Kayak Recomendations

[FirstMateMaggi]

We are looking to buy a nice stable kayak for exploring anchorages and getting in a good workout.

any suggestions would be very weloome !

[model 10]

We took 2 short whitewater kayaks with us from CA to FL., inside the cabin. It was like having 2 lightweight dead people size things in the cabin, but you could store dirty laundry in them.

[Mike OReilly]

We carry two Advanced Elements inflatable kayaks on board. Great for exploring short distances, and very stable. Portable, and pretty tough. Cuts not a bad line as well, considering they are inflatables.

[jdazey]

We carry an Eddyline Sky 10 and a Seda Vagabond, both fairly light weight.

Cheers,

[zeehag]

i use flatwater entry level kayaks a si can stuff items in em and provision using em. perception swifty is a good make, 38 pounds. i liked waldon paddlers entry level kayak best, weighing in at 36 pounds, but at mucho dinero it was stolen fast.

[CarlF]

We have a Hobie inflatable pedal kayak. Legs are much stronger than arms so you can go faster and farther than with a paddle. It's especially good for people who may not have the best arm and shoulder strength. I have a minor upper back disk problem that gets irritated when I paddle a regular kayak a long distance. Absolutely no skill required. Very stable. It's a great fishing platform since you can pedal while casting.

You can even get a sail for it.

Not cheap but we use it much more than we ever used our regular kayak.

[sailful]

We carry two Delta 10 kayaks on our sailboat for exploring anchorages. They are an older model of these. Delta 10 AR – Delta Kayaks They have a catamaran hull and are very stable. Highly recommend them

[mogulskibum]

We've tried:
Rigid standard kayaks: too big & awkward

Klepper folding kayak: these are actually pretty good, but it's questionable whether you could assemble on board - better to dinghy it to shore and assemble there.

Sea Eagle inflatable: cheap, and you get what you pay for.

Advanced Elements inflatible: it works, it doesn't track really well, and is pretty slow, but it works.

Oru folding kayaks: these are amazing. Fast, light, track well, fold to a size you can keep on board, and you can actually assemble them on a the crowded foredeck of even a 30 ft boat. Expensive though; not as expensive as the Kleppers, but not cheap either.

The only functional shortfall of the Oru is that on all but their cheapest / shortest model the cockpits are a little tricky to get into if you are tall and don't fold too well yourself. Their cheapest model this is not a problem though, but it's also not as fast nor does it track as well as their more expensive models. Despite that, it's still head and shoulders above the inflatables we've tried.

[Emerald Sea]

Consider one with a glass bottom. It adds to the exploring experience.

[Don C L]

I have a Sea Eagle 420x which is their largest expedition model. I can highly recommend it and I have tried lots of various dinghy routines. It is pretty tough (I drag it over the beach rocks, no problems) has a drop stitch floor which is very rigid, very stable, holds 850 lbs and you can paddle it into a headwind (I did with the whole family aboard and they didn't want to help paddle!) It rolls up into a pretty manageable bundle that I can stow on the foredeck or throw into the cockpit floor if needed in a hurry. I have no stake or stock int the company but here is the item:
https://www.seaeagle.com/ExplorerKayaks/420X

BTW welcome aboard here!

[maxingout]

Great videos of the sea eagle in action on the web site. Very impressive kayak.

[sailorcherry]

Hands down a Hobie Adventure or Tandem Island.

[Xlantic]

We have a Hobie Mirage Tandem with the pedals. We love it and find pedalling a lot easier than paddling.

[sailorcherry]

Xlantic, hello fellow TI lover. Yes the pedaling is much easier isn't it? Faster too (aside from some speedy sea kayak types). Think our top speed was about 6.5 kts under pedals alone? It's been a lifesaver for me, one of the only setups that has been good for exercise and rehabilitation for me.

Do you go cruising with yours? Tow? Or does yours stow aboard your palacious GB50?

According to my research we're the only cruising sailboat with a Hobie Tandem Island (43' with a big, beamy flush deck). Can still fit the 10' hard dinghy too. Hoists just fine with manual halyard wench and the amas can fit below in the v berth if heavy weather or wanting less clutter on deck.

It's my favorite boat - ever. Hitting 8.5kts watching the sunset surfing some swell to at anchor, only boat there, no light pollution for miles going for a sail under the stars in a warm 20kt breeze (thanks to the furling sail) on your trimaran dinghy is absolutely amazing.

Cheers!

Originally Posted by Xlantic

We have a Hobie Mirage Tandem with the pedals. We love it and find pedalling a lot easier than paddling.

[Xlantic]

Originally Posted by sailorcherry

Do you go cruising with yours? Tow? Or does your palacious GB50 enable her to stow aboard?

No lack of space on a GB50! We manually hoist it to the flying bridge, above one of the side-decks.

We also keep a Laser and a RIB up there!