Henry started designing boats, beginning with a large hatchless sea kayak called the Pisces, which he took to Mike Neckar to get built. If nothing else, use it as a guest 'yak. MondayFriday: 9:00AM5:00PM Find great deals and sell your items for free. 4.5. Sometime in 1981 or 1982, a group of would-be career kayakers met in Werner Furrers basement in Seattle and deliberately created it. Sea kayaking was the biggest part of our business from then on, said Lee. But against what that kayak made me feel. [ Paddling Buyers Guide: See all rotomolded plastic kayaks ]. Harrie Tieken started building flatwater racing kayaks and Derek Hutchinson sea kayaks in Holland in the early 1970s. 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. Like any kayak, there are plenty of ways you can improve a basic Old Town Otter kayak. Bradley Meacham: 206-515-5066 or bmeacham@seattletimes.com, Location: 11011 Tukwila International Blvd., Tukwila, Sales: $1.25 million in 2000; down 20-30 percent since then. Well balanced for wind. 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. In the history of sea kayaking there were no exclusive shops for the sport until John Dowd opened Ecomarine in 1980 on Vancouvers artsy Granville Island. 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. The bow line can also be rigged as a rescue sling. Companies like Current Designs began to reap the support of the big-box U.S. outdoor stores like L.L. This little kayak had opened the door to the world of kayaking. You have entered an incorrect email address! And what can I build for you? The seat is very comfortable for long journeys. "Now they've sold out to bigger companies. Hull: 3/4-oz. off topicwhile you are enjoying Camp Lejeune you should go to Barrier Island Kayaks (between Swansboro and Emerald Isle). Availability:From manufacturer. Lots of room for camping gear. 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. 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. Theres a lot to like about the Old Town Otter kayak. The Intrepid is a very attractive kayak with a solid-feeling deck, smooth lines and attractive recessed hatches. 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. Antelope Point Marina. Uncle Paul had seen some old photos of Pacific Rim Native Kayakers and made kayak paddles based on those images. ), but it always responds well to corrective strokes. It comes standard with bulkheads fore and aft with a third bulkhead optional. Bucket seat, foot braces, deck lines, bow line, three curved fiberglass bulkheads. The Moyers, who divorced four years ago, plan to go their separate ways after Pacific Water Sports' liquidation sale, which starts tomorrow. Is he not considered significant? [ Paddling Buyers Guide: See all Eddyline sea kayaks ]. Most were his Pacific Water Sports brand. I made a little foam pad that I can slip behind myself when I want to rest, and I am happy. Deep bow entry, tracks well, fairly stable andboring. Slade worried theyd get scratched, and Neckar retorted, The first time people use them theyre going to get scratched.. White hull.Front & rear access hatches. Two cleats farther forward secure a bow painter that can double as a rescue grab line. Empty and with 100 pounds of gear. Having founded one of the first sea kayak guiding companies in Maine in the mid-1970s I ultimately paddled many different designs of sea kayaks many thousands of miles. The first Easy Rider sea kayak, circa 1975, was the Dolphin, designed by Dan Ruuskaanother ex-Boeing engineer who went from moulding ultra-sleek engine intakes to hydrodynamic hulls. In 1975, before turning his full attention to the paddle business, Furrer designed the WT-500 (Werner Touring, 500 centimetres long). Subscribe to Paddling Magazines print and digital editions, or browse thearchives. Both offer marine life viewing of sea otters, harbor seals, sea lions. 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. Wear sunscreen. It was conceived at a time when kayaking was divided into two disciplines: whitewater and touring. Read reviews for the Sea Otter R by Yostwerks as submitted by your fellow paddlers. The reinforced glass work in critical areas indicates some attention to detail (GL). My boat had no outfitting at all when I got it, not even a floor. Combined with the low-volume stern, this also gives predictable handling in following seas. Canoes and kayaks have been sold both ways across the pond since then and of course magazines have travelled across even more readily. If you have a choice, go for the Old Town Otter XT over the original edition. Very well built fiberglass kayak. Highway 1 Discovery Route is a destination in its own right! Location. I bought this little boat already built, so I cannot comment on the building process, but I can review the boat itself. Sea Birds & Sea Otter Pupping Season by Kayak: Elkhorn Slough. Both are fiberglass and in excellent condition. The cockpit opening is large enough to get into butt first, then feet, for a quick cowboy rescue. Someone in your paddling community has a fiberglass kayak mouldprobably at the local paddling club. It has a bulkhead behind the seat, but it doesnt have a forward bulkhead or any inherent floatation in the bow. If I dont have that slight tingle in my spine, the anticipation of whats to come, then its not the kayak for me. Chris Cunningham took over Sea Kayaker magazine from John and I wrote a few article for them. 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. Many WKCers were also soon paddling the Tyee I and II, designed by Linc Hales in 1961 and 1964 and sold at area shops well into the 70s. Read Sea Otter R reviews or submit your own review to share with the paddling community. 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. In fact, prior to the first symposia at Port Townsend, all the big players mentioned on the Pacific side attended as presenters and boat reps. We figured out how to get back in it if we somehow flipped at sea. It is fairly narrow (20") and has a V-hull that doesn't have much initial stability. Eddyline only built whitewater boats, and had no interest in sea kayaks until the Derrers moved to Seattle in 1974. It should, therefore, weathercock quite readily, but I have really had no problems with it at all. TE6 1, 200-pound male. 