Birdie, sorry that you had a bad experience with that sales guy, but you’re reading more into the advice that you’re complaining about than is actually there.
Well, that one went off quick enough. First, l agree with Birdie that some care needs to be taken when framing these considerations, also frankly a little more knowledge than some of what l see above. A lighter weight boat in the water will not do squat to help throw advantage to the less powerful paddle if the hull design is slower. And if someone gets overly obsessed about stability for the female partner that kind of mistake is likely.
What a less powerful paddle needs is a lower volume boat with greater hull speed. Of course an Epic will help, they are generally designed with more hull speed than many other boats. Lighter weight doesn’t hurt but hull speed and a proper volume match matter more. That boat will also seem pretty unstable to a larger guy interfering in the decision. But it will feel much more secure for a smaller paddler, so the larger inexperienced person often has to get out of the way. It will work out.
Also, the single most common error l see is to get a big paddle blade for the smaller person, thinking that a larger blade surface will help them go faster. Not, in fact it’ll be slower because it will be harder for them to move it thru the water. Best to go with a smaller blade surface, that will allow them to maintain a faster cadence.
Had an interesting conversation the other day when a female friend and l were loading our low volume kayaks into each of our Hulluvators. She was wondering aloud why they had been designed in a way that left the straps too high to tightly secure a low volume boat if you used them as intended.
Answer required no thought on my part. Must have tested the units with guy’s boats.
A too large paddle blade will take the joy out of my paddling as fast as anything. I don’t go larger than a Swift Windswift, Epic Relaxed Tour. Too long of a paddle also harshes my mellow.
You all are great! I/we appreciate you thoughts and comments. I know the last time my wife and I raced, in a couple of canoes years ago, I never got off the starting block. I hogged down so hard on that first stroke that I flipped over the boat! My arrogance and stupidity gave her the laugh of a lifetime. I’m sure we would have won the Funniest Home Videos (not even around back then) as I’m positive the look on my face as I went over was priceless! Nevertheless, I have since learned that the joy of being outdoors is greatly enhanced by sticking together. It has nothing to do with male or female, or the capabilities of your water craft, it all has to do with cherishing all the moments and enjoying the time together. We both love photography, birds, nature, etc…, so our time on the water will be together. Since my last post we are narrowing it down to Eddyline’s Denali for me and the Journey for her. The Journey is actually a little bit longer and narrower than the Denali and I’m sure she’ll do just fine. We’ll be off to Indianapolis, IN in the next several weeks (one of the closest outfitters to us that has touring boats to try out) to check them out. Again, thanks for the suggestions! If you think of anything else, I’d like to hear it!
We have a Journey and just my personal opinion the seats are hard and horrible. Sit in them a while or rent them for 1/2 a day. I would jump in it for a spin but I hate the seat. She doesn’t like the seat either being hard plastic.
Another paddle comment echoing Yanoer’s. Outfitters love to sell you paddles that are too long. My first was a 240 that had monster blades.
That equals too much stress on your upper body.
See the lengthy discussion on paddles.
@TooTallmdj said:
Since my last post we are narrowing it down to Eddyline’s Denali for me and the Journey for her. The Journey is actually a little bit longer and narrower than the Denali and I’m sure she’ll do just fine. We’ll be off to Indianapolis, IN in the next several weeks (one of the closest outfitters to us that has touring boats to try out) to check them out. Again, thanks for the suggestions! If you think of anything else, I’d like to hear it!
Hope they work out for you. Eddyline makes a good product
Cockpit comfort is pretty personal and can be modified. Eddyline seat pans are ABS, covered by a foam seat pad with nice thigh support. I added some foam padding to the rear top edge of my seat which took care of one small pressure point and was a very easy fix.
Happy water trails!
Thanks for the paddle tips you all! PaddleDog52, as for your Journey, is the seat the newer Infinity seat–post 2014 model kayaks? I read somewhere (I think on Eddyline’s site) that they upgraded the seat.
Older 2011
I was trying to see difference at dealer last year. Not sure what they changed.
Eddyline changed the seat design and the seat pad in 2014. One of my kayaks is a 2013 Eddyline with the old seat (but covered with the new seat pad). There’s a definite difference from the new version, probably easier to see when comparing them side-by-side.
Again, cockpit comfort is highly personal since we’re all shaped and padded differently. The nice thing is you can make the seat more comfortable, although it takes some experimentation.
for me it is still hard plastic with a thin pad. Current Designs seats have some flex. They are so comfortable I removed the pads to be lower, slip in easier,and get rotation easier. If I thought it would be easy I rip the Eddy seat out and install a CD seat. Fiberglass kayaks I have I can do anything with the Eddyline material I am limited. Fun boat if you like the seats. Saw two Eddy’s on a car today and the cockpits were huge. Came home and looked them up and the combing length is 48" on a short boat. Think they were Skylarks.
@PaddleDog52 said:
Saw two Eddy’s on a car today and the cockpits were huge. Came home and looked them up and the combing length is 48" on a short boat. Think they were Skylarks.
Skylarks have a 35" x 18.5" cockpit. Sandpiper, 48″ x 22″ and two-inches beamier. Both are 12-footers with two sealed bulkheads so maybe the Sandpiper is for paddlers who want easy in/out?