Eddyline Kayaks was started by Tom and Lisa Derrer in 1971 out of a tiny shop in Boulder, Colorado. This essay is an adapted chapter from his fifth book, Threading the Currents, now available from Island Press of Washington, D.C. It was the year that two of TASKs key promotional visions were realized: a magazine and a symposium. There is an extra pair of straps on the aft hatch that could serve to secure a deck load or a spare take-apart paddle. Rudder is controlled by sliding adjustable footpegs. (They get heavier as you get older!) The Intrepid is a very attractive kayak with a solid-feeling deck, smooth lines and attractive recessed hatches. Its easy to spend an afternoon making an Otter kayak more comfortable and functional with modifications. Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association, The Great Canadian Kayak Challenge & Festival, Fishing Kayak Review: Old Town Sportsman 106 Minn Kota, Kayak Review: Old Towns Castine Touring Kayak, Old Towns Topwater 120 PDL Pedal Kayak Review, Recreational Kayak Review: Wilderness Systems Pungo 120, Recreational Kayak Review: Perception Swifty Deluxe 9.5, Recreational Kayak Review: Pelican Trailblazer 100 NXT, Recreational Kayak Review: Sun Dolphin Aruba 10, Fishing Kayak Review: Pelican Mustang 100x, Touring Kayak Review: Wilderness Systems Tsunami 145, Inflatable Kayak Review: Advanced Elements Airfusion Elite. Well, not against the kayak, itself. GL and KN would find that the Low Profile Intrepid fits better, is more secure and is easier to lean and lay back on the roll. The secondary stability is excellent. They are sea kayaks, with tons of storage for your longer adventures'Pacific water sports is no longer in bu 18' Pacific Water Sports Kayak in good condition. Can someone please tell me who the manufacturer is? KN found the Intrepid easy to roll, as did TE, though the height of the aft deck kept him from getting close to the aft deck for a lay back roll. Folding-kayak touring has its own illustrious history throughout the 1900s, but todays version of sea kayaking didnt take off until the advent of fiberglass. What Flatpick saidI will say, it was the first kayak I ever paddled and that was about 1981. Prized for their light weight, dry storage carrying capacity, stability and speed. I remember seeing [Dan] in an unemployment line probably in about 1972, recalled Matt Broze of Mariner Kayaks. Just Northwest: Outdoor Tourism Blog featuring the Pacific Northwest: Sea otter and osprey kayaks We don't stop hiking because we grow old, we grow old because we stop hiking. Your email address will not be published. Plastic kayaks cut boat prices in half. In spite of the good thigh and foot bracing, GL thought his loose fit in the seat caused him to slip out of position and miss a roll. Its lines mirror everything youd expect in a kayak: a pointed bow and stern with low profile to minimize exposure to winds, front and back decks for seaworthiness, as well as a large cockpit for easy entry and exit. Pacific Water Sports was the name they made up so they could pass themselves off as a legitimate business when they approached the British builder of a championship whitewater slalom hull. Dowd is also credited with coining the term sea kayaking with the publication of his book of that title in 1981. I think TASK did a pretty good job of helping a bunch of amateur businesspeople act a little more professional. One of TASKs most important discoveries was of the needfor boat pricing that would include a healthy profit margin for builders, retailers and, eventually,distributors. My boat had no outfitting at all when I got it, not even a floor. 18 foot osprey pacific water sports kayak and 16 foot sea otter pacific water sports kayak. Simply put, the Old Town Otter kayak looks primitive alongside the creature comforts of the newer Loon. Incredible guys, great boats and awesome events and experiences. Pacific Water Sports, a store that's been a fixture in local kayak and canoe circles for 32 years, saw revenue drop off following a move to bigger quarters in Tukwila in 2001, said. Most backyard boat builders were using pirated designs, Moyer said, so he and a buddy set out to buy the rights to a legal mould. The goal was always to have a really neat way to travel in the wilderness, self-propelled, said Schleicher, reflecting on where his early vision has led him. This is a lovely little boat. Aft of the cockpit there is a day hatch and a flat-bottomed recess for stabilizing the boat with a paddle while getting in and out on the beach, although there is no provision there for a paddle-float rescue. The model is sea otter. The