Well after much reading and some great advice on here we settled on a WS Tsunami SP for my sub 100lbs lady. I’m looking for a boat that would match hers speed wise. After reading on here about width, length and speed I have moved past the 12 footers and am looking at 14’s now with a more narrow beam. Would a Tsunami 145 with a 300lb paddler be a decent match speed wise to her in her 21" 12’ boat? I’d prefer she be a little faster but I don’t want her having to wait all the time either.
Tie a small tin can to her stern.
Keep it simple
That is, get the boat that works well for you along the lines of what you are looking at, the transitional boats like the Tsunami series, and worry about the speed later. Both of you are new paddlers, right? So until you learn how to paddle with good form, that protects your joints, neither of you should be burning up the water anyway. Just get gradually conditioned up.
You got Chic’d
That’s the new term in cycling when a girl passes you. Unfortunately for guys like me it happens more than I want to admit. Be glad your wife enjoys it, is strong enough to do it and let her be faster for once. It will motivate you to get in better shape and you will see her esteem sore. Unless you are looking for an excuse to get a new boat. In that case I support you 100%.
Yes Celia,
we are are newbies. No issues with getting Chic’d here, we’ve been together forever. I have however read the small boat discrimination thread and know from other sports what it’s like to have one person in the group on a less than capable machine. I’d just like us to be close to even with hers having the advantage. I know with my weight nothing I’m in will be a speedster boat but I don’t want to be the hold up either. Is the 145 a good match or should I be looking at a Tsunami 165 or a Delta 15.5 Exp.
And Celia we have been watching all the you tube vids on proper paddling techniques and rescues and will arrange lessons when the boats arrive in the spring.
The T145 should work
in your weight range, and it accommodates a lot of sizes well. I would generally prefer the T175 if taller (I am a little under 300 but tall) and having tried one on several occasions find it has a better fit, plus it’s extra volume and length help it to ride better in the water. I was considering one to use in southeastern coastal areas where there are a lot of oyster beds and other bottom peeling hazards. I paddle an Eddyline Nighthawk 175 as my go-to boat, and that works great for me.
It’s about the journey…
– Last Updated: Aug-24-11 12:18 PM EST –
Newer paddlers always worry about speed sooner than being able to use a paddle well for all of its purposes, like turning and going backwards and sideways. There's a lot more to have fun with in paddling than go-fast-straight. I'd suggest you take some time to explore that. You two will find an apt rhythm for paddling together if you agree on the basic goal of each trip, whether it is to burn some calories or to wander up some smaller waterways to spot flora and fauna.
I can't comment well on the T145 for someone your size, it's way big for me. But others here have said it's a good fit, I'd take their advice.
Re the small boat discrimination thread, keep in mind that the person who posted that has yet even buy a boat let alone experience paddling with others. It is quite unfortunate that they got the dialogue going the way they did - it creates a perception of a problem where none exists. But they seem to be more interested in the academic argument than just getting physically involved themselves. You two are clearly taking a more active (and productive) path if you already have one of your boats.
One thing to remember…
If you’re on a river, no matter how fast or slow you paddle, the take out spot doesn’t move. We all get there eventually and some who prefer to paddle slower will see more around them that the folks who are only concerned about speed.
Welcome to the world of kayaking and/or canoeing. Have fun and safe paddling trips.
.
I am 6’2, we don’t have either boat yet. I have to place my order in the next few weeks. As I mentioned in another thread we don’t have the option of trying before we buy. Unless I drive 7 hours to Edmonton to see if I fit and then order and wait for spring to make a second trip to get them. So instead I have read every review on the internet and all the threads pertaining to these models on here. Then I can order from a dealer only 2 hours away. It has been a great resource to know we will have boats that fit us. The one thing that I couldn’t find is whether these two boats would be a good match speed wise or if I needed to go longer, hence this thread. I know I am reaching on that one but people have been so very helpful here I thought I would ask.
Also how do I post so that it replies to the thread instead of a post?
Wrong perspective
I guess I have been looking at this the wrong way, as pointed out by you folks and my wife just a moment ago. With the typical male, motorsports horsepower perspective…
Not the Ts165
You won’t fit in the 165. I’ve had people around 200 pounds who can’t fit comfortably in the 165. The 145 is probably a fair bet, and the 175 would probably fit. It’s hard to say how you and your wife will measure up speed wise, especially not knowing either of your levels of fitness, and paddling speed. But it’s probably fair to say that the 145 and 175 tsunamis are in the same ballpark as the SP. If you guys are both powerful paddlers, the 175 will outpace the other two boats. If you’re average-to-slower paddlers, the 175 might require more work.