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. Traveling any distance in the Otter will be a workout compared to longer kayaks. The fiberglass bucket seat is removable for use on the beach. If you had to pick one year in the history of sea kayaking to mark the start of the modern industry youd begin with 1984. Over the years they helped spread the sport by sponsoring kayak festivals, kayak trips and learn-to-canoe programs. I usually paddle Northwest-style boats, such as the Tempest 165, but also British kayaks and pretty much anything I can get to float. Even without a skirt, very little water gets in; the cockpit opening is pretty small and it is raised up from the deck. Kayak and Gear reviews, Guides, Stories & More, Intrepid Design Statement TE and GL both noted that the middle of the hull oilcanned when pressed hard, though not while afloat. #9. The bulkheads are all curved panels of translucent fiberglass. The model is sea otter. There were absolutely no more than 10 people paddling open water in the East at the time, he guesses. Both are fiberglass and in excellent condition. paddle, pump, bags etc. Straight keel line reduces yaw for more efficient paddling. GL511, 165-pound male. Reentry into the large cockpit opening was easy. Industry veterans remember the late 1970s and early 80s as a time when, if you had a kayak on your car, heads would turn. Rudder is controlled by sliding adjustable footpegs. Lots of room for camping gear. 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. Today, the Loon series continues to revolutionize the sport as we tweak, twist and transform our old design to devise the worlds most advanced recreational kayak. A look back through the history of sea kayaking shows how the sport transformed from a tiny niche activity in 1972 to one of wide and enduring popularity today. The Intrepid is available in a low-profile model for smaller paddlers and with two seat styles. I have two classic Seattle made Touring sea kayaks made by pacific water sports. 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. That was the year they moved out of the chicken coop to a real production facility in Port Coquitlam. Double Fiberglass Ocean Kayak. It is a big boys boat and it very stable. The flare and volume in the forward quarter provide lift going into waves and a dry ride in sloppy conditions. Only this faint stirring in the air remains: the whisper of ancients only a generation past. This 16 long kayak designed by Lee Moyer was our first introduction to a sea kayak. The aft hatch is large enough for easy stowage of bulky items. The Sea Otter R is a kayak brought to you by Yostwerks . Fast forward to 1987: Tieken brings his business to North America, settling in Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia. Extruded vinyl hull/deck seam glassed inside. However, the flipside of short length is a lack of speed and glide, and the Otter is no exception. The original Old Town Otter model did not include foot pegs, a standard feature in all kayaks today (foot pegs are one upgrade included in the Old Town Otter XT). 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. Very well built fiberglass kayak. 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 ]. Bean and Canoe magazine. Late March-Late May is pupping season for both harbor seals and sea otters, a thrilling time to be on the water! The secondary stability is excellent. The models included: the original Old Town Otter; the Old Town Otter XT; the Old Town Otter Sport; and the Old Town Otter Plus kayak. 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. People thought I was nuts, remembers Moyer. The rudder pedals have been upgraded to the Smart Track system. Much of my family lives in Port Angeles, Washington. Situated on the Central Californian Coast between beach towns Big Sur and Santa Barbara, Highway 1and the charming coastal towns of San Luis Obispo County tucked along with itisn't just a roadway. All of the reviews are created and written by paddlers like you, so be sure to submit your own review and be part of the community! Neckar came up with a design based on a high-volume whitewater boat, but longer, wider, with a large cockpit. The overall feel was one of solidity and good craftsmanship (KN). As the shock cord at the hatches ages and loosens, it can be easily re-knotted to tighten the seal of the hatches if leaks develop. That was when we realized that we could be an industry rather than a bunch of guys in their backyards, said Henry. One day while paddling out of Clallam Bay, the wind picked up and was coming out of the Northwest. Eddyline came out with its first in-house touring design, the Orca, in about 1978. Many people find Greenland cockpits uncomfortable, but I have found that regular stretching makes all the difference. Twenty years ago, we created the Loon series and changed the way paddlesports viewed recreational kayaks. The reinforced glass work in critical areas indicates some attention to detail (GL). Well, not against the kayak, itself. So, where are you headed? USCA Fast Sea Kayak 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. ", Meyer said he's trying to figure out what the closure means for surviving independent retailers like himself. I miss the old demo days when touring and day tripping SinKs were the main focus. Andy Zimmerman of Wilderness Systems (a North Carolina whitewater boat company founded in 1986) purchased rights to produce the Sealution for the U.S. market and went on to make the boats plastic version one of the worlds bestselling kayaks. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It was the beginning of my kayaking journey and it was perfect! The tracking was so non-existent that Paul added a fin to the back to give it some directional stability. It felt solid even when edged to the point of putting the side of the coaming in the water. 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. Even though Uncle Paul was successful in surfing the Sea Otter to shore, the kayak was not unscathed. Desert Voyagers, together with our sister company AOA, provides the very best in fun . 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