I want to see the trout!
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Beauty, and a split bamboo rod to go with the boat?
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Just photos of some of my favorite boats in use.
Padddleyak Swift Hybrid
MRC Kevlar Explorer 16
Curtis Kevlar Solo Tripper
North Shore Buccaneer
Shearwater Merganser I built from a kit
West Wright Potter 19
Scamp
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The NS Polar (LV)/Buccaneer(HV) are great kayaks - not common in the US unfortunately but very much underrated. I used to paddle a Polar frequently when we had one in the demo fleet at the shop I used to work at (The Kayak Centre in RI).
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It was my first sea kayak back in 2010. it was built back in 1997. It is 17’ 4" long, 21.5" wide, and weights 51 pounds. Bought it and a fiberglass paddle for $650. I love the hard hatches and large openings. I added closed cell foam gaskets to the fiberglass hatch covers, and they are watertight. It is a good play boat and can haul an amazing amount of camping gear for touring.
I have paddled a number of other sea kayaks since then like the Tempest Pro, NDK Explorer, QCC 700 and others that I liked. The early plastic Valley Skerry floridakayaker had tricked out was sweet. I would like to try an Epic 18.
I enjoy paddling the Eric Schrade Merganser and am paddling it right now for a spell. I am considering setting it up with a sail rig. However, I am totally satisfied with the Buccaneer. It fits me well. It seems to be perfectly tailored to my needs, and doubt I’ll buy another sea kayak. I know, I know, I can hear the “Yeah Right” already.
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Someone should enter one of those in the Race to Alaska. I would look right at home.
I had a NS Calypso, made before the Valley take over. It was a pretty boat, handled well, but a bit heavy for me to cartop etc.
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Neither Valley or North Shore were ever known for light boats! My last composite Valley was an Etain 17.1, a kayak for small paddlers, and it was a brick. Switched to a carbon Tiderace and probably saved 15 lb (I never weighed the Valley but the Tiderace is about 45 lb). What a huge difference in moving the kayak around and especially getting it on and off the car!
I am also quite fond of the NS Atlantic LV, which is also the same boat as the Impex Montauk, and may also be related to the Calypso if I am remembering correctly.
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lovely boat… did you build it ? what does it weigh ?
my lightest boat is 40lb and that’s still too much for me to carry uphill to the trout lakes…
It’s about 25 lbs, a bit more than your standard Hornbeck and my GRB Classic but it’s a great fishing boat and Carries very nicely with a clamp on yoke. It’s a guideboat build with ribs and stems but no bottom board. The bonus is it’s also perfect for my kids. They’ve been using it with a double blade but I’m ornery and prefer single blade
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Here is our new pack canoe the first day it was loaded up this winter. We did not have the right feet for a canoe and the shop tied it down with ratchet straps. The wind was blowing about 70-80 kph and I could see it moving around through the sunroof and I made my husband drive it back to the shop and everybody was mad at me. 
But I knew if that thing flew off, the German courts would show us no mercy.
The shop was about four hours from our house on the Swiss border and he had to go back on his day off.
Today. I always keep an eye 
on things.
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Drove up to inland NH to pick up a “new” (preowned) surf ride.
Hoping for little waves tomorrow.
Mahalo!
sing
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Dang Sing!
I found my number !
Back when Current Designs was in Victoria BC
22 years old and going strong (I’ve had her six)
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This is the only thing I ever use a sunroof for.
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