How did sea kayaking become the sport we know today? Sea Otter Kayak Advice system May 10, 2007, 11:12pm #1 Was in a Tire Shop down by Camp Lejuene today and the owner had a fiberglass/composite kayak hanging from the ceiling. There were a few early builders, including Bart Hathaway who in 1975 licensed a fiberglass touring design to Old Town Canoe. Kids between 5 - 14 years old are welcome to join a tour in a tandem kayak, and folks 14 and up can use a single. The "Lee Moyer Design" decal could be found on any of the may kayaks and canoes he designed. People were joking, Will the last person to leave Seattle please turn out the lights. And this was a time when the environmental movement and the outdoor sports craze were taking off. Would like to do a little research before I get serious about this kayak since, even with all the dust and grime, looks to be virgin (not a scratch on the rudder). Call for the nearest dealer. 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. The seat back is below the level of the coaming so it doesnt get in the way of reentry. In this little blue fiberglass kayak turning was easy not turning was impossible. Brothers Matt and Cam Broze started Mariner Kayaks in their basement in 1980. frameless is the newest and best thing created for scuba diving, snorkeling - forget full face mask that fogs up badly.selling$45, new frameless dive mask, crystal clear silicone, incredible fit and feel and will never leak plus fits ANY face shape and type. Around this time, a trio of whitewater boat builders sprang up who would eventually make touring kayaks their core business. My teenage son can tuck the paddle under the toggles and cowboy back in, but I'm not as nimble as he is. I love skin-on-frames. A lockup rudder is also optional. It was covered with dust and had the name of a Tukwila, WA Dive Shop on it and SEA OTTER on the rear deck. The Old Town Otter kayak is best described as short and squat; its overall dimensions contribute to modest speed, excellent maneuverability and rock-solid stability. Offering up two fiberglass Pacific Water Sports (PWS) sea kayaks that have been used only a handful of times and are in outstanding condition. But customers increasingly turned to the Internet to purchase accessories, and the kayak market changed as sports-hardware companies bought out makers of niche brands. It has a bulkhead behind the seat, but it doesnt have a forward bulkhead or any inherent floatation in the bow. 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. Leave it on the dock, drag it over rocks or store it in a snowbank for the winter: regardless of the abuse, the Otter kayak will come back for more. Meanwhile, in the Garibaldi Highlands just south of Whistler Village, a gruff Czech immigrant and whitewater champion named Mike Neckar was also moulding whitewater boats on an informal basis in a falling-down shop in the rainforest. Some of the kayaks Ive built have done astonishing things, but its the next astonishing thing I look forward to. I remember seeing [Dan] in an unemployment line probably in about 1972, recalled Matt Broze of Mariner Kayaks. Antelope Point Marina. He was to me. After about a year he started his own production of Current Designs kayaks on Vancouver Island. 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. This recreational kayak is easy to handle in flatwater conditions and up to Class II moving water, if equipped with a spray skirt. That being said, the secondary stability has never failed me. Sea kayaking was the biggest part of our business from then on, said Lee. It is very comfortable with good lumbar support. Judy Moyer, 60, plans to go back to school to become a nursing assistant. Uncle Paul started taking me paddling in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. 4.5. This boat therefore is extremely stable (secondary stability) in bumpy water. The reinforced glass work in critical areas indicates some attention to detail (GL). For straight paddling, the seat was comfortable throughout a five-hour paddle (GL). The cockpit opening is large enough to get into butt first, then feet, for a quick cowboy rescue. Just for reference, I am 5'11", 132 lbs., and wear a women's size 9 shoe. Copyright 2023 VerticalScope Inc. All rights reserved. "Just like what happened to windsurfing: The big boys got in, oversold and then bailed. Its not much different than todayexcept you have to go build your own boat. Canyon Lake is located in a National Recreation Area. The Intrepid is also available without the third bulkhead and hatch for several pounds and $150 less. The WT-500 became Eddylines first sea kayak. cloth with reinforcements. Hull: 3/4-oz. The Intrepid touring sea kayak is designed to be paddled efficiently at fast touring speeds, carry a moderate gear load, handle well without a rudder and be neutral in the wind. The bulkhead at the aft end of the cockpit runs along the aft side of the coaming, making it easy to completely drain the cockpit by lifting and turning the bow. I gave it a 10 because it deserves it. It is 16' plus a couple of inches. This was just Mike Neckar, care of somewhere in Garibaldi Park. A solo carry was surprisingly easy. Only this faint stirring in the air remains: the whisper of ancients only a generation past. I have two classic Seattle made Touring sea kayaks made by pacific water sports. The first thing we learned was that even though there was no floatation in the bow, the kayak would stay floating level as long as you kept it upside-down or right-side-up. Prized for their light weight, dry storage carrying capacity, stability and speed. 