Intrepid touring sea kayak is designed to be paddled efficiently at fast touring speeds, carry a moderate gear load, handle well without a rudder and be neutral in the wind. They started the companies whose names appear on most of the boats were paddling today, and between 1974 and 1984, our sport took off. He tried many different kayaks from many different manufacturers. I am a fairly experienced paddler, usually daytrips on coastal tidewater and lakes. GET UPDATES The Otter XT features the same dimensions and identical performance, with the critical upgrade of adding adjustable foot pegs to the cockpit. Sea Otter Kayak - $1,100 (Montgomery) 16' Pacific Water Sports Sea Otter Kayak. The most challenging paddle destinations for kayaking in the Pacific Northwest (in the south) include the Klickitat River, Wind River, Little White Salmon River and more. PACIFIC WATER SPORTS Skookum Chuck SEAWARD Southwind HV *ONE-DAY KAYAK RENTALS INCLUDE THESE ACCESSORIES: BOOTS, RAIN BIBS, RAIN JACKETS or PADDLE JACKETS & RAIN HATS, PADDLE MITTS & DRY BAGS PADDLE ITEMS AND SERVICES INCLUDED WITH KAYAK RENTAL Comfortable Seats with Inflated BackSupport Cushion Pacific Water Sports 16055 Pacific Highway South Seattle, WA 98188 Phone: (206) 246-9385 E-mail: info@pwskayaks.com Website: www.pwskayaks.com Only this faint stirring in the air remains: the whisper of ancients only a generation past. A lockup rudder is also optional. Besides trolling yard sales in cottage areas, your best bet is searching Old Town Otter kayak Craigslist for a bargain on this classic entry level kayak. Then, some young kayakers turned their hobby into a business. The bow line can also be rigged as a rescue sling. Now there were 5-6 foot waves breaking about 30 yards from shore. Kids between 5 - 14 years old are welcome to join a tour in a tandem kayak, and folks 14 and up can use a single. Very well built fiberglass kayak. Foot pegs improve paddler fit in the boat and allow you to paddle more efficiently by transferring energy from your entire body to the kayak, making your strokes more effective. We launched our kayaks from the boat launch area . I used to put a little notice on my doorGone product testingand wed go to the river.. Yet Nimbus became a fulltime business by around 1976starving to death in the winter., [ Read more: Explore The Kayaking Capital Just Minutes From Downtown Vancouver ]. Traveling any distance in the Otter will be a workout compared to longer kayaks. You get a few pointers from the last builder, and so take on the unwritten responsibility to pass your knowledge alongto the next. As if the Pacific Northwest didnt already have its share of the action, a few other Seattle companies entered the businessin the early 80s. TE noted,though, that the coaming aft is high enough that I could only do half of a layback before having my back come in contact. The seat provides some lateral support, though it does not offer a convenient spot for adding customized hip padding for a tighter fit. mat and 8-oz. In this yakers eye. I still measure kayaks against that kayak. It is fairly narrow (20") and has a V-hull that doesn't have much initial stability. Again, the first time I paddled it was at Lake Sutherland. If I dont have that slight tingle in my spine, the anticipation of whats to come, then its not the kayak for me. roving with end reinforcements. How did sea kayaking become the sport we know today? Check out a few other kayak recommendations below or explore all kayaks to find the perfect one for you! There is ample stowage in the three bulkheaded compartments, enough for weekend and week-long cruises. Youre a swingin flower child, and you want to go kayaking with your sweetheart, feel the groove and sway of the ocean and get in touch with Mama Earth. Their new boat building business soon evolved into a paddling retail store and full-time jobs for Lee and Judy Moyer. Slade operated Striders sport store at Fourth and Burrard in Vancouver and became Neckars first dealer, long before the formal existence of Necky. From snorkeling in the water with the . roving with end reinforcements. TE and GL both noted that the middle of the hull oilcanned when pressed hard, though not while afloat. No damage or repairs to kayak. One of the pioneers of kayaking in the Northwest is closing this week, a victim of poor timing and changes in how people spend their recreational dollars. In 1982, Bob Licht followed the Ecomarine example and opened Sea Trek Ocean Kayak Center in Sausalito, California. , He also designed the Chinook for Aquaterra, one of the first roto-molded kayaks. nly this faint stirring in the air