To reply to the thread
You gotta scroll all the back to the top of the thread and click reply there.
Without knowing you and your wife I have to generalize here, and I could certainly be wrong, but I paddle faster than my wife and if we traded boats I would still be faster. When she’s in a kayak and I am paddling “the chuck wagon”, a fully loaded canoe over three foot wide, it’s kind of close but by the end of a long day I’m definitely faster. Even fitness wise, my daughter goes through aerobic worktapes like I go through packages of fig newtons, and I’m constantly waiting for her to catch up. There are alot of variables besides the boat length. But even with that said, it’s seldom an issue. We manage to travel together quite well.
I’m 5’11" 240 and have room to spare in a tsunami 145. Got a 170 that is pretty snug in the hips.
With that size
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You should be able to fit either a T145 or T175, because they will both work fine for me. However, it does somewhat depend on your specific morphology (big butt, most of weight above waist, big shoulders or big thighs? ...pants or suit size can be some indication of morphology). I found the T145 worked, but the T175 did too and with a bit more volume it wasn't riding so low in the water. Remember that the gear you wear and paddle may add 10 or so pounds, especially if you need cool water gear, and other stuff in the boat and drinking water may add 10 or so more for a short day trip, much less anything you want to carry for a longer paddle. The T145 is getting near top loading at that point. The Tempest 170 has a lower deck and is a little narrower than a Tsunami 175. I don't fit a Tempest 170, but would a 180 (I think, theoretically; haven't tried one); the Tsunami 175 is fine, plenty of room.
Sizes
Well, XXXL helmet, very wide shoulders, 52-54T suit jacket, 42 waist, 32 leg. Oh and a midsection that needs work.
FWIW
The shadow of my butt weighs 25#
With those sizes,
– Last Updated: Aug-24-11 6:31 PM EST –
comparable except a little taller, you should have plenty of room in either Tsunami 145 or 175. I'm kinda with pirateoverforty on the other issue. In the Nighthawk 175 I have lots of room even with longer legs. I'm reasonably certain it will handle up to a 46x34, with a 52-54 jacket.
Going fast or slowly
I know there are paddlers who go full tilt all the time. I have never understood that. A good paddler can go more slowly when appropriate and go full tilt, for example, when a storm is coming up. All with good form. So what if one of you can paddle faster than the other. You are paddling together, right? So that person can just slow down and you can enjoy each others company and the scenery, maybe take a few pictures as well.
Such a terrible problem!
Thank your lucky stars that your wife wants to go and share the experience—period. Many don’t want to go anywhere, don’t want to mess their hair or chip a nail, don’t want to rough it, but don’t want to be home alone if you go, etc. etc. etc. Who cares if she’s ahead or behind. Just be grateful she wants to be there.
Keeping up vs. maintaining a course …
Which ever one of you learns a good stroke, and how to handle their boat, will have the edge getting to where ever you’re going. You’ve been looking at videos. It’s not power and arm strength, but torso rotation, good form, and a cadence. I’ve seen female paddlers with all the above set a pace that a guy with arms and upper body of a linebacker can’t keep up with using arm strength. She’s a lot lighter than you, and will be in a smaller boat, so she may beat you in initial acceleration. But with good form you can overtake her and maintain pace, or pull ahead once you have momentum.
There are a lot of variables, like boat and paddle, and how well things fit you, that will be factors. But first things first, unless you two are out to race each other, relax and learn how to paddle before worrying about how fast you get there. Enjoy the scenery!
Just MHO of course …
Yes
I am lucky to have a great woman. I realized I was looking at it wrong while researching which boat to buy. From a motorsports perspective you want the machines to be equally matched for a common pace. I thought I would be holding her up and making it not fun for her. The reality probably is we would have been happy in short barges from a big box store not knowing any better had I not found this place to learn a little.
We did get out paddling yesterday… sort of. We ran our inflatable up the river about 15kms. Shut the motor off, straddled the tubes and gave everyone a paddle. We did have the kids SOT’s in the boat but the water was too cold for them. Oh well, next season, real kayaks.