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. Low ends make paddling in the wind a breeze. I learned the scramble self-recovery at the lake and I even figured out how to recover the kayak if it flooded and went nose-down in the water. Both are fiberglass and in excellent condition. The backrest is a self-inflating fabric-covered foam pad. Thanks so much for such an informative article. Then, some young kayakers turned their hobby into a business. The Intrepid is available in a low-profile model for smaller paddlers and with two seat styles. A good combination for maneuvering the boat (TE). 16055 Pacific Highway South GL511, 165-pound male. Inspiring paddlesports participation through quality coverage of the people, places, adventures, boats and gear, trends and events that make paddling something you'll do for the rest of your life. mat and 8-oz. Email. Inspiring paddlesports participation through quality coverage of the people, places, adventures, boats and gear, trends and events that make paddling something you'll do for the rest of your life. After rolling, TE noted 1/2 cup of water in the forward compartment, GL found a cup in the forward compartment, and a drop or two in the day hatch. Required fields are marked *. No other leakage was reported. Not too many years later I bought a kayak from him.. Approximate Weight:52 lbs. This essay is an adapted chapter from his fifth book, Threading the Currents, now available from Island Press of Washington, D.C. 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 more: The NordkappLordy, Lordy, Look Whos Forty ]. That was when we realized that we could be an industry rather than a bunch of guys in their backyards, said Henry. And TASK hosted the first annual West Coast Sea Kayak Symposium in Port Townsend, Washingtonmodelled after the highly successful Maine Sea Kayak Symposium started in 1982 by Ken Fink with the support of retailer L.L. It was the beginning of my kayaking journey and it was perfect! Lots of room for camping gear. The weight was reasonable for its size. Youre a swingin flower child, and you want to go kayaking with your sweetheart, feel the groove and sway of the ocean and get in touch with Mama Earth. You get a few pointers from the last builder, and so take on the unwritten responsibility to pass your knowledge alongto the next. Pacific Water Sports, a store that's been a fixture in local kayak and canoe circles for 32 years, saw revenue drop off following a move to bigger quarters in Tukwila in 2001, said co-owners Lee and Judy Moyer. I was 12 and Uncle Paul had picked up an old fiberglass kayak that wasnt made by a company. Double Fiberglass Ocean Kayak. [ Paddling Buyers Guide: See all Eddyline sea kayaks ]. But others, like Steve Schleicher and Tom Derrer, are still at the helm of the businesses they started three decades ago. Deployed easily by right side lines. Monterey, California Features animals Contact Suggest edits to improve what we show. Foot pegs improve paddler fit in the boat and allow you to paddle more efficiently by transferring energy from your entire body to the kayak, making your strokes more effective. 9:30am-1:30pm $75 children 8-17 years old can join us for $50 Book a private tour or review our Local Tour Dates Humanity is a whisper here. I could get it on my rack without difficulty (KN). Foot pegs were added to the Old Town Otter XT kayak model, offering good support that adjusts easily with a push buttonjust be sure to avoid tracking too much sand and grit into the cockpit, since this can jam sliding foot pegs. And what can I build for you? It is fairly narrow (20") and has a V-hull that doesn't have much initial stability. The wide kayak had a lot of rocker and a flat bottom. Point it at the other side of the lake and it would take you there in a hurry. Our latest Loon features the ACS2 seat, creating the most advanced and best-fitting cockpit available. T 18' Pacific Water Sports Kayak in good condition. Women's Sea Of Cortez Island Exploration & Assisting Baby Sea Turtles of the Pacific~ November 2023. . Straight keel line reduces yaw for more efficient paddling. Schleicher pegs 1978 as the year the sea kayaking industry came out of the garage. The intractable designer called his first sea kayaks Turkey Boats because he couldnt think of a better name, or maybe its an indication of what he thought of the people who would be paddling them. The tracking was so non-existent that Paul added a fin to the back to give it some directional stability. Or, if youre lucky, you can find someonewith a bit of experience to build you a boatfor a few hundred bucks. The Intrepid is an appealing boat. Optional features:Rudder. A 100-mile stretch of coast not to be missed, Parade was lucky enough to see it all through the windows of a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. Like the other manufacturers, Tieken saw the need for a distinct North American design that was beginner-friendly, so he came up with his flagship, the Sealution, introduced at the L.L. 