Ocean kayak

[Jim Burr]

Hey Jeff, again...glad to hear you are ok after the tornados.

If my canoe build goes well, my son wants a kayak. We have some nice rivers here...lot's of lakes, but we also head to the ocean twice a month. Ocean kayaking is big in Monterey, very sheltered with lots of estuaries that are a blast to head in to. Which of your line would be a good platform for ocean paddleing?

Thanks,

Jim

[Kudzu]

It has been interesting. TVA reports that there 96 of their high voltage transmission lines were down in the storm. There was over 1 million people without power 5 days ago. It's still hard to watch the news, the stories and photos just keep coming.

As for a boat what sort of experience does you son have, any? I always point out when people mention Ocean that I live inland and have no experience with blue water. Our lake it huge and gets might rough but it's not the same. If your talking smoother water then any or them would be good. If he has no experience I would stay away from Sling Shot. A lot depends on what length he wants. But Curlew and Ravenswood are great general purpose boats and their shorter length makes them easier to handle and store.

[Jim Burr]

It has been interesting. TVA reports that there 96 of their high voltage transmission lines were down in the storm. There was over 1 million people without power 5 days ago. It's still hard to watch the news, the stories and photos just keep coming.

As for a boat what sort of experience does you son have, any? I always point out when people mention Ocean that I live inland and have no experience with blue water. Our lake it huge and gets might rough but it's not the same. If your talking smoother water then any or them would be good. If he has no experience I would stay away from Sling Shot. A lot depends on what length he wants. But Curlew and Ravenswood are great general purpose boats and their shorter length makes them easier to handle and store.

Thanks Jeff,

He has zero time in a boat/ship/watercraft. But I single paddle a canoe all over the place so he will learn from me in the canoe. I have zero kayak experience, but we have an REI right down the street that will be having a class in 2 weeks on kayaks; the hope is to get you to buy one of their boats...not gonna happen. I'll canoe any day of the week, but in the ocean...kayaks are a better choice. There are great sloughs and places to go that are calm. I was thinking short and wide. Wide is stable...right?

Can't wait to get started and I think we are in for more than one!!!

[Kudzu]

I was thinking short and wide. Wide is stable...right?

Width does not automatically mean a boat is more stable. If all things were equal and you widened a boat, then it shouldould make it more stable. But I can design a 36" wide boat that is very unstable. Reason is, hull shape has more to do with stability than width does. Generally speaking a flatter bottom will have more stability and the more round (circular) it is the less stable it will be. Btu there are many many factors that effect it so it is hard to generalize.

Since I am on the this subject I will point out that the more rounded hull shapes GENERALLY have less wetted surface area and that means lower resistant (faster). That is why I really like multi-chine designs. The trade off is they are a little harder to build because there are more parts to to them and lot more lashing. Even so they are far from hard to build, they just take a big longer.

As for stability it can be learned. Assuming he is young he will adapt very quickly so I wouldn't over think that. A young friend of mine had never paddled and third time out he was in a wild little boat I don't like and did just fine. So unless he has a medical problem, he may feel a bit uncomfortable at first but he will adapt quickly and will be telling you to speed up.

So if you looking at a shorter boat I would be looking at Curlew, Ravenswood, Short Shot or VARDO. If he is competitive or athletic I would lean tow Short Shot. It is going to be faster and would be something he wouldn't outgrow for a long time. But any of the others would be good choices, just depends on his personality and what he wants to do with the boat. If your thinking about camping VARDO with some hatches would be my first choice.

Hopefully I didn't confuse the issue.

[Jim Burr]

Nope...no confusion at all! He is very athletic, and will no doubt spin circles around me!! He's not really into fishing so I'm looking at the Ravenswood...it seems like a sturdy little boat that will fit in the shop easily.

[Kudzu]

Nope...no confusion at all! He is very athletic, and will no doubt spin circles around me!!

Since he is athletic and if space is not an issue, you should really consider Short Shot. Noticeably faster boat for a strong paddler and sounds like he might become one. It will not limit his speed like a Ravenswood. RW is a good boat to start with but for a just a little more work, Short Shot would give him a much better boat if got serious about it.