The fast one gets a sea anchor?
Build her an Arctic Tern LV and you an Arctic Tern HV . S/B a good match.
comfortable
She is pretty comfortable in her Carolina at the moment, but she recognizes that it may not always be the best boat for more interesting conditions and is willing to try to move up to a longer/narrower boat. I guess its time to form a plan and do some paddling! thanks all.
badjer
Thistleback: mine either
Anyone on here can help thistleback and I get our spouses out on the water at all and we’d really relish the advice.
Two words — tow line.
Works fabulously for me and my 11 year old.
not the same thing
My former spouse, was terrified of being in her own boat. This is ironic, but when we rented a 2 man kayak, she was much happier. In her solo kayak she became afraid. A tandem boat may be a third option.
What’s the fear?
Is it fear of capsizing? Inability to swim? Lack of athletic ability or confidence? Dislike of the “discomforts” of being outdoors?
Would she go if she could just be a passenger? If that’s the case, a tandem kayak might work. Another option is to put a really comfortable seat on the floor of a canoe – good back support, nice and stable, and plenty of room to spread out. A third option would be a nice rowing boat.
My wife likes to paddle her own kayak, but some days she’d rather sit in the canoe and knit.
Former Spouse ?
Did the Tandem Divorce Boat have anything to do with … never mind.
Wife On The Water
I’m the one who had to get my husband on the water. Are the wives afraid? Find a local group that runs the ACA “Quickstart” class. It’s a short 3-4 hr. class that is FUN (I teach, and that’s why, because it is fun!). We see a lot of women (and a few guys) who are really afraid…get them into a controlled situation w/people who have accredited skills. Suggest they take the class w/o you, so that they don’t feel they are competing w/you (have them find a girlfriend to do it w/them). Let them learn about kayaking, the boats, strokes, do a “wet exit”, etc. all in an environment where they are on an equal playing field w/the others around them and have the support of the group leaders. Then, if it’s possible, have them go on a day trip w/the same people they took the class from, just an added warm and fuzzy to help them get going. I’m not saying all guys are cowboys, but sometimes that is a big deterrent to the wives getting out there w/the husbands!!! Let someone else give them the initial instruction. Hope this helps!
don’t overlook the paddles
My wife uses a quite nice Werner carbon paddle while I am relegated to an ok Aquabound. A big equalizer in performance and endurance. And if I go out without her I get to use the nice paddle…
when solo
i usually paddle a 17’ greenland boat. when i paddle with my womanfriend i often take a shorter boat so we are in similar hulls. maybe a great excuse for you to get another boat!
The best reason 2 leave wife at home yet
All great ideas, but…
…I think my wife is just a plain housecat. One of you said it best, she just doesn;t like the outdoors. She does not like feeling cold, and she keeps the heater on hr feet all night long and she sleeps every night with her 'lectric blankie (I’m afraid to pee in bed… electrocution).
Thistleback, how about you, why does hubby not like H2O?
learn to turn better
but your weight would be better in her boat and if she likes the stability of the Carolina get something like a QCC300, getting her the lightest boat possible will help a lot. You in a heavy plastic Carolina and her in a light efficient QCC300 will work well. With both of you in roughly similar craft
Beth is right…
have her take a class. My wife was nervous before we took classes. Now she’s more confident than me, and better paddler too. Of course thats an old song I keep singing. Taking a course taught by someone other than yourself is important. No emotional issues, no “Stop telling me what to what to do” etc. The local shop here in So Cal has a women’s only class they teach. Where they can talk girl talk as they kayak.
My wife also likes the tandem kayak, great family together time. The baby on her lap, the four year old between us, the mountains and ducks all around us. Just lazy paddling together, no mileage or speed goals.
Good luck, Don.
skills
That is one of the differences as well. I would like to be able to carve a sharp turn by leaning, to be able to roll reliably, etc… in essence, be a competent kayaker able to handle all conditions. She wants to paddle and enjoy… no feeling any need to add skills. I guess maybe I need a shorter, more manueverable boat that would let me expand my skills, yet still be similar in day to day paddling as her carolina. Although, she does think the Vela is a pretty boat!
badjer.
thanks for all your input! keep it coming!
if you want maneuverable,
get a maneuverable boat,most folks buy the longest/fastest kayak they can handle,then they start looking for more maneuverable because they aren’t doing straight line 4-5mph paddling and it’s fun to play.
Womanfriend? Danny , are you getting
old or is there some other connotation?
ha! well we are adults
– Last Updated: Feb-17-06 8:55 AM EST –
she is a powerful and independent spirit. "girl" doesn't seem to pay her due respect, tho she certainly has her charms intact ; )
He’s a housecat too . . .
He’s a fairskinned redhead who doesn’t like the outdoors all that much. It’s not fear of water - he can swim, although not a strong swimmer (but neither am I) and he will go sailing with his business partner when invited, but has no desire to kayak, or even camp. He did go backpacking with his two sons once . . .
When people ask him why he doesn’t kayak with me he says “I choose life . . .” so I would say that he does view it as a risky activity . . . but I say LIFE is risky!
Thistleback
We must be different
– Last Updated: Feb-17-06 10:45 AM EST –
My wife and Istarted in whitewater in a tandem canoe. We started to do class four when she said I needed a solo. I bought that, then she wanted a kayak, bought that and gave her lessons. She paddles in her boat I paddle in mine. I started to sea kayak and bought a Extreme, then she wanted to try that so I bought her a Sirious(sp). First time out she wanted to switch I let her in my Exteme, She loved that boat I never got to paddle that again. Now we are only in our mid fifties she is 5'6" and 130 lbs and loves that boat. She can't roll it and doesn't care to learn but can carve beautiful turns though. She uses the werner carbon paddle to help remove any advantage I have. And I paddle at her speed. Having said all that now she has mentioned getting a tandem. More toys in the garage. P.S. I traded the P&H sirious for a QCC 700 and really love that boat. Dry hatches and fast!