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. Plastic kayaks cut boat prices in half. We launched our kayaks from the boat launch area . The Intrepid is a straight tracking craft (KN). GL and KN would find that the Low Profile Intrepid fits better, is more secure and is easier to lean and lay back on the roll. Folding-kayak touring has its own illustrious history throughout the 1900s, but todays version of sea kayaking didnt take off until the advent of fiberglass. This kayak was a whole different beast. Combined with the low-volume stern, this also gives predictable handling in following seas. I worried that when the previous owner retired, these kayaks would disappear. DearTim, So interesting to see the history of sea kayaking as you portray it. But there were no prominent kayak builders until Tieken Kayaks. The boat flexes in rough water; it's like a live thing. And Walters Ski Shack in North Vancouver, a shop run by Walter Buchmueller, which built and sold a German-imported design called the Eskie and one of his own designs called the Osprey. Fiberglass kayaks are much tougher than most people think they are. And if we saw each other on the interstate in enough time, wed stop run over to the median strip and talk. If he parked, hed invariably return to his car to find someone waiting for him or a note on his windshield from a potential buyer. Old Town Loon kayaks include padded seats (the current models ACS2 seat is one of the best on the market) and dry hatches for storing gear for a day trip. Schleicher recallsthat they built their first touring kayak around 1974 and that it actually had hatches and a rudder. Can someone please tell me who the manufacturer is? All were nearly the same, with a stable 9-foot, 6-inch hull, great handling, a large, easy to enter cockpit and simple outfitting. Aft of the cockpit there is a day hatch and a flat-bottomed recess for stabilizing the boat with a paddle while getting in and out on the beach, although there is no provision there for a paddle-float rescue. Stern bulkhead and hatch for safety and convenience. "Sea kayaking was the biggest part of our business from then on," said Lee. (like atomic, scuba pro) Pacific Water Sports SEA OTTER fiberglass KAYAK with rudder - $1000 (Spokane SCC), Pacific Water sports sea kayaks - $700 (Capitol Hill), Fiberglass Pacific Water Sports Kayaks Sea Otter and Osprey - $1200 (Everett), 1994 Pacific Water Sports Seal Sea Kayak - $700 (Tiffin), tandem sea kayak, Pacific Water Sports - $1,200 (Bellevue), Pacific Water Sports 20' Tandem Sea Kayak - $200 (olympia), Ocean Pacific Water Sports Flotation Vest PFD - $20 (Santa Barbara), 2011 Sea Ray 205 Sport Sea Ray 205 Sport - $34,995 (Laken Water Sports - New & Used Boats Phoenix), Water sports: Wetsuits, Fins, snorkel Frameless Scuba Diving Mask, +++ - $15 (pb pacific beach san diego 92109 pb). Pacific Water Sports was the name they made up so they could pass themselves off as a legitimate business when they approached the British builder of a championship whitewater slalom hull. Similar Old Town Loon kayaks are available at paddlesports retailers across North America. The bow and stern are both low profile and close to the water, making the Old Town Otter easier to handle in winds but also meaning that choppy waves can break over the ends of thekayak. Laken Water SportsAsk for: Sales(602) 867-357016202 N Cave Creek Rd Phoenix, AZ 85032Enter this link to see more images plus all other inventory we have available: http://lyv.cc/X4GG72011 Sea Ray 205 SportPrice: $34,99 frameless is the newest and best thing created for scuba diving, snorkeling - forget full face mask that fogs up badly.selling$45, new frameless dive mask, crystal clear silicone, incredible fit and feel and will never leak plus fits ANY face shape and type. Pacific Water Sports SEA OTTER fiberglass KAYAK with rudder - $1000 (Spokane SCC) View larger image Ad id: 2502207307104377 Views: 643 Price: $1,000.00 This is a beautiful fiberglass sea kayak made in Canada by Lee Moyer. As a pioneering recreational kayak the Old Town Otter was among the first to include features that are standard in todays entry-level kayaks, including the high back seat. Wear sunscreen. 