Looking for ideas for light, durable kayaks. Price isn’t a problem. A permanent back injury resricts my ability to heft kayaks easily any longer. I currently own an Eddyline Merlin XT. Reluctanty I have had to sell 3 other favorites. Need to find a similar size light touring craft but lighter. Any suggestions?
Epic
– Last Updated: Oct-23-06 5:19 PM EST –
Epic 16X, 41 lb, which is not that much different than your 46 lb Merlin XT. If go smaller, Epic GPS, a 12 footer, 30 lb. Again, it still might not be light enough. AeroLITE is 10 lb, but it's a sit on top canoe. Check out SOF, too.
how ‘bout a trailer?
i have two boats on a jonboat trailer. they are always ready to go and i only have to lift half a boat about 24" to load. if thats not an option i’d look for a phoenix isere. a do it all boat at about 15’, weighs less than 40 lbs
Tideline
I’m going to be giving a Tideline a serious look this spring/summer when it’s upgrade time. From the same guy that builds Onno paddles, which everyone loves.
http://tinyurl.com/mpw2p
Alan
I built
a SOF that weighs 20 lb. I doubt if you can get a lot lighter than that.
Lincoln in Maine makes light boats
http://www.canoesandkayaks.com/
There also is a small independent builder in Maine that makes a very lightweight, but extremely stong boat(below 40lbs.) called the Surge. He has no web sire and builds them pne at a time, but Billington Kayak in Mass. carries them and here is info on it.
http://billingtonseakayak.com/SurgeKayak.html
Skin on frame
it really does not get much lighter. If youve got the time to build and learn it’s also reasonably inexpensive I hear.
Light
This builder quoted a price for a custom SOF that was less than many plastic sea kayaks. There are probably several others who could do similar work.
http://qajaqsofpeters.com/
The Yost SOFs also look like a fairly easy build.
The Puffin Swift folder is only 26lbs, and under $1000. I haven’t padded one but liked the looks of the one in the local shop.
Many surfskis are in the 30-pound range.
How about a custom wood/fiberglass?
Have you considered having a strip and/or okume sng kayak built for you? I know that there are many builders who could build your own choice of design at about 35lbs…perhaps less.
Following are a number of professionals who design/build kayaks. You could also purchase a design/kit and have it built by an experienced builder as well.
Nick Schade @
www.guillemot-kayaks.com
Joe Greenley @
www.redfishkayak.com
Rob Macks @
www.laughingloon.com
www.superiorkayaks.com
Keep us posted as to your decision…
Bob
NC Kayaks
The LT version of the various NC Kayaks models are very lite for there length.
website: www.nckayaks.com
I owned a 17ft and recommend it.
Feathercraft Wisper
Since price is no object, how about the very nice Feathercraft Wisper? It comes in a choice of regular or heavy-duty skins. The light one weighs about 33 lbs and the heavy one about 37 lbs, IIRC. Beam of 23", like the Merlins. Fifteen ft-and-something long, like the Merlin XT. Comes with sea sock, hatch covers, strap skeg, sprayskirt, and a cool rolling backpack case.
If you don’t mind building your own, Yost folders weigh about 31-32 lbs. That’s for his 17-footers with narrow beam. For one the size of the Merlin, I bet it would drop below the 30-lb mark.
Hornbeck boats
Hornbeck makes half a dozen canoe models that are under 20 pounds. They also have the Salar sea kayak at 16’6" and 23 pounds, heavier with hatches. I saw the Black Jack canoe and Salar at an expo, and they looked really nice - the Black Jack is 10’8" long and only 12 pounds - I know cause I picked it up.
Westside Boatshop
www.westsideboatshop.com
Light and FAST (if a bit minimal). My EFT weighs in at an honest 32 lbs. with hatch and rear bulkhead. Maybe a Solander?
phoenix isere
is a light boat that can do almost any kind of water
Compass Canoe
If the sit down, double bladed canoe option is an option then might want to check out a 17lb.-22lb. Compass Canoe. There’s 2 on eBay!.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260021049872
Maybe an option, certainly light.
See you on the water,
Marshall
The River Connection, Inc.
Betsie Bay Kayaks
– Last Updated: Oct-25-06 6:15 PM EST –
Betsie Bay kayaks are the classic lightweight kayaks. My valkyrie is 17 ft, 31 lbs, and they run $3500. Not cheap, but less than kevlar, which weighs a lot more. They have their idiosyncracies, but most owners love theirs.
Their website is
http://www.bbkayak.com/