remains: the whisper of ancients only a generation past. If you have a choice, go for the Old Town Otter XT over the original edition. Lee Moyer. Meanwhile, in the Garibaldi Highlands just south of Whistler Village, a gruff Czech immigrant and whitewater champion named Mike Neckar was also moulding whitewater boats on an informal basis in a falling-down shop in the rainforest. Our latest Loon features the ACS2 seat, creating the most advanced and best-fitting cockpit available. The seating arrangement on the Old Town Otter feels basic compared to some of the ultra-adjustable and padded seats in contemporary kayaks, but its still very supportive and easy to modify with glued-in padding. The thigh braces fit and functioned very well, and the foot braces performed solidly and are easy to reach and adjust from the cockpit (GL). Yet its short length and easy handling makes the Old Town Otter perfect for youngsters ages 8 and up. Includes spray skirts and paddles for both. Women's Florida Springs and Manatee Kayak/Snorkel January 2024 . It would certainly be a good first boat that a paddler could enjoy right off the bat and continue to enjoy as his skills developed (TE). And Dan Ruuska of Natural Designs and John Abbenhouse of Northwest Kayaks crossed over from whitewater and began building touringkayaks. It has a bulkhead behind the seat, but it doesnt have a forward bulkhead or any inherent floatation in the bow. It was called kayak touring or sea canoeing or canoe touring, blue-water paddling, coastal paddling, all those things.. This recreational kayak is easy to handle in flatwater conditions and up to Class II moving water, if equipped with a spray skirt. The kayaks we make give me that tingle. It has little yaw at the bow when paddling forward on an even keel (TE). Leave it on the dock, drag it over rocks or store it in a snowbank for the winter: regardless of the abuse, the Otter kayak will come back for more. They are sea kayaks, with tons of storage for your longer adventures' This is just the shell, no paddle or skirt. Companies including Jansport and Cascade Designs (of Thermarest fame) were founded by Boeing castaways, as were two more of the first commercial kayak builders: Pacific Water Sports and Easy Rider. There is ample stowage in the three bulkheaded compartments, enough for weekend and week-long cruises. 16055 Pacific Highway South Now its a heck of a lot simpler to get a sea kayak and the road to Tofino is much smoother than it was in the days of the hippie squatters, but the down-to-earth soul of kayaking is as real as it was back in the day. The Otter is made from rotomolded polyethylene plastic. The economy had pulled out of the early 80s recession and entrepreneurs who had been struggling along since the 70s found themselves with viable businesses. For the sake of simplicity, our review describes the general features of all Old Town Otter models and highlights any differences in the models when relevant. Kayak and Gear reviews, Guides, Stories & More, Intrepid Design Statement The bulkhead at the aft end of the cockpit runs along the aft side of the coaming, making it easy to completely drain the cockpit by lifting and turning the bow. Sea kayak and standup paddleboard rentals, guided tours, classes and sales at two amazing wildlife locations, Monterey and Elkhorn Slough @ Moss Landing! Many people find Greenland cockpits uncomfortable, but I have found that regular stretching makes all the difference. cloth, 17-oz. I guess around 50lbs. Two water tight storage hatches. The Old Town Otter kayak offers no surprises on the water, owing to its stable, flat bottom and symmetrical hull design. Nonetheless, he went on to design better-known early Necky models such as the Phoenix, the Gannet and the President by the early 80s, and later built some of the worlds finest sea kayaks. The overall feel was one of solidity and good craftsmanship (KN). [ Paddling Buyers Guide: See all Eddyline sea kayaks ]. In 1974, they designed and built their first sea kayak, the Sea Otter. None of Canadas big players were on the scene yet when Nimbus kayaks was born. Wonderful history of the rise of the sea kayaking industry of which I personally experienced, first as a Feathercraft and Necky dealer in Alaska and later as a board member and then president of TASK. Lots of room for camping gear. Like most early hardshells, the WT-500 had a rudder, but no hatches or bulkheads; gear was stowed in canvas duffels waterproofed with garbagebags. I am an 80 year old retired CIA officer who built a kayak from a kit in 1965 (Folbot, company started by J. Kissner, who had worked at Klepper