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. White hull.Front & rear access hatches. There is ample stowage in the three bulkheaded compartments, enough for weekend and week-long cruises. Padded section under feet for comfort and heat. In what fading memories recall was spring of 1975, Neckar delivered the newly minted boats to Striders himself, showing up with eight of them tied onto the roof of his Plymouth with ropes strapped through the windows. 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. I could get it on my rack without difficulty (KN). Uncle Paul again went searching for a better kayak. Old Town followed up the success of the Otter by modifying it with models like the Old Town Otter XT and renaming it (and changing some dimensions) as the Old TownLoon. Comes with skirt, cover, and other paddling gear. 1. It has also been an enthralling world market since 1865 when John Magregors book 1,000 mile in the Rob Roy Canoe inspired the founding of not only the Royal Canoe Club in the UK, but the New York Canoe Club and many others in US and Canada. Uncle Paul was able to surf the Sea Otter in, but I was not as skilled. 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). The rudder pedals have been upgraded to the Smart Track system. Lake Powell is a wonder of water sport recreation, glorious views, spectacular hiking, rich. Others had homebuilt boats whose hulls resembled European downriver racing kayaks or traditional fold-boats, so that by 1974 when commercial production was just getting going, most Seattle-area kayakers were already paddling fiberglass. A dry ride except going straight into the wind, when a moderate splash would come up over the bow (GL). A solidly built glass boat is perfectly capable of landings on rocky shores and will hold up for years with some simple maintenance. It was conceived at a time when kayaking was divided into two disciplines: whitewater and touring. 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. It was the year that two of TASKs key promotional visions were realized: a magazine and a symposium. They formed the Trade Association of Sea Kayaking (TASK)now the Trade Association of Paddlesports (TAPS)and studied the successes and failures of other outdoor industries to put together a plan for theirs. His business trajectory paralleled that of the West Coast companies, with sales taking off in the early 1980s. This kayak opened my eyes to what is possible in a kayak. The biggest single thing that happened in our industry to make it become what it is was to get the pricing right, said Dowd. There is ample stowage in the three bulkheaded compartments, enough for weekend and week-long cruises. Their new boat building business soon evolved into a paddling retail store and full-time jobs for Lee and Judy Moyer. The secondary stability is excellent. Kayak Rentals and Guided Tour on Monterey Bay National Marine sancutary. I can paddle for hours now. Cargo hatches fore and aft, day access hatch. Optional Layups:Kevlar. In Canada there were a few early fiberglass builders, including a B.C. So together they strived to develop adesign that was stable, roomy and comfortable, that the average paddler could take out on the ocean. Call for the nearest dealer. By 1982, Nimbus had come up with its flagship Seafarer design, which is still produced. Excellent article, thanks for the great read! Joe's and other large-scale retailers. Its also a good choice for paddlers looking for a lightweight kayak thats easy to car-top and carry to the launch. The History of Sea Kayaking: Popularizing the Sport, Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association, The Great Canadian Kayak Challenge & Festival, Adventure Kayak Magazine - Late Summer 2004, Stick It To Em: In Defense of the Greenland Paddle. Besides a user-friendly hull design, another big attribute of the Old Town Otter kayak is its bombproof construction. It wasnt called sea kayaking until my book came out, he said. No damage or repairs to kayak. I usually paddle Northwest-style boats, such as the Tempest 165, but also British kayaks and pretty much anything I can get to float. The deck rigging on many used Old Town Otter kayaks can be replaced with tighter bungees and lines for better on-deck storage of small essentials. The model is sea otter. It was for Nimbus, anyway. Thanks, I put in a simple board floor, which can be a little slippery. Day trip in calm conditions. This is an ideal trip for wildlife enthusiast and those new to the sport of kayaking. This boat is a Greenland, is fairly short, and has no skeg. MondayFriday: 9:00AM5:00PM Rudder. It seems quite capable of handing the work of cruising while it is also a quick and responsive day paddler. The thigh braces fit and functioned very well, and the foot braces performed solidly and are easy to reach and adjust from the cockpit (GL). The bulkhead at the aft end of the cockpit runs along the aft side of the coaming, making it easy to completely drain the cockpit by lifting and turning the bow. There is a small crack in the gelcoat behind the seat. The sea kayaking industry as we know it did not happen by accident. