Found my kayak. The one.

[Cataboo]

Okay, so this is a cycling forum - but the people on kayaking forums I get on aren't very chatty.

I've been trading up kayaks for a few years now - getting the best model that I can afford for my skill level and what I do with the kayaks - I do a lot of distance camping/touring via kayak - so I do need a longer one with storage space - and at the same time, being a small female, I like having a narrow fit and a kayak that I can roll... I also really like playing in waves and rock gardens, and like a nice maneuverable kayak.

The solution for the last year or two has been to have one plastic yak that's smaller & more maneuverable for day tripping or playing in waves (but is slower being shorter & can't hold so much), and one longer one for tours - that's not nearly so much fun.

But I happened to see a kayak listed on craigslist on Friday night without much details, but from what I googled, it looked intruiging - P&H vela kayak for small woman, 16 foot x 21.5" wide, for advanced paddlers not scared of a tippy boat and either fiberglass or kevlar...

So I emailed and sat biting my fingers hoping noone else had already bought it - was ecstatic to get an email in the morning that it was still available, in great condition, was fiberglass, and was 5 years old, only used for a couple of years till the owner was injured & couldn't paddle anymore.

She offered to email me pictures, but from the few reviews and info I could find on the web - it seemed pretty much to be just about my dream boat - A really good compromise between the 2 boats that I already had.

So I drove an hour to go see it without even knowing what color it was. It cracked me up that it was pastel purple with a green stripe, seat and cockpit combing. I swear I will never actually manage to get a red kayak or a red bicycle. But I can learn to love the easter egg boat.

But I was so happy I hugged the lady I bought it from and made immediate plans to go kayaking with it even though it was a bit on the chilly side & the water temps were a bit cold still.

So, it felt very fast, very maneuverable, tracks really well at the same time and was a lot of fun. It looks like there's more than enough storage space for me to camp out of it - and the fiberglass is in almost pristine condition. I still have to try it out in waves and rolling, but I'm going to wait till the water temperatures warm up for that - but I think it'll be great.

So now it's time to sell a plastic kayak or two and I think I'm set for a good long time now. It's kinda like when you finally manage to ride the right bike instead of just getting the best you can afford for a while.

Here's the boat:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_WfCe0A3iU1c/S6622vOx7EI/AAAAAAAAImk/4dSd1RQ46AM/s576/IMGP4274.JPG

It matches my car pretty well:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_WfCe0A3iU1c/S667g78qalI/AAAAAAAAInM/vEbj46lvpvQ/s800/_IGP7821.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_WfCe0A3iU1c/S662rOvcImI/AAAAAAAAIl0/kiPqcKTEZvw/s720/IMGP4250.JPG

[KnottedYet]

Congratulations! The colors are kind of cute! (and yes, very easter egg!)

I have "my" favorite rental kayak at a place near me. (Necky Chatham 17 in plastic) It is so very much like finding the right bike! Sudden perfection! Instant love!

Have fun with your cutie!

[Cataboo]

The chathams are nice.

After an unfortunate incident renting a kayak that ended up with a shattered bow in Costa Rica, I generally don't rent boats (even though it was my friend that did the damage). I generally know how much UV damage my boat has had and what other sorts of mistreatment it's had, which you don't always know with a rental fleet (but since you have a favorite boat, you probably tend to go to this place often enough that you know the age of boats, etc.) It really sucks ruining someone else's boat.

I've been planning on making a folding/inflatable boat for travel with some plans I found on the internet, but haven't quite gotten there yet.

The deck lines are a bit loose, so I'm going to go ahead and replace those instead of just tightening - I found some cute purple and blue pastel colored rope that will probably end up getting braided in certain spots on the boat to complete the easter egg. There's one dolphin (vela) graphic on the boat.

[lph]

Ohh, but she's pretty! I like purple :p

Congratulations! Lovely feeling to be "at home" in the right boat.

[kmehrzad]

What a beautiful kayak. I love the color combination and the lines/shape of the craft. Excellent find!!