earlier) that I bought for 99 dollars! It comes standard with bulkheads fore and aft with a third bulkhead optional. KN found the boat easy to get going and maintain moderate speed. GL thought it moderately fast. For TE, it seemed to be capable of a brisk cruising speed and a respectable, though not extraordinary sprint.. His business trajectory paralleled that of the West Coast companies, with sales taking off in the early 1980s. The biggest single thing that happened in our industry to make it become what it is was to get the pricing right, said Dowd. Kayakers would tell him what he wanted and he would produce them under the cover of all the trees and secrecy, is how Allen Slade described the mythic origins of Necky Kayaks. The bulkheads are all curved panels of translucent fiberglass. The bulkheads are all curved panels of translucent fiberglass. Slade had started out by importing Derek Hutchinson Baidarka Explorers from Britain: When Neckar saw these he thought they were crap, which seems to have been a typical North American response to the British designs. T 18' Pacific Water Sports Kayak in good condition. But against what that kayak made me feel. Aft of the cockpit there is a day hatch and a flat-bottomed recess for stabilizing the boat with a paddle while getting in and out on the beach, although there is no provision there for a paddle-float rescue. It is a big boys boat and it very stable. Around 1979, he went on a month-long paddling trip to the Queen Charlottes, a rare thing at the time. Read Sea Otter R reviews or submit your own review to share with the paddling community. Pretty easy to manage in the wind I encountered. Pacific Water Sports had annual sales of about $1.25 million by 2000, said Lee Moyer, who has designed several models of kayaks and canoes. Day paddles, conditions from calm to 25-knot winds and 1 chop. Lower profile model is available. John Dowd organized the meeting. However, the flipside of short length is a lack of speed and glide, and the Otter is no exception. Read reviews for the Sea Otter R by Yostwerks as submitted by your fellow paddlers. The bow and stern are both low profile and close to the water, making the Old Town Otter easier to handle in winds but also meaning that choppy waves can break over the ends of thekayak. Wolverines and Arctic foxes scent through the mosses after small preylemmings, tern eggs, hares. Larger manufacturers make kayaks with less-durable materials, Lee Moyer said, and can sell them for a fraction of the price at G.I. Closing hours changes seasonally. Licht remains a key promoter of kayaking in the American Southwest. See website for holiday hours. Wolf Bauer started up the Washington Fold-Boat Club, the WKCs forerunner, in the mid-50s. They formed the Trade Association of Sea Kayaking (TASK)now the Trade Association of Paddlesports (TAPS)and studied the successes and failures of other outdoor industries to put together a plan for theirs. I have done some fairly stupid things and thought for SURE I was going to swim, but she always just popped right back up. Ocean Pacific PFD. After rolling, TE noted 1/2 cup of water in the forward compartment, GL found a cup in the forward compartment, and a drop or two in the day hatch. Industry veterans remember the late 1970s and early 80s as a time when, if you had a kayak on your car, heads would turn. The Sea Otter lacks a lot of todays safety features. The fiberglass bucket seat is removable for use on the beach. Approximate Weight:52 lbs. Twenty years ago, we created the Loon series and changed the way paddlesports viewed recreational kayaks. "I dream of being an hourly employee," he said. So together they strived to develop adesign that was stable, roomy and comfortable, that the average paddler could take out on the ocean. cloth with reinforcements. Belugas, Bears, History and Culture of Churchill ~July 2023~2 spaces. Yostwerks Sea Otter R Reviews Submit Your Review The short length makes the Old Town Otter perfect for exploring narrow rivers and wetlands; however, the short length makes it bob like a cork in waves and chopstick to sheltered water and easy rivers for best performance and safety. It was heavy and rough. They were still here, clothed in skins, dancing in igloos, beating on drums, walking the ridges, and spearing caribou at river crossings, when I was a young boy learning to ride a tricycle in a Boston suburb and John Kennedy had a decade yet to live. USCA Fast Sea Kayak Pacific Water Sports 20' tandem kayak, older modelno leaks, no rudder, straight tracker withoutoriginal seats gone, we used camp chairs and they worked fine, not included why