Pygmy Osprey 13, s&g kit kayak
thermoplastic material is also a good choice for a light small kayak.
In CT too…
A few people have mentioned kayaking with a club, which is what we do. My husband and I live in eastern CT and belong to RICKA (Rhode Island Canoe & Kayak Assoc.)…a really great group! There are many members that need assistance loading and there are ALWAYS fellow paddlers willing to help. If you live in the eastern part of CT, check out the website:
www.ricka.org
PS: I have a Tsunami 140 and love it!
Loading
– Last Updated: Oct-02-08 8:48 AM EST –
I use a tail dragger cart and a tag line from the cart to the wagon. The tag line keeps the boat from sliding back when you are loading or unloading. Set the boat at an angle at the back of the car. Attach the tag line and lift the bow onto the rear saddle The boat should sit on the rear saddle with the tag line tight. Then slide the boat forward. Reverse for unloading.If you are on a ramp or slope, park with the rear on the up side to reduce the angle.
On a car I use a side loading bar but the same tie system. I lift the bow onto the bar and then lift the stern into the rear saddle. Put the bow into the front saddle. Reverse for unloading.
Skin-on-frame more expensive?
– Last Updated: Oct-02-08 9:32 AM EST –
Cape Falcon Kayak: " New cost on one of my designs is $1950, for a traditional historic replica kayak, fitted exactly to you, the price is $2200 and worth every penny. A new boat comes with a simple guarantee. If you aren't thrilled with it, send it back, I'll send you your money and pay shipping."
I got a quote of $1200 a couple of years ago from a custom builder in CT: http://www.qajaqsofpeters.com/index.htm
Another New England builder:
http://www.kayakshops.com/willow_kayaks/willow.htm
Commercial folders don't have to be expensive either:
http://www.pakboats.com/puffin.htm
There are valid reasons for not choosing a skin-on-frame, but the price isn't out of line.
Slipstream
Angstrom, is there a reason why you left out the CD Slipstream? It is a boat I have been looking at for my wife who is about the same size and is more readily available used.
Pack Canoes
Pack canoes often have the cockpit features of kayaks and are powered with a double blade paddle but can weigh as little as twelve pounds because they do not have decks. Prices range from $1K to $2.5K.
That deck thing is key. On inland waters, a lee shore is usually available. When the lee shore is France, you need a decked paddlecraft.
Email me at charliewilson610@roadrunner.com; I’ll return mail a comprehensive comparison sheet of every pack canoe currently produced.
ditto Hurricane Tampico S
I’m almost exactly your size-have owned a number of kayaks and my all time favorite is the Hurricane Tampico S. I’ve done two weekend trips with it-a little bit of a squeeze for gear but then I can’t handle a 16 foot kayak with a big load anyway. Last month we were in northern Michigan and in some rough waters on Lake Huron and I kept up with all the Valleys, P&H, and other big sea kayaks with no issues. You gotta try one! I read the post about Eddyline and they are fine craft but a lot more money and I don’t think they track as well. No matter what ANY guys tell you…loading it by yourself safely is a big deal and every pound really counts. We petite gals don’t have the leverage to horse longer, heavier boats around all that easily.
Do you roll?
– Last Updated: Oct-02-08 7:41 PM EST –
That is my one question about the Hurricane boats other than the Tracer - from how smaller women fit into them, I've never been sure how well the Tampico etc worked for that purpose. If the OPer has that in mind as a way she'd like to grow, that kind of fit may matter. The 18" wide cockpit is nice, but 33" sounds like the braces are more knee than thigh braces for a shorter woman. The 23.5" width isn't the best for that purpose, but it'd work.
BTW, I assume you mean the Tampico 140S since it is the only one pictured on the web site with full perimeter lines.
According to the site, the 140S doesn't offer a rudder or skeg because of the integrated skeg. That would make it track straighter. (Though you can find disagreement about whether hard tracking is necessarily a good thing for bigger water.)
Quality Eddyline
You get what you pay for, hulls are consistent, coaming more solid, overall quality better, plus customer service issues, if any, many times is taken by the Derrer’s, the owners.
don’t compromise on weight
You are right to be looking for light. You’ll use it more if its easy to load yourself. And the Forester is 3 to 4" higher than an Outback, so its a tough lift for you at 5’4. It will take a little while to find the technique that works for you but then you’ll be set. My wife, also 5’4, has a Forester and a Impex Mystic - her first kayak (abt 43 pounds), and uses Thule slide n set.
A poster called nchill posted an excellent short list about 2 weeks ago in another thread about light kayaks for women (maybe called simply “need advice”). She’s also in N.E. and paddles a discontinued light W.S. model called a Tchaika that I always thought would be a great boat for women (& now hard to find).