[Melalvai]

Don't try to light a fire in your kayak, because you know the saying:
You can't have your kayak, and heat it too.

[tulip]

Beautiful! I love the color!

Sooooo, like, what kayaks ya' selling? (not that I'm buying, of course, just askin')

[OakLeaf]

Nice!

[tulip]

There's a kayak festival in Kilmarnock, Virginia (Northern Neck/Chesapeake Bay) on June 5. There will be vendors and demos there...I won't be buying a kayak, but it sure will be fun trying a few out.

[Cataboo]

*cough*

Well, that lasted a few months! Then there was an arms race & I found another MY KAYAK.

Actually, I love the vela & I'm keeping it - and as long as I was paddling with people in plastic boats even if they were a couple feet longer - I was faster.

But then I started paddling with people in 18 foot kevlar racing kayaks or surfskis... And I'd be paddling all out getting to hull speed on the vela, while they were just cruising.

Then R bought a 17.5 foot fiberglass boat and my 15'8 one just wasn't quite fast enough....

So when someone mentioned they were selling their custom made nigel foster silhouette (bulkheads are moved closer for a short person to have more storage space, etc.), I kinda decided that instead of having 1 fiberglass & 1 plastic boat, I'll just have a short fiberglass boat for daytrips or fun on my own and a longer one for touring & paddling with the faster one. So away went the plastic boat and a new boat was adopted.

And... the fact that it's red just sealed the deal. I've wanted a red kayak or bike FOREVER. It's actually got pretty similar lines to the vela, so behaves in the same playful manner despite being more than 2 feet longer (it's 17'11"), it's slightly narrower, so it cuts through the water better, definitely faster, and rolled for me the first time.

So here's the new "used" one:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_fkR1_xTH524/TAhJCz1OBwI/AAAAAAAABm4/4UncdF98ffE/s640/IMGP5914.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_fkR1_xTH524/TAhJYGYEz0I/AAAAAAAABnc/UZAX2q6M-QI/s640/IMGP5923.JPG

[divingbiker]

Congratulations! It's gorgeous.

Red bikes and kayaks rule!:D:D

[lph]

OMG :eek: That is a BEAUTIFUL boat. Congratulations!

[Zen]

I have a feeling this is not the last bump for this thread

[NoNo]

That's puuuuurty! Happy paddling:)

[tulip]

Soooooo...which ones ARE you selling??

[Cataboo]

thanks everyone! I was out on the water with her for about 6 hours yesterday. I need to go buy some stuff to replace her decklines and such.

The tempest 165 gets to stay around for another year or so as R's 2nd boat. If he ever finds a good price on a p&h cetus LV,the point 65 XP is going:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_WfCe0A3iU1c/TAevynRX3wI/AAAAAAAAKIo/_Da4Di0X6RM/s640/IMGP6031.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_WfCe0A3iU1c/TAevxRWcH-I/AAAAAAAAKIg/yEt7Uc_ZE0c/s640/IMGP6015.JPG


Avatar's gone. Kevlar CD caribou is gone. prijon barracuda is gone. tempest 170 gone.

Zen - unless I get into racing, this thread probably won't have any more bumps. There is a limited selection of really nice good low volume high end boats for lighter paddlers - most LV boats are just cut down versions of the normal sized boats that have bad compromises. So as far as I'm concerned,for my paddling styles and needs - I've got probably 2 of the best boats for me - 1 playful day boat and 1 long fast touring/expedition boat... Now, would I want something light in kevlar instead of the fiberglass I have? The point 65 x-lite is basically my vela in kevlar and about 25 lbs lighter... That i might consider if I ever see it used at a good price. But I think most people with that boat probably won't ever give it up - and kevlar is harder to repair than fiberglass. My boats are "british heavies" - basically british boats designed to paddle along the rocky shores/islands around Britian... and there is some advantage in a fiberglass boat that you can beat around a bit like you can do a plastic boat without worrying about it, even though it makes for a heavier boat.

[Zen]

I already want a lighter boat:obut it will never happen, just can't afford it.