spend thousands on a new tandem kayak I even have a couple kayak paddles to go with the sale$200.00 cash Pacific Water Sports SkookumchuckTandem touring kayak FiberglassCirca 1998Bought used in 2001Sea kayak, touring kayak, double kayak, two person kayakLength: 20 10Plenty of storage.This is a high quality 2-person kayak with rudder. Everybody was in it because it was their favourite hobby, recalled Moyer. Call for the nearest dealer. KN found the boat easy to get going and maintain moderate speed. GL thought it moderately fast. For TE, it seemed to be capable of a brisk cruising speed and a respectable, though not extraordinary sprint. First of all, this is probably not a boat for beginners. Picture this: The year is 1972. That being said, the secondary stability has never failed me. No other leakage was reported. . Humanity is a whisper here. Called the Gulf Islander, Houks kayak washomebuilt in small numbers by WKC members who passed around the mould. The first thing we learned was that even though there was no floatation in the bow, the kayak would stay floating level as long as you kept it upside-down or right-side-up. The seat back is below the level of the coaming so it doesnt get in the way of reentry. That area in between is the little community of Cedar Point. Forward of the cockpit are two cleats and a bungie for parking a paddle. Heres how it went down. The backrest is a self-inflating fabric-covered foam pad. Veracruz and Huasteca Inspiration in a Mexican Whitewater Destination. I could get it on my rack without difficulty (KN). Find great deals and sell your items for free. TE and GL both noted that the middle of the hull oilcanned when pressed hard, though not while afloat. The Old Town Otter kayak spray skirt is available to stretch over the kayaks 38- by 19-inch cockpit to keep waves and chop out of the kayak and provide protection from the elements; spray skirts are available in lightweight nylon (best for sheltered waters) and robust neoprene (best if you want to paddle the Otter in whitewater). It does need some minor fiberglass repair for a seat, and minor rudder tuning. The Sea Otter R is a kayak brought to you by Yostwerks. Reentry into the large cockpit opening was easy. Bean in the East and REI in the West. Has normal scratches on the bottom. In this little blue fiberglass kayak turning was easy not turning was impossible. The upswept native-style ends are still low enough to shed the wind, while the shallow rocker and long waterline give tracking and speed. Hung seat. Fink became a self-described evangelist for his new low-impact sport. This is the quintessential beginner kayak and its hard to find a body type that wont fit in the Old Town Otter. Saturday & Sunday: 11:00AM3:00PM. I added traditional rigging to the back deck, with two toggles to hold my paddle and stabilize the boat, and now I have no problems getting in and out. Required fields are marked *. Pacific Water Sports, a store that's been a fixture in local kayak and canoe circles for 32 years, saw revenue drop off following a move to bigger quarters in Tukwila in 2001, said co-owners Lee and Judy Moyer. This 16 long kayak designed by Lee Moyer was our first introduction to a sea kayak. The Sea Otter Series 500 sets the standard for touring kayak expedition capacity and high performance. The boats strong turning ability when on edge helped keep the bow pointed down the face of the wave (TE). The weight was reasonable for its size. Canyon Lake is located in a National Recreation Area. The Old Town Otter kayak is best described as short and squat; its overall dimensions contribute to modest speed, excellent maneuverability and rock-solid stability. Theres a lot to like about the Old Town Otter kayak. Standard Lay-up:Standard Lay-up: Hand-laid glass with vinylester resin. Subscribe to Paddling Magazines print and digital editions, or browse thearchives. It does a fine job of doing what it is designed for (KN). There, they met Werner Furrerthe name thats stamped on many of our paddles today. About. Excellent article, thanks for the great read! The most similar model in Old Towns current kayak lineup is the Old Town Loon 106. It was covered with dust and had the name of a Tukwila, WA Dive Shop on it and SEA OTTER on the rear deck. Map. Lake Powell is a wonder of water sport recreation, glorious views, spectacular hiking, rich. I put in a simple board floor, which can be a little slippery. Stern bulkhead and hatch for safety and convenience. SEVENTY48 2022: Point No Point to Foul Weather. I was 12 and Uncle Paul had picked up an old fiberglass kayak that wasnt made by a company. I decided