Need advice on purchasing touring kayak for wife

[wareagle]

I'm a big guy and have an aircraft carrier of a kayak (Wilderness Systems Sealution II XL). My wife has gone in tandems with me several times and enjoyed it and I've finally got her talked into getting a touring kayak for herself. As I haven't looked for boats for about 10 years, and not at all for kayaks for a smaller person, I'd appreciate some recommendations for a touring boat for her - here's some details: She's 5'6", about 130 lbs, boat will be used primarily on inland lakes and calm rivers, maybe some bay kayaking and Georgia coastal islands, doesn't need to carry much gear, as it will be mostly day trips (and I've got the aircraft carrier if we need gear space). Looking for something very stable, comfortable, and easy to maneuver for a neophyte. We're planning on purchasing a used boat for her (not sinking a lot into this until we're sure she enjoys it). What kayaks should we consider? Thanks for the help!

[keith]

Check out these pages for recommended touring kayaks (http://www.kayakreview.org/touring-kayaks-and-sea-kayaks) and recreational kayaks (http://www.kayakreview.org/recreational-kayaks). Wilderness Systems still makes nice boats so maybe the Tsunami 120 (touring) or the Pungo 120 (recreational). An alternative to buying a used boat since you're not sure your wife will enjoy it is to rent a few times and then, assuming she does like it, pull the trigger on a new boat. A new boat may get her more motivated than a used one. ;-)

[wareagle]

Thanks, Keith. I had looked at those pages and the list is helpful for deciding which ones on the list might fit her frame better. I was hoping folks might have some insights as to stability, tracking, ease of use, "twitchiness", etc., of particular models. For example, I understand the the Necky Eliza was designed with women in mind, same for the CD Willow, neither are on the list. Good point about a new boat being more attractive!

[keith]

I don't have any experience with the women-specific boats, but there are certainly many women (including my wife) who comfortably paddle kayaks that are not gender specific. Some shorter recreational kayaks have hulls with long keels designed into the hull to improve tracking but, generally tracking will mostly be effected by boat length, with longer boats having better tracking of course. Likewise, stability is generally more a function of width than hull design, with wider kayaks being more stable. One thing to keep in mind is that a boat that seems less stable to a guy may not feel that way to a woman because men have more of our weight concentrated in our upper bodies. Several years ago, my wife and I were paddling off the coast of Vancouver in a couple of rented kayaks and we decided to swap boats at our turnaround point. She had felt just fine in the kayak she had been using but it felt pretty unstable to me and, just 10 minutes after we swapped boats, I capsized. My wife did a T-rescue and we managed to get to shore to swap back, but I'm sure you get my point. :-)

[a2cpc]

Just went through the buying thing over the weekend. I know these aren't really touring Kayaks, but the boat they kept trying to get my wife to buy was the Tsunami 140, which they didn't have handy for her to try. She loved the Tsunami 145 and that is what she bought. Everyone was saying that the 140 had the same stabilty characateristics as the 145 hut was a little easier to paddle and control. My wife also tried the Kestrel 14, but didn't feel as in control, as she did in the Tsunami.

[diemonde]

For straight ends the Tsunami is not the best WS has to offer, but when you are in creeks or any situation where controlling the kayak comes in handy the Tsunami will be great. 140 or 145 is a really small difference and depends on her weight and length.

[thecampingman]

For flatwater touring kayaks you gain stability thru hull design. The Greenland style with it's steeply raked front & rear is super stable. It's like sitting in a hammock. They're actually sea kayaks that will plow thru breakers in the surf.
They're very confidence inspiring.
The Necky Chatham or Eliza have the Greenland style hull.

Touring & Sea kayaks gain their displacement thru length rather than width. Because width is the enemy when you're trying to get anywhere.

Touring kayaks perform poorly in rivers.

For a speedy touring kayak there is the American style hull. Straight as a stick. Rudders are needed to control them in wind or current.
The British style is a compromise of the two.

From my experience the American style is 20% faster than the Greenland style, and about 80% more likely to capsize. The American style is a lot of fun when the weather is really calm. But when the wind & waves pick up I get out my Necky Chatham.

If I could only have one kayak it would be a Greenland style hull. They're fast enough, and able to take a boat wake sideways.

[paddletn]

Check out the Current Designs Breeze (14') or the Whistler (14.5'). My wife has paddled the Whistler for 3 years and loves it. She doesn't have the optional rudder but we do mostly rivers (have paddled class 3 rapids in it) and relatively calm lakes and bays (if you paddle windy conditions I highly recommend it). We considered the Tsunami 140 and 145 but after paddling the Whistler there was no comparison for her and I thought the Whistler was better made (acorn nuts on screws, splash cover on front hatch, etc). She likes both the primary and secondary stability. She cruses at about 4+ mph on a flat lake.

Like any kayak it is very personal so make sure she paddles several boats. The Necky Eliza is a popular women's model for example.

I also learned that getting her a very good light paddle is worth the cost. She paddles a little faster and stays out longer with her carbon fiber paddle.