[7rider]

Geez. T and I took the boats out on the South River yesterday.
I felt like my Dagger was dragging a sea anchor behind me the whole time! Talk about slow and ponderous. And then I come here and read what looks like a catalog for sleek zippy boats. :p
If you ever feel like your latest isn't {insert some word for light, fast, high-end, or all of the above, here} enough for you, let me put you in my boat. ;)

[colby]

Geez. T and I took the boats out on the South River yesterday.
I felt like my Dagger was dragging a sea anchor behind me the whole time! Talk about slow and ponderous. And then I come here and read what looks like a catalog for sleek zippy boats. :p
If you ever feel like your latest isn't {insert some word for light, fast, high-end, or all of the above, here} enough for you, let me put you in my boat. ;)

No kidding - we have a couple of 10' plastic Daggers that were great for compromise entry level kayaking, touring around the lake, swimmer tracking, not hauling butt or anything. We didn't realise what we didn't have until we went on a kayaking tour in tandem kayaks... boats that track, boats that are sleek, boats that carry weight, boats that go zoom zoom zoom (and our marriage survived). Seeing these pictures just makes me want to go back out to the San Juans and tour again - but still probably in someone else's fast, well-tracking, well-packed boats. ;) Very awesome.

[Cataboo]

7 - if you ever want help convincing DH that you guys want sea kayaks, you can come try mine. Although, he's pretty tall - i think the point 65 xp is the only one that'd fit him (the silhouette has the bulkhead moved back up front for shorter people so that there's more room to haul stuff.)

I've never paddled shorter than 14' - and truthfully, I'm not sure I could! It'd be like getting on a walmart bike, I intellectually know that they work and can move people and many many people do use them... but I would just rather not ride. I have to stop at 18' long for the kayaks, 'cause anything longer is longer than the garage I'm storing themin. I used to row sculls in high school - so kayaks still feel slow to me.

[Cataboo]

Since I finally took better pics & got some of the decking replaced (still need to go out and buy more bungee and stuff to finish)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs017.snc4/34237_419883216864_624946864_4620069_796383_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs078.snc4/35260_419883226864_624946864_4620070_5173042_n.jpg

I'm not crazy about the airbrushing - but it's under the gel coat:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs192.snc4/37961_419883241864_624946864_4620072_2128697_n.jpg

[lph]

But oh! the lines on that thing! What a beauty.

[Cataboo]

But oh! the lines on that thing! What a beauty.


It handles really well as well - I need to take it out in waves and see how it does. On the little bit of waves I've had it in, it felt like it was leaping on them to surf - so I think it'll be a lot of fun. It's easier to roll than the purple, and slices through the water nicer.

[tulip]

Catriona and lph, do you know if there is a kayak forum like this TE forum (although not necessarily woman-focused)? It would be great for a beginner kayaker like me to have a resource like TE, but for kayaking.

[Cataboo]

I read the forums over at cpakayaker.com - they are definitely not a chatty bunch in general though.

There are forums on paddling.net:
http://www.paddling.net/message/

But while searching there for specific information, I can't say that I've hung out there.

But - I'm always more than happy to talk kayaks!

And both LPH and tulip should come visit me :)

[Zen]

No, they should visit me
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/Paddling/P1000855.jpg

[Cataboo]

I'm gonna sing I'm popeye the sailor man everytime I see a pic f you in that boat.

You live 8 miles from me or something like that. We can share them.

You can totally have them after i tire them out.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs187.snc4/37680_419883411864_624946864_4620085_2278038_n.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_fkR1_xTH524/TCGFAWJWAYI/AAAAAAAAB0A/OGvbTCDQuSs/s640/_IGP9687.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_WfCe0A3iU1c/TDDldMkz9NI/AAAAAAAAKW8/ZduBn04RL8Q/s640/IMGP7223.JPG

[Kubla]

Catriona and lph, do you know if there is a kayak forum like this TE forum (although not necessarily woman-focused)? It would be great for a beginner kayaker like me to have a resource like TE, but for kayaking.