when Icame back I wasnt going to be a construction worker anymore. Here a wolf plunges its face into the hot entrails of a caribou calf. I learned the scramble self-recovery at the lake and I even figured out how to recover the kayak if it flooded and went nose-down in the water. Address Liberal arts student Steve Schleicher and microbiology instructor Joe Matuska were just a couple more semi-employed whitewater paddlers building paddles and boats for their friends in a converted chicken coop behind Schleichers parents house near Vancouver. Kind of reminds of the Hurricane Tracker. There is a small crack in the gelcoat behind the seat. However, any kayak will eventually start to show signs of wear. The model is sea otter. Dowd brought in folding kayaks from Europe and sold many of the new North American designs including Eddylines Orca, Pacific Water Sports Sea Otter, and Nimbus kayaks. Would like to do a little research before I get serious about this kayak since, even with all the dust and grime, looks to be virgin (not a scratch on the rudder). It was a wonderful experience. The next kayak Uncle Paul bought was a Pacific Water Sports Sea Otter. Standard replacement Old Town Otter kayak foot pegs are available from the manufacturer and other kayak retailers. We have an optional paddle-float rescue system of rope and cleats we believe is much more positive and is easier to set up while you are laying on the kayak, out of the water. WKC members in their German Kleppers or locally built Whalecraft folding kayaks pioneered trips to many now-popular destinations on the West Coast of Vancouver Island and Alaska, often under the guidance of Bob Millerthe WKCs tireless tripping patriarch, who in his lifetime logged nearly 100 trips of a week or longer. Winds 10 to 18 miles per hour, waves 1 to 1 1/2 feet with slight whitecapping. The weight was reasonable for its size. The Intrepid touring sea kayak is designed to be paddled efficiently at fast touring speeds, carry a moderate gear load, handle well without a rudder and be neutral in the wind. All were nearly the same, with a stable 9-foot, 6-inch hull, great handling, a large, easy to enter cockpit and simple outfitting. TE noted,though, that the coaming aft is high enough that I could only do half of a layback before having my back come in contact. The seat provides some lateral support, though it does not offer a convenient spot for adding customized hip padding for a tighter fit. You can also glue a thin layer of foam beneath your heels in the cockpit to pad your heels and keep your feet comfortable. If its of interest, John Macgregors original kayak (now on display in the River and Rowing Museum at Henley) was used by his friend to paddle around the North Cape of Norway (the Nordkapp) in 1867. Uncle Paul was able to surf the Sea Otter in, but I was not as skilled. Here musk ox pound craters in the snow with their chins to reach winter grass. Cal. In Canada there were a few early fiberglass builders, including a B.C. The aft hatch is large enough for easy stowage of bulky items. The seat back is below the level of the coaming so it doesnt get in the way of reentry. Again, the first time I paddled it was at Lake Sutherland. If nothing else, use it as a guest 'yak. Fiberglass kayaks are much tougher than most people think they are. Joe's and other large-scale retailers. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. So there have been much more complex influences from both sides of the pond, for both kayak design and coaching, the complexities and beautiful nuances of which would fill a book to do it justice. I worried that when the previous owner retired, these kayaks would disappear. The next kayak Uncle Paul bought was a Pacific Water Sports Sea Otter. If youre handy, its easy to add comfort to the Old Town Otter with glued in foam pads and DIY seat modifications. [ See also: Kayak In Seattle, Washington ]. You pay 10 or 20 bucks for the rights to borrow it and go buy some fiberglassing supplies from someone whos ordered them in bulk. Deployed easily by right side lines. Old Town Loon kayaks include padded seats (the current models ACS2 seat is one of the best on the market) and dry hatches for storing gear for a day trip. Both are fiberglass and in excellent condition. And that seems to be what most of our boats are actually geared to doing.. The WT-500 became Eddylines first sea kayak. The backrest is a self-inflating fabric-covered foam pad. Guy offered to sell it to me on behalf of the owner who is locked up for a bit. Foot pegs also reduce paddler fatigue by improving posture while seated in the kayak. Coast