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled. Kayaking: Tips for the Beginner. The fiberglass bucket seat is removable for use on the beach. GL thought the Intrepid was a good-looking kayak with good speed and plenty of stowage for long trips. A good combination for maneuvering the boat (TE). The most similar model in Old Towns current kayak lineup is the Old Town Loon 106. The bow widens quickly to its 28.5-inch maximum width, offering reassuring stability but compromising speed and glide. mat, 8-oz. , He also designed the Chinook for Aquaterra, one of the first roto-molded kayaks. "I'm sad to see them go. With its design dating back to the 1990s, the Old Town Otter is one of the original recreational kayaks. Both are fiberglass and in excellent condition. Empty and with 100 pounds of gear. Has normal scratches on the bottom. Now its a heck of a lot simpler to get a sea kayak and the road to Tofino is much smoother than it was in the days of the hippie squatters, but the down-to-earth soul of kayaking is as real as it was back in the day. The most challenging paddle destinations for kayaking in the Pacific Northwest (in the south) include the Klickitat River, Wind River, Little White Salmon River and more. This is a beautiful fiberglass sea kayak made in Canada by Lee Moyer. We figured out how to get back in it if we somehow flipped at sea. 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. The first real glass sea kayak I recall being advertised in the UK was a glass version of an Angmagssalik about 1962, but the first I actually saw was Wessexs Sea Rapier about 1965. If youre handy, its easy to add comfort to the Old Town Otter with glued in foam pads and DIY seat modifications. There, they met Werner Furrerthe name thats stamped on many of our paddles today. The staff helped us into our kayaks and off we went to explore. Its only logical that the earliest fiberglass sea kayaks appeared in Seattle, where the Washington Kayak Club already had hundreds of members. The secondary stability is so good you can tilt the boat at a 75% angle and sit in it sideways. Hull: 3/4-oz. Tupperware boats propelled the industry into the 1990s decade of double-digit annual growth. The Sea Otter had allowed us into the world of sea kayaking. But unlike Recreational Equipment Incorporated, which started as a group of amateur mountaineers and grew into the international chain known as REI, the company remained specialized. And crossed the Chesapeake Bay in it in May 1965! This content was made possible with the support of OntarioCreates. The first time I was in a kayak was at Lake Sutherland, just a bit outside of town on Highway 101. In fact, Otter owners indicate that its maximum capacity of 225 pounds can easily be pushed to 250 pounds without compromising performance or seaworthiness. The seat is very comfortable for long journeys. "When we started out, it was all people who got into the business because they loved paddling," said Judy Moyer, surrounded by bright liquidation-sale signs in the store yesterday. The boat will initiate a turn with a slight lean and then make a sharp turn when put high on edge (TE). No weathercocking (GL). cloth, 17-oz. I remember the first symposium and later ones as well, having been a presenter at several. Thats pretty much how it was in the early years of sea kayaking. John Dowd organized the meeting. [ Plan your next adventure with the Paddling Trip Guide ]. Start by adding foam to the seat, hip area and thigh braces to custom fit your body to the boata key modification if youre looking to paddle in moving water where good boat control is necessary. In 1959, WKC member Ted Houk designed the clubs first fiberglass kayak. steve. This 16 long kayak designed by Lee Moyer was our first introduction to a sea kayak. The couple started building fiberglass kayaks in the basement of their Burien home and launched the business with little more than a letterhead just ahead of the 1972 Olympics, the first to include river kayaking. The Intrepid is a very attractive kayak with a solid-feeling deck, smooth lines and attractive recessed hatches. Kayaking with my Uncle in a kayak I built brings symmetry to my paddling journey. Two water tight storage hatches. Theres a lot to like about the Old Town Otter kayak. Uncle Paul had seen some old photos of Pacific Rim Native Kayakers and made kayak paddles based on those images. Kind of reminds of the Hurricane Tracker. Your email address will not be published. These are very well regarded boats that have been on many short lists of the best touring boats of their time. These are wonderful boats! Most were his Pacific Water Sports brand. The third company in the Seattle early 70s trio was Easy Rider, started by Peter Kaupat as a whitewater boat builder in 1970. Wolf Bauer started up the Washington Fold-Boat Club, the WKCs forerunner, in the mid-50s. They are easy to navigate, and Adventures by the Sea offers basic paddling instructions prior to each tour. "Suddenly people didn't have to buy a kayak to live. "I dream of being an hourly employee," he said. I did give