Tulip,

Try www.paddling.net I haven't "been" there for a while but it used to be a pretty good forum for kayaking. There are also owner reviews and classified ads if you are in the market.

[tulip]

Thanks Catriona and Kubla for providing information on the kayaking forums. I will take a look at them.

And thanks Catriona and Zen for fighting over me! That doesn't happen very often...:o When I visit one, I'll visit both. Y'all do the same. I live near the river.

[lph]

And both LPH and tulip should come visit me :)

Ooh, yes :) And anytime you're in Norway, swing on by :p

Dh just bought a new kayak. A Skim Dex, white with blue trim *drool* He had a Valley Aquanaut LV PE, but it was just too big for him.

I'm not really too jealous. I kayak more than he does, we mostly kayak alone, and I get to use it whenever I want :D

[NoNo]

Ooh, yes :) And anytime you're in Norway, swing on by :p


My friend made a similar offer last week and I'm taking him up on it. I'm driving 11 hours to Canada next month just so I can kayak at his beach house in the Thirty Thousand Islands. Don't think I won't hop a plane and check out Norway!;)

[tulip]

lph, I might take you up on that. I've kayaked in Alaska and it was stunning. Also in northern Quebec and that was amazing. I can only imagine the beauty of kayaking in Norway.

[Cataboo]

lph, I might take you up on that. I've kayaked in Alaska and it was stunning. Also in northern Quebec and that was amazing. I can only imagine the beauty of kayaking in Norway.

Must be gorgeous in the Fjords. I'm going with you if you're going! I have airline miles.

Actually, I'd love to kayak New Zealand and Scotland as well.

I've done some kayaking in Alaska, Quebec around Tadoussac with the whales, and Costa Rica... Drove to florida & Maine last year for kayaking trips - lake superior will be sometime soon to see the apostle islands

[lph]

Hey, if you're going to the fjords I wanna come too!

We live in Oslo, which does have a fjord as such, but not the fantastic steep mountainsides you find on the west coast. This is a Unesco World Heritage site and apparently considered one of the best places in the world (!) to kayak:
http://www.nettavisen.no/friluftsliv/padling/article1133253.ece
http://blink.dagbladet.no/reise/index2.php?op=ViewTravelTag&tag=kajakk

Up north also has some amazing places to kayak, with mountains rising straight out of the ocean, white sandy beaches and a zillion little islands to paddle around. Only kayaked there for a few days last year but I have to go back. We stayed at this place, the "Sea nomad":
http://www.havnomaden.no/
It's a 2 day drive from here though.

Hey, I regularly post photos from my everyday kayaking on Facebook, so if anyone would like to see them, look me up through the TE page there. I'd like to see yours :)

[lph]

Catriona and lph, do you know if there is a kayak forum like this TE forum (although not necessarily woman-focused)? It would be great for a beginner kayaker like me to have a resource like TE, but for kayaking.

Forgot to answer this one. I haven't looked much for one, but I do frequent a Norwegian forum. I don't like it much for anything but pure factual information because there are too many people there who like to talk more than listen, if you get my drift. Let me know if you find a good one.

[Cataboo]

Hey, if you're going to the fjords I wanna come too!

We live in Oslo, which does have a fjord as such, but not the fantastic steep mountainsides you find on the west coast. This is a Unesco World Heritage site and apparently considered one of the best places in the world (!) to kayak:
http://www.nettavisen.no/friluftsliv/padling/article1133253.ece
http://blink.dagbladet.no/reise/index2.php?op=ViewTravelTag&tag=kajakk

Up north also has some amazing places to kayak, with mountains rising straight out of the ocean, white sandy beaches and a zillion little islands to paddle around. Only kayaked there for a few days last year but I have to go back. We stayed at this place, the "Sea nomad":
http://www.havnomaden.no/
It's a 2 day drive from here though.

Hey, I regularly post photos from my everyday kayaking on Facebook, so if anyone would like to see them, look me up through the TE page there. I'd like to see yours :)


Oh, I'm going to the fjords and oslo! I love places with a zillion little islands. And I want to try our your husband's dex, it looks beautiful. I think you need a matching one.