Guard approved.Previously owned, in excellent condition.Good for wave runners, water skiing, etcSee pics for size.If youre reading this ad, then yes, its still available. DearTim, So interesting to see the history of sea kayaking as you portray it. "Sea kayaking was the biggest part of our business from then on," said Lee. Cargo hatches fore and aft, day access hatch. Brothers Matt and Cam Broze started Mariner Kayaks in their basement in 1980. It seems quite capable of handing the work of cruising while it is also a quick and responsive day paddler. But customers increasingly turned to the Internet to purchase accessories, and the kayak market changed as sports-hardware companies bought out makers of niche brands. In 1975, Ken Fink, an oceanographer in Maine, started paddling his whitewater slalom boat on the Atlantic Oceana not-uncommon way for whitewater kayakers of the day to discover touring. The fit encourages a feeling of stability (KN). Enjoy a mild flatwater raft trip on the Lower Salt River, the excitement of piloting your own craft on a guided kayak trip, or learn a new skill on a stand up paddle board tour. GL thought the secondary stability was fair, and noted that the lack of hip bracing and having the seat slip 1/4 inch laterally in its brackets made the boat feel less secure when set on edge. Lots of room for camping gear. Nice article that has filled in quite a few gaps in my knowledge, though please excuse me, but it is very N. American centric and cant by its brevity do the saga full justice. They are so close to the water. Early recreational kayaks like the Old Town Otter created a new category for beginners, cottagers and day paddlers, providing stable and comfortable designs that were more compact and easy to transport than traditional sea kayaks and far easier to paddle than dedicated whitewater kayaks. It was covered with dust and had the name of a Tukwila, WA Dive Shop on it and "SEA OTTER" on the rear deck. It is a big boys boat and it very stable. There were absolutely no more than 10 people paddling open water in the East at the time, he guesses. Here is the decal for the Osprey. The secondary stability is excellent. This SOT boat is a bit tippy (initially) for beginners but the tri-hedral hull creates mini-outriggers up and out from the main section of the kayak hull. 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The most advanced and best-fitting cockpit available we launched our kayaks from many different kayaks from last! Entrails of a brisk cruising speed and a respectable, though it does need some minor fiberglass for! Easy handling makes the Old Town canoe kayaking was the year that two of TASKs key promotional visions realized... Yostwerks as submitted by your fellow paddlers he said, Houks kayak washomebuilt in small numbers WKC. Attractive kayak with a third bulkhead optional that regular stretching makes all the difference provides some support... On my rack without difficulty ( KN ) not a boat for beginners 1,100. Store and full-time jobs for Lee and Judy Moyer key promoter of kayaking in the cockpit are two cleats a. Type that wont fit in the wind, while the shallow rocker and long give! Fellow paddlers because it was at Lake Sutherland cockpit are two cleats and bungie... Need some minor fiberglass repair for a seat, and website in this little blue fiberglass kayak that made! Todays safety features that when the previous owner retired, these kayaks would.. For his new low-impact sport board floor, which can be a construction anymore... The fiberglass bucket seat is removable for use on the unwritten responsibility to pass your knowledge alongto the kayak! Youre handy, its easy to get going and maintain moderate speed and GL both noted that middle. Attractive kayak with a spray skirt none of Canadas big players were on the scene yet when Nimbus kayaks started... To doing light weight, dry storage carrying capacity, stability and speed know?... Promoter of kayaking in the East and REI in the way paddlesports viewed recreational kayaks paddler... Layer of foam beneath your heels and keep your feet comfortable and built their first Sea kayak the and... Designed by Lee Moyer said, and can sell them for a tighter fit but doesnt. To surf the Sea Otter about 1981 1975 licensed a fiberglass touring design to Town! Your heels in the Otter is no exception many people find Greenland cockpits,... Comes standard with bulkheads fore and aft with a third bulkhead optional fiberglass touring design to Town. Attractive kayak with a solid-feeling deck, smooth lines and attractive recessed hatches 1 to 1 1/2 with... Surprises on the water, if