New England Paddler
There are three clubs in Connecticut that you can learn/paddle with. Housatonic Paddle Club, New Haven Hiking Club and CONNYAK. The folks would be happy to give you advice, however only you can decide what fits best. Every May there are two Stores that offer try and buy that I would suggest trying to attend. One is North Cove Outfitters in Old Saybrook, CT the other is The Kayak Centre in Wickford, RI. The benefits of RI are they have a large inventory and they do not have a sales tax on boats and will package all accessories (10% off) with your boat purchase to eliminate a tax on the accessories as well. BTW: my wife (5’3 @ 115 pounds) loves her Hurricane Tampico. Beware, they can run a 2 to 4 pounds heavier than stated. If you would like more information send me an email
Nope
Just slipped my mind because it’s not currently made. I’ve paddled the Slipstream and liked it.
My 5’0" wife has a WS Tchaika, a nice small-paddler boat that’s also been discontinued.
Seriously… Forget About Weight
Try lots of boats and get what you like to paddle. Move it and load it the way Celia said.
The way you’re thinking now puts you at risk of buying a crappy, but somewhat light, boat. You’re also at risk of hurting yourself loading a ‘light’ kayak.
really?
weight was the main focus here, and the mere fact that there are so many boats out there simply means that there is a better selection of light boats available.
I think the greater percentage of crappy boats will go into the heavier than normal category anyway.
Really
I think the main focus is a small woman dealing with a boat by herself. Celia is a woman and gave excellent advice.
It ain’t how much boat you move. It’s how you move the boat. We’re not cave men. We don’t have to muscle a boat around. We can finesse it.
I stand corrected.
The SOF’s I was refering to are folding SOF’s available to me. The really nice ones you are showing apear to be built to stay put with exception of the pufin type things. Canoe / Kayak does not do it for me.
I have only been in 3 SOF kayaks. One a true traditional craft that was lovely but did not fit me. It also seamed a little fragile though I was told this was not so.
The Featherlite was slow and not a great paddle.
The Trak was like my Capella and I am told was tough as nails. The manufacturer bounced it around like I would never do with my glass boats but if it were loaded; I wonder what the pointy rock that damaged my Explorer would have done to this miles from the nearest possible take out.
For weight I think you have the answer, I still like glass.
Feathercraft K Light
– Last Updated: Oct-04-08 11:57 AM EST –
Yes it is expensive, but you'll have a kayak that can check as luggage and take it on planes, trains buses, water buffalo to get to your put in. Want to go a lot cheaper with a bit less quality, look at an Atatl
Kevlar
i paddle a kevlar capella.
i an two inches taller than you and a few pounds heavier.
the problem I have with carrying my boat usually is because of wind.
i drive a camry so don’t have the lifting issues you have.
i have some tricks but celia has some of the best ideas.
a friend showed me how to hoist the kayak onto my shoulders easily and use the cockpit as you would a yoke on a canoe to carry the boat.
you face the cockpit away from you hoist the keyak onto your thigh and roll it onto your shoulders.
it is easy but you have to see it done!
the camry is just a little taller than the boat on my shoulders so the capella just seams to roll into place.
i used to use an aluminium pole to hold one end of my old boat (glass capella) while i lifted the stern up and then put the bow onto the saddle.
the aluminium rod slid into the bar of my thule rack and the extended part of the rod was what held the boat while i worked. the rod is then taken out ans put in the back with my paddles. it was the same length as the take down paddles.
i have no idea what that aluminiun pole was used for, a friend found it for me; but a ski pole may do.
paddling with friends is often the best idea.
hope this helps.
fiona
Central/Western Connecticut
You might want to visit Collinsville Canoe & Kayak on Rt 179 in Collinsville. Big selection, knowledgeable folks. Also talk to Dave at CT Outdoors on rt 73 in Oakville (NW of waterbury). Small place but very helpful. If you want a boat you can grow with, and do sea/touring, 14’ should be your minimum length. Thule roller/slide and set rack is very user friendly. I have a forester and they load easy from the back. Non skid bathroom mats make a good pad for the rear deck of the car.
I prefer simple loading & carrying.
Lighter boats myake that more possible. I like to lift the boat off the car and carry it to the water with as little apparatus and as few steps as possible. Why do extra work if you don’t have to? I
Carpets and mats are a pain on windy days (they get blown around) and I like to paddle on windy days.
I just sold a 55 lb kayak because it was heavier than I prefer and I have a 45 lb version of the same boat that my wife paddles (available to me when she’s not paddling). I much prefer loading the ligher boat, but I have to admit that the 11 year old heavier fiberglass boat hull definately feels more stiff and robust than the 1.5 year old lighter kevlar version.
Heavier boats are usually less expensive, so that’s a vote in their favor.
I have neck, shoulder and back problems, so I prefer lighter boats even though they don’t seem as robust as the stiffer and heavier boats.
Having said that, I still have some 55 lb or more boats that I’ll still paddle just because I like to paddle them. I have developed tolerable techniques to move them around. I’d much prefer that they were 15 lbs lighter.
Different boats for different folks.