I paddled in a place in Maine that claimed it had the only fjord on the east coast of the US, but it was totally lying.

[tulip]

I think the southernmost fjord is in Quebec, up near the Saguenay and Tadoussac. I've kayaked there, and it seemed like a fjord to me.

[Cataboo]

I think the southernmost fjord is in Quebec, up near the Saguenay and Tadoussac. I've kayaked there, and it seemed like a fjord to me.

Mount Desert Island in Maine claims it has a fjord with the Sommes sound.

Keyword is claimed.

They have a small section of 1,000 foot high cliffs. I feel like posting pics all over the place today.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_WfCe0A3iU1c/Sor0ZqJ5VhI/AAAAAAAACDc/gWFYA6UKw-s/s720/IMGP6692.JPG


http://lh4.ggpht.com/_WfCe0A3iU1c/Sor0bpHzHHI/AAAAAAAACDg/NbMVYccDUXE/s720/IMGP6697.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_WfCe0A3iU1c/SorzAEvZ3DI/AAAAAAAACBk/-yY3RRvVZSE/s800/IMGP6944.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_WfCe0A3iU1c/Sorz-icO22I/AAAAAAAACC8/pQMJh-dYa3o/s720/IMGP6638.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_WfCe0A3iU1c/Sorz7ktmS4I/AAAAAAAACC4/f0A-GwOwOcQ/s720/IMGP6623.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_WfCe0A3iU1c/Sorz4z1sBqI/AAAAAAAACCw/byF81BkKQ9w/s720/IMGP6601.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_WfCe0A3iU1c/Sorz5uSCxNI/AAAAAAAACC0/sItcPe3i9a4/s512/IMGP6605.JPG

[NoNo]

I think the southernmost fjord is in Quebec, up near the Saguenay and Tadoussac. I've kayaked there, and it seemed like a fjord to me.

I think I've been there! I can't remember exactly where the fjord was, but I know it was in that area on our drive to Labrador. I know we were in Rimouski and Baie-Comeau on the other side at various points, but it's been a few years and the various trips are blurring together (Labrador, Newfoundland, and Hudson Bay). I'll have to ask my friend which fjord it was, but in the middle of February I wasn't much in the mood to stand outside and admire for too long. I remember it being super windy, so that didn't help.

[Zen]

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/Paddling/P1000885.jpgwe have fjords in Maryland:o

[tulip]

I think I've been there! I can't remember exactly where the fjord was, but I know it was in that area on our drive to Labrador. I know we were in Rimouski and Baie-Comeau on the other side at various points, but it's been a few years and the various trips are blurring together (Labrador, Newfoundland, and Hudson Bay). I'll have to ask my friend which fjord it was, but in the middle of February I wasn't much in the mood to stand outside and admire for too long. I remember it being super windy, so that didn't help.

http://www.fjord-en-kayak.ca/PagesFr/excursion-kayak-mer.html

[NoNo]

It's been confirmed, that's the fjord we crossed. And as I remembered, it was bitterly cold. What are the odds of that??

I'm not sure, but I think this was my view of it, which obviously wasn't very good. It was on our way up to Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador.

[Cataboo]

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs096.ash2/38160_421945391864_624946864_4672029_2878322_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs024.ash2/34565_421945271864_624946864_4672019_1756903_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs079.snc4/35335_421945191864_624946864_4672015_4985556_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs051.snc4/34915_421945231864_624946864_4672017_460728_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs202.snc4/38426_421945111864_624946864_4672010_2009983_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs026.ash2/34661_421945096864_624946864_4672008_5922031_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs152.snc4/36954_421944991864_624946864_4672000_7821097_n.jpg

[Kubla]

Is that a S-S...s-s-s-snake in the third photo from the top?::eek:

[Cataboo]

Is that a S-S...s-s-s-snake in the third photo from the top?::eek:


I was so busy watching the deer watching me, that I don't know. It could just be a branch in the water. I've only seen a snake a couple times while kayaking.