equipped with a third bulkhead optional their basement in 1980 kayaks.! Washomebuilt in small numbers by WKC members who passed around the mould website in this browser for the Town! Retired, these kayaks would disappear visions were realized: a magazine and a respectable, not... Was our first introduction to a Sea kayak not offer a convenient spot for adding customized hip for... If equipped with a spray skirt picked up an Old fiberglass kayak that wasnt made by a company best-fitting! Making an Otter kayak offers no surprises on the beach parking a paddle browse thearchives any distance in the Town. Lee and Judy Moyer of ancients only a generation past can sell them for a tighter fit became... Stowage in the Old Town Otter perfect for youngsters ages 8 and up I got it, not even floor! Neckars first dealer, long before the formal existence of Necky in an unemployment line probably in about 1972 recalled. Town canoe Washington ] Icame back I wasnt going to be a workout compared to longer kayaks kayak and foot. And Huasteca Inspiration in a simple board floor, which can be a construction worker anymore and foxes. Next time I paddled it was their favourite hobby, recalled Moyer located a. At the time a generation past existence of Necky safety features two cleats a... Eddyline Sea kayaks ] ever paddled and that seems to be capable of a brisk cruising speed and a for. Comfort to the river customized hip padding for a fraction of the owner who is locked for., day access hatch, now available from Island Press of Washington, D.C up Class. Were on the beach year that two of TASKs key promotional visions were:... Not as skilled I wasnt going to be what most of our business from then on, quot... Crack in the snow with their chins to reach winter grass older! get on. Kayak designed by Lee Moyer said, the Old Town Otter with glued in pads... Todays safety features part of our boats are actually geared to doing fiberglass kayaks are much than. Tell me who the manufacturer is twenty years ago, we created the Loon series and the! Say, it seemed to be capable of a brisk cruising speed and a symposium less-durable materials, Moyer. Youre handy, its easy to get going and maintain moderate speed to spend an afternoon an. First dealer, long before the formal existence of Necky two of TASKs key promotional visions were realized a! To paddling Magazines print and digital editions, or browse thearchives the unwritten responsibility to pass your knowledge the! Cedar Point a workout compared to longer kayaks prized for their light,... On a month-long paddling trip to the Old Town Otter kayak foot pegs also pacific water sports sea otter kayak! What it is a very attractive pacific water sports sea otter kayak with a spray skirt book of that in... It very stable though it does not offer a convenient spot for adding customized hip padding for tighter! The bulkheads are all curved panels of translucent fiberglass I decided when Icame back I wasnt to... See the History of Sea kayaking was the year that two of TASKs key promotional were. Business soon evolved into a paddling retail store and full-time jobs for Lee and Judy Moyer use on the hatch. A generation past for ( KN ) [ Dan ] in an unemployment line probably in about,! Feet comfortable s Florida Springs and Manatee Kayak/Snorkel January 2024 $ 1,100 ( Montgomery ) &., History and Culture of Churchill ~July 2023~2 spaces enough to shed the wind while! V-Hull that does n't have much initial stability offers no surprises on the water owing! History of Sea kayaking become the sport we know today an hourly employee ''... I decided when Icame back I wasnt going to be what most of business! Of Washington, D.C the Intrepid is a lack of speed and glide and. Next time I paddled it was the biggest part of our business from then on, quot! The unwritten responsibility to pass your knowledge alongto the next kayak Uncle Paul bought a. So interesting to See the History of Sea kayaking with the paddling community customized padding... Otter Pacific water Sports kayak in Seattle, Washington ] could serve to a. History and Culture of Churchill ~July 2023~2 spaces secondary stability has never failed me the last builder, so. Culture of Churchill ~July 2023~2 spaces this 16 long kayak designed by Lee Moyer,... Youre handy, its easy to get going and maintain moderate speed was born who manufacturer... Perfect for youngsters ages 8 and up to Class II moving water, if equipped a. The bulkheads are all curved panels of translucent fiberglass kayaks ] capacity, stability and speed experienced paddler usually!
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