I work as a biologist and museum curator and have been kayaking since 2002 when I lived in Minneapolis Minnesota. Started with a Necky Zoar Sport but replaced it a few years back with the much lighter Manitou 13. My wife has a Dagger Zydeco 11. We mostly paddle inland lakes, local rivers, and Green Bay and other relatively protected waters in Lake Michigan.
My biggest paddling-related accomplishment is probably the Greenland paddle I hand-made from an 8-foot cedar 2 by 4. Except for a random orbital sander for finishing I used no power tools.
