Anybody have some suggestions/thoughts on a sit-on-top that’s be fairly fast for 2 - 3 hour fitness paddling a couple of times a week yet has some turning ability to make class I moving rivers more enjoyable where turning would just be for fun and sport? I’m a 220 lb 61 year old, who paddles a Torrent for Class II - easy III, but I’d just like something more for cruising and fitness paddling near home a couple of times a week.
I’m considering an RTM Disco and a Cobra Revision based on reviews and comments. Use would be fitness and short day trips so gear capacity is not an issue. Very unlikely I can try the boats due to location, so at some point I’m going to make my best guess and get a boat. Carving turns OK, spinning not critical, but decent turning a must, so this is my dilemma. To me decent turning I could live with would be something like 90 degrees one sweep stroke, 180 dgrees 2 - 3 strokes.
Whatcha think I should consider? What won’t work, what might? Plusses and minuses? Thanks so much.
By the way, thanks to all y’all who suggested I contact Onno paddles. Got a Surfcross for the Torrent and it is AWESOME!! I was unfamiliar with Onno until I posted here. What a great site for paddlers. I reviewed the Surfcross here:
http://www.paddling.net/Reviews/showReviews.html?prod=2787
No
Revision is a great kayak but it’s not going to turn with a single sweep stroke.
idea
Taking a page from my experience training and racing down class I rivers. An overstern rudder would be perfect for fitness paddling. I know it is somewhat blasphemy but, it makes a fast boat turn.
Just a thought. It might not be for you. I’m glad you like your onno.
Ryan L.
Tarpon 140.
I’ve run class 1 in a Tarpon 160 and the 140 turns better.
You could set up a small, fast canoe
so that you’re sitting and using a double blade. Coldens and Placids are intended for this, but with careful shopping you can keep the cost down.
When a canoe is leaned onto its cheek, it can be spun very quickly.
Thanks
Thanks for providing the info. I may have to back off some on my hopes for turning ability and just look for glide and decent speed for the short (2 - 3 hr) fitness paddles. I had noticed the Re-vision was listed for fitness paddling on the Cobra website. I was very interested in Tarpons until I saw the weight, and really want a SOT to provide different paddling experiences in addition to my Torrent and three solo canoes (Encore, Baboosic, Prospector).
If I just focused on lighter (50 lbs or less) fitness SOTs and disregarded the turning are there any other recommendations. I like hearing all ideas and considerations. Thanks.
Your weight,which is also mine,
limits you in the SOT realm. Heritage used to make some lightweight ones,but I was too heavy for them.
I hate the weight of my Tarpon, but the trade off is how well it performs in the water.
surf ski?
Bic Scapa?
There's some info in the buyers guide here. Pretty fast for a SOT, and wasn't hard to turn, as I remember. I'm close to your weight, and that wasn't an issue:
http://www.paddling.net/buyersguide/showBoat.html?boatID=1167&boattype=Kayaks
Hunt Johnsen “Wave Witch"
12’5” 30 lbs, has a rudder, very fast paddler.
Not good for whitewater. Probably requires a great deal more finesse than you are used to.
http://www.huntjohnsendesigns.com/index.htm#wavewitch
fitness
If you are wanting to paddle for paddling's sake, or fitness. You should consider a stable surfski or similar with an overstern rudder. There are a few rotomold ones but a composite ski would be fine as long as there are now ledges to carry over.
Look at this, it is a used cobra eliminator, there is a lot of links in it as well.
http://paddle24seven.com/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=82&func=view&catid=6&id=12748
Ryan L.
What to do?
I appreciate all the posts plus a couple of email responses. Probably I will stick with either a Re-Vision or Disco and then if I want even more speed then I'll sell one of my canoes and look hard at the surf-ski or an Expedition type kayak with a rudder.
OTHER COMMENTS ARE STILL WELCOMED!!
The Disco looks like such a cool boat, has great regard and might be really "hot" if I lose the 20 lbs gained this year (maybe new thyroid medicine and summer bicycling will do it). I'd be taking a chance with it though. The Re-Vision seems a safe choice and almost guaranteed to fit my 2 - 3 hour fitness paddles 1 - 2 times a week and provide a fun ride on class I fast rivers without technical rapids., had nice comments from 2 users. Thanks again, and I'll post comments after my first paddle on whichever I choose.
what about the
RTM Midway?? seems like that would be the better choice over the Disco for a 200+ lb guy.
From one Fat Paddler to another
I’ve tried the disco and it is fine for a 14 foot play boat. I think the Revision is more of a surf boat so I’d bet the tail would drag in flatwater like other surf boats I’ve paddled.
I talked to Cobra not to long ago and I understand they are no longer making the revision, so if you must have one move fast.
If I had to have just two boats, one would be an RTM Disco and the other a Cobra Expedition. So I guess you can tell that this 230 pounder, 5’10", 32 inch inseam and size 12 feet likes the Disco just fine.
Sold on the Disco
You da man, FrankNC!!
I'm going for the Disco, no regrets!!! I appreciated all the comments and wavered on the Cobra Expedition and RTM Midway, but the Disco is calling my name. I'll do a report/review after I've paddled her some. Now to just lose some weight to enjoy it even more!!
paddling.net is THE BEST!!!