Semi-tandem kayak thoughts

[Tick]

Hi,

I have been bit by the kayak bug and am trying to settle what I want and what I need. For the most part this post is me just thinking out loud. I'm looking for comments or other thoughts and options.

We are a family of four. My two kids are 3 and 5. Our interest would be in recreation type paddling with the odd overnight trip on medium to larger lakes. I would also like to have a boat that would be decent as a fishing boat that I could paddle solo. We want two.

Boats I have seen that interest me slightly:

Necky Manitou II
http://www.neckykayaks.com/kayaks/tandem/manitou_ii.shtml

Wliderness Systems Pamlico 145t
http://www.wildernesssystems.com/pr...creational_pamlico/pamlico_145t_recreational/

The boat that I WANT:

Wlderness Systems Pungo 140 Angler
http://www.wildernesssystems.com/product/index/products/angler/angler_pungo/pungo_140_angler/

Thoughts:

The Pamlico, and any incarnation of this type of kayak interests me the least due to the open design and obvious lack of any storage. It seems to be a true rec boat.

The Manitou II seems to be the a comprimise as it claims to me able to have a smaller child in the rear cockpit(which is 48" x 18") on a jump seat.

The Pungo is more of a light tour/rec. Without the console it's cockpit is 57"x22" nearly 10" longer than the true tandem. It would seem that two Pungos would work at least for the nest couple of years while the kids are still small.

Option 1 is one Pungo and one Manitou II. My wife solo and me with the kids.

Option 2 is two Pungos, each of us paddle with a kid

Any input would be welcome.

sa

 

[Christophe Noel]

Check out Native watercraft. The Ultimate 14.5 is available in a solo/tandem. It can go from a very nice solo to a very nice tandem in 5 minutes. It's also a primo fishing boat stable enough to stand in. Seriously. Check it out. Great boats.

 

[RHINO]

i have a native ultimate 12,,, i LOVE this boat. i find myself using a jon boat more for what i do, but i really enjoy the ultimate for paddling and just being out in the quiet.

i had this little lake in eastern oregon all to myself

 

[Tick]

Thanks for the input. At your suggestion I have looked at the Ultimate boats. They seem to be geared towards fishing and day-triping. All though there are a few people out there camping out of them they are few and far between. A cool forum I found was the Native watercraft owners group. Lots of info on the Ultimate boats and more.

Thank you

sa

 

[Van_Homan]

I've paddled a (borrowed) Dagger Bayou II on several recent occasions and I'm very pleased with it's performance. It's similar to the Pamlico 145T.

Here's a picture

I've paddled it solo from the rear seat loaded down with gear for a night of camping and it tracks fairly straight on a smooth lake. As far as storage is concerned, I place camp chairs, tent, sleeping bag, and some other odds and ends in the bow. The front seat holds an decent size cooler and few small things fit behind the rear seat. If you had two people paddling you obviously couldn't bring along as much gear.

I've also paddled this kayak with my 16 year old daughter in front and my 8 year old neice in the center and we could really get this boat moving across the water.


Edit: I actually bought this kayak from my friend.
Although I don't plan to use it on anything except smooth lakes and slow moving rivers.

Hope the info helps.

 

[Ray Hyland]

Given how you plan to use it, why not get a canoe?

We bought our 16.5 foot canoe for $400 and it has taken our family of 5 everywhere.

Ray