so I got an Expedition and now I want a second one or something similar. I’ve interacted with the Boreal folks in CA(nada) and while they’re helpful the Expedition is discontinued along with a lot of their other boats. I want a SOT for someone with knee mobility problems, with a clean fast hull design like the Expedition. I see the Tahe Scapa, a little short but the lines look clean. Anyone want to recommend something SOT, 14ft at least, not beamy ? A surf ski is not an option due to skill level and attention demand. Competent paddler, doesn’t need excess stability, has run sea kayaks in river chop but now needs something to accommodate whiny knees. Would prefer new current production or leftover stock, but will consider used. TIA!
Stellar S14S aka Puffin. A hybrid of a SOT
and ski. More stable than a ski but not as barge like as Sot like Tarpons.
are you making fun of my Tarpon ? just kidding, I know what you mean.
Anyway, thanks for the pointer, the S14S looks sweet. Will look further. The price for the glass one is in line with a boat she may be selling/replacing. So far we’re rotomold people with that one exception, she bought that to have a “really good boat for the Hudson” and now we’re not on the Hudson any more, and we’ve reached an age where aside from an unhelpful knee, we’re not up for incurring the challenge of running a sea kayak with a closed cockpit in anything more than light chop (otherwise I’d keep the “really nice boat” but I’m not going offshore with it for above reason #2 and it’s wasted on inshore waters)
I am making a factual statement about my new Tarpon 140. To me , it is sluggish but that may be because I’m really out of shape.
The Puffin I have is for sale because I am too long for the cockpit. If you happen to be near SC sometime, I’d be glad to let you try it.
this is interesting. my first boat was/is a Tarpon, which I greatly enjoy. I’ve actually “worked” using the boat, pulling garbage out of the Hudson on a cleanup day. I can just about stand up in her, and the good part about the flat bottom is that she pivots on waves - if you can shake your booty, you can edge the hull where you want (in the “yaw” axis…) as a crest passes you (or you advance across it if you’re paddling faster than the surf…). Enjoy it, very serviceable boat, if I can offer one thought, don’t overdrive it - clean stroke and let the boat come up to speed, then find the rhythm where you catch at the right moment.
This is my 5th Tarpon . The others were 160s.