Kayak advice needed...

Alli Cat · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 4:35 pm Post subject:

Retriever,

Last year (first year with the kayaks) we just used the rubber kayak saddle mounts and tied them down snug over the top and at each end. This was not easy or fast. I will have to look for pics. This year, if it ever gets warm enough, I will install 4 (2 on the port and 2 on the starboard) 12 inch SS rails on the roof. This will let me mount the Yakima J-cradle kayak racks for easy and fast on and off. The only draw back with the kayaks is that we have to take down one kayak in order to reach the dingy and it's straps.

Fred

20dauntless · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 4:47 pm Post subject:

Fred,

I like the idea of using the handrails. I was planning on just through bolting the J racks, but the handrails would be nicer since you can then take the kayak racks off more easily. No I just need to figure out if the 12 inch rail will fit on my 22.

Can anyone near their boat measure the distance from the flat part of the roof just outboard of the factory handrail to the edge? Or tell me if a 12 inch rail would fit there? Thanks!

marvin4239 · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 5:45 pm Post subject:

Fred I'm not sure which measurement you want but from the roof rail at the rear it's 15 1/2 inches to the outer edge of the roof. From the center of the roof rail to the outside edge of the cabin it's 14 3/4 inches. toward the front of the cabin roof there's a raised portion on the roof that would not allow for a 12" hand rail.

20dauntless · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 6:18 pm Post subject:

Marvin, thanks so much. Looks like this will work.

thataway · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:11 pm Post subject:

Truly amazing, but not unexpected, the amount of kayak expertise from the C Brat members.

jlastofka · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 9:44 pm Post subject: Roof top kayaks

Joel,

I don't know if you remember from Santa Barbara, but I keep a Hobie Revolution on top of my boat. Same kayak Thataway mentioned. I use Yakima roof bars and towers made for rain gutter mounting and they fit the stainless C-Dory rails great. I'll most likely be at Lake Mohave next week and I should have the kayak there.

As mentioned elsewhere, it works best to stand on the bow and pull the kayak up across the railing, then pivot it around to the roof mount. If you have the kayak in the water alongside the C-Dory cockpit, it's easy to get in and out, using the C-Dory gunwhale for support and balance.

I like to paddle the kayak sometimes for arm exercise, but the Mirage pedal drive is faster and keeps your hands free for fishing, eating, photography, whatever. It's really nice to have both options. Hobie sells a self-inflating seat pad which I consider a MUST.

Hopefully you can check out my setup in person next week.

Jeff

GxK

Greetings!

I've narrowed my kayak search down to AdvancedFrame Solo Touring Kayak and Patriot Kayak.

http://tinyurl.com/advancedframe
http://tinyurl.com/patriotkayak

My primary or initial use of the yak will be fitness, with use while cruising being somewhat secondary. I'm 6 ft 1.5 in and weigh 235 pounds.

Anyone have any experience with these two West Marine offerings? Or any advice for me?

--Georgs

C-Wannabe · Joined: 02 Jun 2009 Posts: 47 State or Province: AB

hank schneider · Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 7:57 am Post subject: Loon

We were going to carry a 16 ft kayak over to the Bahamas but the fit on the roof was pretty akward. We put it in a 31 foot boat for the ride. A boat to look at is the Old Town Loon - they are wide, very stable and run striaght w/o rudders. It has a big hole that was comfortable for my 6'2" 250 lb build. I spent 13 days on a trip down the Catawba river with 30 lb of geer and beer in a 13'8" model. For paddeling around in reasonable water you can get by with one of the shorter models. See if you can try one - i found it really superior to the long sleek ones.
Hank

C-Wannabe · Joined: 02 Jun 2009 Posts: 47 State or Province: AB

For a peek at a Puffin 12-foot folder getting assembled and underway have a gander at the "La Cuerda del Pozo (Espana) en piragua" video on the top row of this page:
www.youtube.com/profile?user=margouillat4&view=videos&start=40

The lady and her hubbie -- and their Puffins -- are featured on a number of the videos on their three pages. Look for Kayak trek in Canelles canyon (Spain), Piragua Panta de Canelles, Catalunya etc. They also team the boats up with folding bikes. (Note to Charlie: the Piragua Panta de Canelles video, bottom row, page 2, has some nice music on it Shocked

Watch out!)

Try flying that hardshell kayak across the country, Atlantic or Pacific. Another advantage of folders: Storage at home (if you're in a condo or smaller home). Or store them in your boat until the next trip.

Diehard sailor? Where there's a will, there's a way:
http://sailboatstogo.com/v_page.php?content=Pakboat_1
Click on the video link for a Puffin II sail rig in action.

colobear · Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:50 am Post subject:

We carry an Innova "Sunny" inflatable kayak. Weighs just 25 pounds, seats two or you can move a seat and it is an effective single. Deflated it comes in its own backpack. More information here: http://www.innovakayak.com/

drjohn71a · Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:55 am Post subject:

As I mentioned a while back, I got a Hobie Mirage Adventure Island - their sea kayak with folding outriggers and rotating mast sail and the Mirage pedal drive. It comes apart easily for storage or roof mounting the hull and akas.

This boat will do it all. You can paddle hard, pedal hard, go single hull or outrigger, or pull a cord and have the fully battened sail unfurl to do all the work. It is so solid you can lie down and take a nap. I have spent 10-12 hours at a time sailing it on long cruises. I can cover 40-70 miles a day easily in moderate winds. High seas do not bother it - it goes right through them without the slightest tip and only moderate roll. It runs fine on 20-30 mph winds, but you may want to furl the sail a bit on higher winds. You can furl the sail easily with one tug on a cord and can furl it down to a tiny triangle for heavy storms - 35-40 mph winds.

It is a sit on top type, so no problem of being caught underneath.

It is light, rugged and very fast for a cruising type kayak. I bought one of the first models 3 years ago and have loved every minute on it. Hobie provides good support and they have an owner's group online just like the C-Brats to help with questions and mods.

John

C-Wannabe · Joined: 02 Jun 2009 Posts: 47 State or Province: AB

Inflatables? Let's go full circle with this:
www.navagear.com/2007/09/grabner-foldinginflatable-kayak/

Hit the C-Dory owners link in that article. Laughing

BTW I like Grabner products, too. Innova is on the same level.
www.grabner-sports.at/

Kent Richmond · Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:01 pm Post subject: Kayak Advice Needed

If you're looking for a quality inflatable, check out the Soar. For my money, the best thing going in inflatables.
Kent

snal · Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 10:15 pm Post subject:

I'd REALLY like to come up with a good double yak rack, and some sort of lift assist for bringing them up and down.
We saw a couple of the the advanced frame inflatables while in the Bahamas, very nice, but I haven't paddled one.
We have several plastic yaks, 2 WS Tarpon 14' sit-on-tops, a WS Tsunami 145, WS Tsunami 175, a 15' Perception Monarch (Dagger copy sold by Dick's), and an Old Town 13.5' Castine.
The Tarpons are my favorite for fishing...and I can actually stand up and cast from them in calm water.
The Tsunamis are the better long tourers, and can haul a bunch of gear for extended camping trips.
The Castine tracks great for 13.5 footer, but it's the only one in bunch that I haven't put at least one rod holder on.