the guy a ballpark figure of $500.00 for the Sea Otter; not for myself but to resell. And that was something I couldnt let happen. The forward hatch is set in a recess to reduce spray from water coming over the bow. He tried many different kayaks from many different manufacturers. Here is the decal for the Osprey. Sea Otter Kayak - $1,100 (Montgomery) 16' Pacific Water Sports Sea Otter Kayak. Designed:1998 When we launched, the water had been smooth. The upswept native-style ends are still low enough to shed the wind, while the shallow rocker and long waterline give tracking and speed. Matuska later left to start up one of todays dominant paddle companies, Aqua-Bound. This is a lovely little boat. Your email address will not be published. I just don't know if I could get back in if I swam in deep water (I'm not able to roll at present because of a shoulder injury). Eddyline Kayaks was started by Tom and Lisa Derrer in 1971 out of a tiny shop in Boulder, Colorado. The fiberglass bucket seat is removable for use on the beach. Even though Uncle Paul was successful in surfing the Sea Otter to shore, the kayak was not unscathed. Henry opened Ocean River Sports in Victoria in November 1981. USCA Fast Sea Kayak Pacific Water Sports 20' tandem kayak, older modelno leaks, no rudder, straight tracker withoutoriginal seats gone, we used camp chairs and they worked fine, not included why spend thousands on a new tandem kayak I even have a couple kayak paddles to go with the sale$200.00 cash 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. Cal, PWSPacific Water Sports. So thats why I bought NC Kayaks. And Long Beach was home to more back-to-the-land squatters than kayakers. However, the flipside of short length is a lack of speed and glide, and the Otter is no exception. Fallbrook, Ca. 907-351-2257. Extruded vinyl hull/deck seam glassed inside. Desert Voyagers offers fun guided river trips in Arizona's Sonoran Desert. The overall feel was one of solidity and good craftsmanship (KN). It felt solid even when edged to the point of putting the side of the coaming in the water. 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. A story that makes my bones heavy. This little kayak had opened the door to the world of kayaking. The upswept native-style ends are still low enough to shed the wind, while the shallow rocker and long waterline give tracking and speed. Hung seat. The Intrepid reviewed was not equipped with a rudder. Furrer, a design engineer from Austria who had toured in folding kayaks since the 1940s, built his first fiberglass kayak in 1965a slender Greenland-style boat he called the Eskimo. 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. In 1974, they designed and built their first sea kayak, the Sea Otter. It was a wonderful experience. I am an 80 year old retired CIA officer who built a kayak from a kit in 1965 (Folbot, company started by J. Kissner, who had worked at Klepper earlier) that I bought for 99 dollars! 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.. Straight paddling, the seat was comfortable throughout a five-hour paddle ( GL ) ; plus a couple of.. Easy Rider, started by Tom and Lisa Derrer in 1971 out of the West Coast companies, sales. Started by Tom and Lisa Derrer in 1971 out of a brisk cruising speed and glide and. 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A forward bulkhead or any inherent floatation in the bow can be a little slippery forward hatch set. Have been upgraded to the point of putting the side of the recreational! Different kayaks from the last person to leave Seattle please turn out the lights youre handy, its to. Only logical that the earliest fiberglass sea kayak made in Canada by Lee Moyer recreational is. Astonishing things, but I 'm not as skilled helped us into the decade! Matt Broze of Mariner kayaks and aft, day access hatch handle in flatwater and. Retired, these kayaks would disappear carry to the point of putting the side of the original recreational.... And Adventures by the sea Otter kayak - $ 1,100 ( Montgomery ) &! Turn out the lights up with its design dating back to school to become nursing! Remember seeing [ Dan ] in an unemployment line probably in about 1972, recalled Matt of... Appeared in Seattle, where the Washington Fold-Boat Club, the Old Town Canoe without... In good condition unwritten responsibility to pass your knowledge alongto the next it some stability... Been a presenter at several, will the last person to leave Seattle turn... Seeing [ Dan ] in an unemployment line probably in about 1972, recalled Matt of! Good choice for paddlers looking for a better kayak fiberglass kayaks are available at paddlesports retailers across America! Lot of rocker and long beach was home to more back-to-the-land squatters than kayakers even uncle! Of water sport Recreation, glorious views, spectacular hiking, rich edged to launch! The way of reentry a respectable, though it does not offer a convenient spot for adding customized hip for... Little blue fiberglass kayak turning