring. Presently, they have the single here: http://www.hobiecat.com/adventure-island/models_adventure_island.html
I would think that the biggest problem would be when the dog decided to move around. The outriggers on these boats make them incredibly stable, even with a large dog moving around.
I’ve used my single with the grandkids and they climb all over it with no problems at all.
Native Ultimate 14 solo or tandem
Stable, comfortable/flexible seating, lots of add-ons from manufacturer. I rented the 14 solo several times with my dog. Lots of room for the dog to move around, but the hybrid hull stays solid as a rock if the dog moves around. The tandem paddles just as easy as the seat is moveable to the center position. Make sure you check this one out. Probably your best option that isn’t a canoe.
I just dont understand WHY
you need to kayak with that dog…Newfies love water…its going to jump out…then jump back in…How are your self rescue skills?
All things considered . . .
I still think the large SOT is a good bet, especially for a big dog that will jump in and out . . . or, should I say out and in.
Short story: I was paddling down a river with friends some weeks back. We were joined by a medium-small sized dog that dog-paddled along with us for what seemed like a couple miles, shared our lunch, then paddled along side until he looked like he was getting tired. A lady helped him into her rec boat - quite a chore - for the reasons cited above. Once rested, he jumped out and swam again.
Here’s a fun thing to do: Google “Kayak” and “dog” in Google Images and see how many dogs you see on SOTs, compared to other boat types. If canoe is still an option, add that term.
Another option . . .
Check this out: http://www.kayrak.ca/customer.htm .
Maybe you can add this to one of your current boats.
Wow, that Kayrak is IT !!!
Thank you everybody for your input.
Angell, that Kayrak is IT !! What a perfect solution. Can get the kayak I really want and still get a custom super large stable platform for my Newfie!
There will be times, like hot summer, too much sun, when I won’t want to take him with me.
They will custom engineer to fit one’s kayak. Can finally buy the WS Tsunami 145. Of course I’ll have to call the Kayrak folks and see for sure that they can rig exactly what will work with the Tsunami but the kayrak looks really really good.
Only problem might be fitting in tight passages, but maybe they make shorter poles. Anyway this looks like the best ticket to everybody being safe and happy.
Was wondering how anybody could see to navigate with a huge Newf sitting in front, LOL Notice how many ppl want to kayak with their Newfoundlands.
I knew this forum would be aware of a variety of options – thanks paddlers!
Thanks Frank!
I will probably end up getting more than one boat / solution for this. Thank you for your kind thorough advice!
paddling with a dog
I paddled solo canoes for 10 years with a 70 pound lab (Jessie). I’d lean towards a canoe since the dog will have more room to lay down and move around than in a kayak (maybe the Clipper Sea-1 would be OK). In general I’d say it’s best if the dog is in front of you and within reach…so you can give the dog corrections as you train him/her. I think it’s also essential that the dog have solid (not slippery) footing or they won’t be comfortable. With a dog on the floor of a canoe (vs on a seat) the weight is low and actually helps stability. Is there some way that you can try various boats with your dog before buying?
Better check minimum length
– Last Updated: Dec-30-09 9:52 AM EST –
The pics seem to mostly show people in kayaks that are 16 ft or so - better check minimum rear deck length to make sure the Tsunami 145 has enough. Also volume - the pics that are of shorter boats have dogs that weigh less than a Newfie pulling the stern down pretty visibly.
Tsunami 145
– Last Updated: Dec-30-09 7:07 PM EST –
Wildy states a max capacity of 350 pounds for that boat. Even with the kayrac, the boat will still need to float the weight of you and the dog, so unless you're pretty small I'd say you should look for a bigger boat.
Looks like the Tsunami 175 carries 400 pounds. Not sure if there are many other single kayaks that can carry that weight. Your dog is the weight of another adult, so I think you really will need to get a double kayak (or a hybrid kayak or canoe), to avoid overloading.
Corona from Feel Free or Jon Boat
Corona should hold you and 2 Dogs -
Pamlico 135T
We went to the Aldercreek Boathouse today and sized up some kayaks.
The Tsunami 145 is definitely the kayak I want, waiting for email back from kayrak to see if it’s long enough / enough weight capacity with the kayrak system to work.
Out of all the boats we thought the Pamlico would fit a Newfie in the kayak best. There’s a used Pamlico 135T there in good shape for a decent price. Will have to try it!
Have you considered add-ons?
Perhaps an outrigger add-on can do the job for you.
http://www.kayrak.ca/
other places to look for info
If you don’t actually have the puppy yet you have plenty of time to get out at actually look, make a chart of notes etc.
I would hang out on some duck hunting and fishing forums. Traditionally they used boats but many have moved on to using kayaks and have done lots of experimenting and modifying - they should be a good source of info.
I’m large too. Large enough that my flexibility gets limited. Getting in and out, up and down in a kayak isnt as easy - the dog is going to get in and out - you will probably need to help it, the low seating in kayaks that give you that warm fuzzy stability feel is going to work against you there. There will be more capsizes - I would take that into consideration. I think a SOT would be safer. I would also seriously consider a canoe as suggested.
I agree - there are always people looking for kayaks that will handle a dog. One probablem with SOT’s is the molded foot pegs or the mid cockpit humps that I assume are molded in for stability - they really take away from where the dog could sit. Which is why a fishing or hunting kayak may be good - but be aware - they are extremely heavy - I don’t think your going to get away from that. Everythings a trade off, there probably isn’t a perfect boat.
Update July 2010
Well, the Kayrak owner kindly emailed to say his platform isn’t meant for a 150 pound Newfie.
Tried a Pamlico 135T, an Ocean Kayaks Malibu Two XL SOT, and a Wildy Tarpon 130T SOT. The Malibu’s molded foot pegs did not give me enough foot bracing, and the Wildy’s did.
Tarpon is 71 pounds, but looks like it will do the job. Not ideal, a barge feeling, but can slide forward to more balanced seating position when Orka wants to swim, and can put a rubber mat down to even out the bumps for him. Alder Creek has the Tarpon 130T in stock.
This seems the best option for now, but as you all said, trading off speed, turning, etc.
Still hoping somebody will make a kayak specifically for paddling with huge dogs!
RE: Best kayak for huge dogs
I think Jackson Kayak would be the best choice for you. It has a large cockpit area for your dog to sit. It’s durable, wide, a lot of plastic, so make sure you’re tough enough to manage the weight and still enjoy it.
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collapsible kayak