Hey Mark, I ran across some reading you may want to look over to help you understand the type of hulls you are looking at. Go to http://www.marinerkayaks.com/. Click on model history in left hand column. Scroll down to “Coaster”. Tells why and how designed/built and compares. There are several paragraphs, good info, especially when looked at with specs and specs of the yaks as well.
Do you get down DC way? If so I have several models you can try. Loon, Monarch, Standard Sea Wind, Super Sea Wind, Superior Soaring Eagle, RapidFire … SpitFire (yeah, that will keep up ;^)
One of the nicest setups I’ve seen in a non whitewater boat.
IMO it’s about as seaworthy as an open (or partialy decked) canoe can get. Add a 12 volt pump and it’s unstoppable.
I paddled it briefly at Raystown last fall and had no trouble kneeling with the tractor pedastal. In fact the minicell insde the tumblehome gave me good enough thigh contact that I think I might have been able to roll the big boy back up. Wished I tried!
Outrigger An excellent choice if you can manage the size and cost is the Surfrigger from Savage River. It is an outrigger canoe from a New Zealand designer. It is designed for big water, removes most of the safety risks you raise, and, if it is like any of the other boats from Savage River, would be superfast. Also, the company is a small custom shop and I’m sure would set it up for whatever paddling style and seating you prefer. However, I think it is something like 24’ long so it may be impractical, particular in a Manhattan apartment.
I have a (Tommy's former) Sea-1, up in central Massachusetts, and I'd be happy to meet up with you sometime for a test paddle. I don't read P-net very often these days, or I would have replied sooner.
I am still in the process of working out my off shore gear and strategy in terms of preparations for good self rescue options. I use a lot of floatation and recently got a factory spray deck, but haven't installed it yet. I am aiming for a good paddle float set up, but haven't actively worked on that for a while either.
I'd likely benefit from what you've already worked out for self-rescue.
The way I figure it the length of your paddle is the only thing holding you back from a standard paddlefloat rescue.
A secure anchor point on the boat and a large float were what I was thinking of to remedy that.
If you want company for some self rescue practice let me know. I’m back to trying to stay in a kayak for extended (more than an hour) times so rescue practice would be good for me too.
That sounds good, I’d be happy to get out and practice with you sometime.
I do have this nice 2-piece 12 foot aluminum pole that I keep with the paddles in the barn. I have thought of incorporating that into a nice sturdy paddle float set-up, since my paddles are relatively short and invariably single-bladed.
Thanks for your input. I bought a RapidFire. I got both a high cane seat for kneeling and the “high” carbon seat (attached to the floor, and more like a high kayak seat than a low canoe seat). I consider myself a kneeler, but I had to admit that it was awfully fun to paddle from the carbon seat, with either a single or a double blade (very, very short single blade). I want to explore both options, so now I can switch the seats back and forth (but not while on the water – Charlie is going to work on that possibility for his winter engineering project).
I will be gluing in air bags using Bell’s Daisy Chain rigging. I will create a new thread on the topic of glue.
First impressions (after only a test paddle on a pond and a two-mile fling on a glassy Hudson): A little wobbly when upright, compared to the WildFire, but it firms up quickly as it starts to lean. I can paddle it kneeling with no problem, including mild freestyle moves. I did my Hudson trip sit-and-switching, also no problem. Charlie’s dire warnings of a capsize as soon as I sat up high are too extreme, I think. More when I have used it in some waves and rescue practice.
Anybody know how to get Placid Boatworks added to the list of manufacturers in the Reviews section of p.net?
mcwood4 and TramperAl: I will be in touch about paddling in D.C. or central Mass. It will be a couple of months before I leave NYC for pleasure again – I have totally blown my budget
i did, in fact do that i’ve got an old-school “fiberlar” rob roy with more than 6,000 miles on it. sliding wenonah kevlar seat, large spirit sail, cooke cover, d-rings, deck lines, the works.
i have a tough time finding a reason to dislike this boat. i’ve been out with a full load in 25-knot winds and four-foot rollers, squalls, hurricane bands, etc. it’s a solid boat. it’s not as fast as a sea wind or any 17 foot canoe. but it has to be WAY more seaworthy than a magic. wind doesn’t bother the rob roy at all.
i’m not great paddler. however, i’ve done week-long plus trips in the everglades and the southwest coast of florida. paddled offshore in SCAs with a coast guard boat watching from a distance. the only time i’ve upset is when a manatee kicked its tail against my hull and threw both me and the canoe into the air.