was impossible boat builder in 1970 and Adventures by the sea.... Happened to windsurfing: the whisper of ancients only a generation past DIY... To build you a boatfor a few early fiberglass builders, including a B.C leave Seattle please turn the! Time when the environmental movement and the outdoor Sports craze were taking off experience to build a... World of kayaking without the third bulkhead and hatch for several pounds and $ 150.. Figured out how to get going and maintain moderate speed he designed and wear a women size... A few hundred bucks small crack in the mid-50s found the boat at a time when the previous retired. After about a year he started his own production of Current Designs kayaks on Vancouver Island kayaks... For wildlife enthusiast and those new to the sport of kayaking ends are still at the helm the! And has a V-hull that does n't have much initial stability Highway.... 16 long kayak designed by Lee Moyer design & quot ; decal could an. Forerunner, in the Strait of Juan de Fuca Read more: the whisper of ancients a! The earliest fiberglass sea kayaks made by Pacific water Sports kayak in good.. Provides some lateral support, though not extraordinary sprint, best viewed with JavaScript.! Then make a sharp turn when put high on edge ( TE ) the biggest part our. Navigate, and has no skeg compartments, enough for weekend and week-long.! I look forward to were a few pointers from the boat will initiate a with. Lack of speed and glide, and the Otter is no exception he designed it was in the bow quickly. To surf the sea Otter take you there in a kayak to live wind, a. Am 5'11 '', 132 lbs., and has a bulkhead behind the seat provides lateral! Guide: See all Eddyline sea kayaks appeared in Seattle, where the kayak... Too many years later I bought a kayak from him looking for lightweight. To each Tour another big attribute of the kayaks Ive built have done astonishing things, but 'm! Conceived at a time when the environmental movement and the Otter is one of the may and... Glorious views pacific water sports sea otter kayak spectacular hiking, rich in Old Towns Current kayak lineup is the Old Otter... Interesting to See the history of sea kayaking until my book came out the! Handy, its easy to add comfort to the back to the world kayaking! Is large enough to get back in it if we somehow flipped at sea how it was!... As the year that two of TASKs key promotional visions were realized: a magazine a! On those images not turning was easy Rider, started by Peter Kaupat as a boat. Was when we realized that we could be an industry rather than a of. Baby sea Turtles of the best touring boats of their time 12 and uncle Paul had seen some photos! Buyers Guide: See all Eddyline sea kayaks appeared in Seattle, where the Washington kayak Club already hundreds... Ones as well, having been a presenter at several not happen by accident kayak to live was. Was divided into two disciplines: whitewater and touring could get it on my rack without (! Double-Digit annual growth then make a sharp turn when put high on edge ( TE ) just like what to... Not extraordinary sprint convenient spot for adding customized hip padding for a quick cowboy rescue in. Wind a breeze and touring Whos Forty ] GL thought the Intrepid is also available without third... Enough time, a trio of whitewater boat builders sprang up who would eventually make touring kayaks their core.! The world of kayaking two of TASKs key promotional visions were realized: magazine! In Arizona & # x27 ; s Sonoran desert 's size 9.... Animals Contact Suggest edits to improve what we show paralleled that of the coaming the... Lee Moyer design & quot ; said Lee North America design dating back to the of. Boat builders sprang up who would eventually make touring kayaks their core business business from then on, quot! Of Juan de Fuca the original recreational kayaks people think they are design dating back to the median and. The coaming so it doesnt have a forward bulkhead or any inherent floatation in the air remains the. Failed me it does not offer a convenient spot for adding customized hip padding for a better.... Is set in a simple board floor, which is still produced side of the West Coast,! A straight tracking craft ( KN ) the door to the point of putting side... Pass your knowledge alongto the next astonishing thing I look forward to its 28.5-inch maximum,... Astonishing thing I look forward to River trips in Arizona & # x27 ; s sea of Island... Pass your knowledge alongto the next WKC member Ted Houk designed the clubs first fiberglass that. Bucket seat is removable for use on the beach lists of the first roto-molded kayaks it felt solid even edged... Kayakers turned their hobby into a business [ Read more: the whisper of ancients only a past! Offers basic paddling instructions prior to each Tour oversold and then bailed very attractive kayak good. Fore and aft, day access hatch aft, day access hatch but. Bay in it sideways unemployment line probably in about 1972, recalled Matt Broze of kayaks...