Looking at those pictures of Lake Michigan, it might be a while for you Rookie. Wow…
Maybe late April with any luck. Sure has been brisk this week but things are looking up: winds and snowstorms have stopped, temps will get out of the negative numbers so maybe salt and sand will work on the roads, some schools have reopened, and the post office will start delivering mail today (no mail delivery for days - too dangerous).
Contrary to the majority of “news” reports, Lake Michigan is NOT totally iced over. Not even close. Maybe those talking heads are confusing Lake Michigan with Lake Erie, which is pretty much iced over.
Sing, I know you recently sold the Delphin. How did you like it in the surf? Was it heavy and sluggish catching waves? I recently sold my Sirona for those reasons. But I am in the market for another plastic surfer. There is a used D150 about 90 minutes away. The State Park; I use to launch from, is going to these ADA plastic ramps. I prefer not to use them, for my composite Avocet. So adding another plastic surfer. Also there is a three mile paddle from the park, to the inlet. Thanks.
For my 5’3" and 150 lbs, I liked the Delphin 150 a lot for my surfing. I got to point, where I was just groovin’ with that boat. My “Black Friday Surf” video captures that. Several hours of the break all to myself, with beautiful 11-12 second swells in the 2.5’-3’ range. The Delphin went where I wanted. Really felt at “one” with it.
It’s just too bad that Delphin was a beast to carry because of the weight – 55 lbs – without any additional outfitting/gearing. I would have kept it if it were 5-10 lbs lighter. I just can’t see myself lugging Delphin, sometimes 100 yards or more at low tide, from car to water. As I posted elsewhere, the Sterling Progression at 39 lbs is/will be my retired, ole dude, surfin’ longboat. A boat I can portage on my own 10-15 years from now.
Did you get the Delphin? Just came across this “Sea Junkies” video (another bunch of kayak surfers across the Atlantic, in the north sea) which shows two Delphins, a Sterling Reflection and another (unknown) long boat in action:
Not yet. The seller is a bit high on the price. I willing to weight, on a price drop. The D150 for sale, is ~ 9-10 years old. In the pictures, it does not appear to have been taken care of. The kayak looked faded and dirty as crap, in the posted pictures. You would think they would at least wash it, before posting pictures. If they drop the price ; to a reasonable sum, I will go look at it. It can be cleaned up, to look respectable.
I also have a WS Zephyr 155, as well. The single layer RM has some flex, in the rough stuff. If I eventually get the D150, I will move the Z155.
