I 100% agree that getting actual seat time is the best way to tell, just finding it difficult here. The place I took the ACA level 2 is primarily P&H with some Old Town Castine’s and I think one other type. Seems most of the rental places around here are primarily rec or SOT.
A neighbor offered to let me borrow their kayak(s) as well (I think they are older Ocean Kayak sit-ins, not sure the details), and I plan on taking them up on that offer. Another neighbor also has a WS Tsunami, but I haven’t talked to him about it (we just moved here 6 months ago).
A tad longer than the Sitka LT at 15’, but something you could watch for on the used market is the nicely fitted-out and open water suitable Venture Easky 15 and 15LV (you could fit either one).
Venture is the more affordable division of P & H, whose boats you are already familiar with. They discontinued selling the Easky’s in the US a few years ago and replaced them with a 14’ different model called the Islay 14, which also comes in an LV. I mention these because Lake George Kayak in upstate NY was a dealer who sold a lot of them (and they were in their rental fleet) and there were other dealers in New England so the models may turn up on the used market.
I’ve had a 15 LV for 10 years and been really happy with it, used it for everything from class 1 and 2 mild whitewater rivers to rough open water in the Great Lakes – my boyfriend during the time when I first got it was exactly your size and loved the tracking and close fit of mine so so he got one for himself.
I don’t have experience with the more recent Islay 14 but Venture does make nice boats (manufactured in the UK) and being rotomolded they are are a bit cheaper new than Eddylines (though a bit heavier).
Yes, I saw that boat too, it looks nice. AFAIK the Slipstream is a smaller paddlers’ kayak; but if you’re close by maybe worth a test paddle (if possible). And maybe someone who’s paddled one will comment. But I also think you’re right in the middle size-wise, as well as living in prime territory for good used sea kayaks, so something good will definitely come along! Keep scouring CL and FBMP!
There’s an Impex Currituck for sale in Moultonborough NH on Facebook Marketplace. They have it listed for both $2000 and $1000 - go figure. Sorry FB won’t let me link to it. It’s listed as Impex Kayaks. Might be worth a look
I rented a Virgo MV today (same as my instructional class). It fit me very well and I was immediately more comfortable in it than in the Pyranha Orca 16’ that I’ve been borrowing. Did a 5 mile trip through a few bays and out into the open water between the bays and it handled awesome (as best my inexperience can tell). I had the skeg about 1/3 of the way down and what a difference compared to the Orca (missing its rudder). I know, learn to paddle properly without it and I plan to, but the difference was quite surprising.
The place sells their used rental kayaks (2 years old) so I’m waiting on the owner to get me a price, and he also said they have some MVs on order that are arriving at some point, so I asked for a price on those as well (pretty sure they’re ~$2k new). I think for my own first kayak, I’d definitely be happy with the Virgo MV.
I like the WS Tsunami. Family members in your weight range seem to be approahing the upper range for the 140. Your hip size will make the cockpit feel . . . Roomy. I’m no fan of WS rudder. I own a used 140 with rudder; paddlers never use it. The rudder on my 175 is rarely used. The 170 Tunami pro has a skeg, but I can’t fit the boat. I use a non-rudder 145 Tsunami in open water. I do become frustrated at times and wish I has a skeg. You might find the 145 a bit large. Just passing my personal observations.
Thanks Jyak. I did sit in the Tsunami 140 and it felt okay, but not as good as the Sitka ST (not quite big enough, but was comfortable nonetheless) and the Dagger 14.5S.
That’s what matters. I learned a lot sitting the 140 and 145 side by side. There is roughly about 2 inch height difference. My 230 lbs nephew said he fit the 140. I told him don’t go there until he tried the 145. My sister at 140 lbs was skimming through 30"waves without a blink. I was following white knuckled at 265 lbs in a 145. She was 74 lbs under the theoretical safe load in her boat. I was 34 lbs over mine. I was taking some water over the front, she was dry. I dropped 35 lbs and noticed vast improvement. That’s when I looked up calculating load. I love WS boats for stability. An experienced member mentioned fit, and I realized the WS seat frame is the same in both boats. I actually fit the seat width of the140. The seat width doesn’t bother my sister, but you do have a lot of options including the Tempest. With backband and skeg.; however, the length and weight might be more than you want to handle. I liked an Impex that I saw on the water, but can’t fit in it.
The eddyline is a nice looking boat. If you do decide on that, I’d like to hear your impressions. Good luck. It has less load capacity than the Tsunami, so you can decide if that’s an issue.
Rental place got back to me and said $1900 for brand new Virgo MV, $1200 for used (2 years old, rental boat), and $800-900 for the slightly older models (Venture Jura and Islay 14), which is a bit different than the “$700-800” he said previously).
They are unsure when the new ones are actually arriving, but the used ones will be available once they close at the end of Sept.
I was willing to take a 2-year old rental for $700-800, but not sure about $1200. He explicitly mentioned the one I paddled, which had a really hard-to-move skeg and the left footrest wobbled around slightly under pressure. At that point I’d rather just take the new one at $1900, or keep scouring CL/FBMP.
A $3k retail for $1k is a nice deal and I like the look of it and the reviews. Thanks for linking those. It feels like I’m changing my mind almost daily about my path forward to owning a kayak (buy cheap (<500) now while continuing the search for my ideal, or just spend extra now to buy something I know I like).
My dilemma with the Currituck is making the time to drive the hour+ there, and possibly/likely not being able to paddle it to see how it feels. Do I buy simply based on fit, and then if I don’t like how it paddles I try to resell? It’s been up for almost 3 weeks at “$1k OBO”. With that said, I did message about it.
Moultonborough is right smack dab in the middle of the lakes region. Very possibly you’d be able to test paddle. Ask the seller. My feeling is that up there people prefer wide stable rec kayaks. (Spouse’s parents used to own a place up there and I very rarely saw sea kayaks out in the lakes.) Probably those are considered too tippy. But perfect for coastal paddling.
If the Currituck is in as good of shape as listed, it seems $1k is a fair price? If not, what would be a “BO” price (affordability aside)? 750-800? Although I guess that is subjective based on condition.
Also, is Impex still around? I see lots of older reviews and only a few online stores carrying what looks like newer (than the FB posting) models.
Impex kayaks are still made by a company called Abitibi. They have an online presence. In my area Lake George Kayak Co carries them, and in Canada Frontenac does too. The latter has some informative videos on each model.
As for price it seems quite fair if in excellent condition - and if you like the boat, of course. Perhaps they’ll throw in some accessories, no harm in asking. Also depending on how new it is, though an older composite boat isn’t usually an issue. $800 would be a good deal.
Thank you everyone for the feedback, it is very much appreciated. I broke down and committed to a new P&H Virgo MV. I decided to go new since life at the moment doesn’t really afford me the time to drive an hour one way to test-fit kayaks, and I’m so new that I don’t trust myself to know a good deal or not (hence all of my asking here and the wonderful feedback). I’ll borrow/rent/test as many as I can when I can in the hopes of finding something I like more than the Virgo, but at the moment I’m fairly in love with it.
I borrowed a Perception Carolina 14.5 yesterday and it felt like an absolute barge compared to the Virgo.