[withm]

Catriona - where were those photos taken! I want to paddle THERE!

[Cataboo]

Catriona - where were those photos taken! I want to paddle THERE!

Occoquan River, above the dam:

http://www.nvrpa.org/park/occoquan_water_trail/content/home

(It's actually gorgeous below the dam, especially if you go into Belmont Bay where it meets the Potomac, an up Kane's creek at mason neck national wildlife refuge. I always see a ton of bald eagles over at Mason Neck)

http://www.nvrpa.org/uploads/Files/content/Map.pdf

The north side of the river is all park land, the south side is mostly parkland interspersed with the ocassional mansion. Engine sizes on boats are limited to below 9.5 hp or so and no jet skiers. I got a late start so I only got as far as the Hemlock overlook (put in at Lake Ridge park), and back. But I left from my Mom's house, so she packed me a lunch and had dinner waiting when I got back (which was why I didn't go further - I didn't think she wanted to wait till 9 or 10 pm for dinner)

One of these days I have to go back and paddle it all the way up.

More pics:
http://picasaweb.google.com/ImmunoGirl/2010_07_17PaddlingTheOccoquanToHemlock#
But a lot are duplicates of me trying to get the best heron or deer shot.

[Zen]

Get back to work

[Cataboo]

Get back to work

Are you still sore Scar tried to cop a feel on Miss Plum?

She was asking for it, the way she lets it all hang out and shake like that.

[withm]

Very nice photos!

The reason I asked where they were taken was because some of those photos look like Little Seneca Lake up at Black Hills Regional Park outside Germantown. Then some look like the canal in the Violet's Lock area. I've paddled at Mason Neck. It was most memorable because we returned to the launch site at low tide. That was a huge mistake.... Like hauling the boats up the beach in quicksand! Don't remember much about the paddling, but I sure remember the "quicksand!"

If I ever get my boat into the water this summer I'll have to post some pix. Still addressing my roof rack dilemma. I'll be able to get my old Yakima roof rack system back in August, and then see what's going to be involved in making it work on the new car. In the meantime, still waiting for the foam pads I ordered to come in, which I don't think the shop ordered for me when they said they did. If they don't come in I'll just get some from NRS or REI but I do try to support the local businesses when I can.

Oh well, it's awfully hot for paddling right now and my regular paddling partner has been incapacitated for a few months. :(

[Zen]

She was asking for it, the way she lets it all hang out and shake like that.

Are you drinking?
Tell me where you are, I'll come get you.

[Cataboo]

Are you drinking?
Tell me where yon are, I'll come get you.

Like I'm gonna share the good stuff with you. Scar's kicking me, 'cause he wants a chance with Miss Aurora as well.

[Cataboo]

Very nice photos!

The reason I asked where they were taken was because some of those photos look like Little Seneca Lake up at Black Hills Regional Park outside Germantown. Then some look like the canal in the Violet's Lock area. I've paddled at Mason Neck. It was most memorable because we returned to the launch site at low tide. That was a huge mistake.... Like hauling the boats up the beach in quicksand! Don't remember much about the paddling, but I sure remember the "quicksand!"
(

I hope you get your roof rack sorted out and your paddling partner gets better. It has been hot - but I just practice rolling the boat whenever it gets bad. The water and the wind does moderate the temperature. I'd much rather paddle in this than bike in it.

Is little seneca lake big enough to kayak in?

I guess I've never paddled at Mason neck at low tide, because i haven't experienced that there. I did have it happen once a kiptopeke - The last mile of paddling through the marsh to the car was a mudflat and I was sinking to my knees with every step. We ended up going to a nearby boat ramp, walking to the car and bringing it over.

The north american lotuses are blooming on Turner creek on the upper chesapeake. hopefully I can stop and paddle while driving my cousin to the beach for a weekend.

[tulip]

Like I'm gonna share the good stuff with you. Scar's kicking me, 'cause he wants a chance with Miss Aurora as well.

HEY! Take it outside! We got women and children in here! Sheesh.