Triyak Sit on top vs Mad River Open Canoe...vs.....?
Discussion
So im getting back into kayaking a bit, renting gear at the moment. Have been taking my eldest out on tandem sit on tops and having a nice time. He is now 7, youngest just turned 5 so if I invested in my own gear, it would be good to have something to carry all three of use.
I went to brookbank in Stockport to look at a Perception Gemini as the blurb suggests there is a small seat for a 3rd person, they didnt have one in stock sadly so i couldnt see how it works. They did have Mad River Adventure 14/16 which looked awesome.
I can see the advantages of the Mad River, kids will stay drier, out for longer, its bulky and heavy but with built in 3rd wheel I should be fine and the v70 should cope with the load easily. Unsure how easy it is to paddle with a double ended paddle (I will still be doing all the paddling and I hate traditional canoe paddles) Disadvantages is that I may just want something for myself and may end up plumping for a Gemini anyway for the flexibility when eldest has his own boat and youngest is still with me.
What have other folks done as their kids have grown, what have you tried?
I went to brookbank in Stockport to look at a Perception Gemini as the blurb suggests there is a small seat for a 3rd person, they didnt have one in stock sadly so i couldnt see how it works. They did have Mad River Adventure 14/16 which looked awesome.
I can see the advantages of the Mad River, kids will stay drier, out for longer, its bulky and heavy but with built in 3rd wheel I should be fine and the v70 should cope with the load easily. Unsure how easy it is to paddle with a double ended paddle (I will still be doing all the paddling and I hate traditional canoe paddles) Disadvantages is that I may just want something for myself and may end up plumping for a Gemini anyway for the flexibility when eldest has his own boat and youngest is still with me.
What have other folks done as their kids have grown, what have you tried?
Why the adventure boats rather than the explorers? I've never paddled the former, but the big explorers types are awesome people carriers and will probably do better as the kids get bigger. As for paddling with one ended paddles I'd think that either sit in boat would be too high for a double end paddle to be comfy. Your kids are more than big enough to help you out! That said a bit of practice and it does get easier. Have you thought about getting kayaks, how trustworthy are your kids- I've seen their age in their own boats before.
Oh and a V70 won't struggle....well two explorers might start to be a problem.
Oh and a V70 won't struggle....well two explorers might start to be a problem.
What about a Zpro Tango inflatable. Three adult seats, very very good reviews - which I can vouch for as I have one - and being inflatable very portable. TBH I wouldn't swap it for a rigid.
http://www.gwdoling.co.uk/Inflatable_kayaks/kayak_...
http://www.gwdoling.co.uk/Inflatable_kayaks/kayak_...
rhinochopig said:
What about a Zpro Tango inflatable. Three adult seats, very very good reviews - which I can vouch for as I have one - and being inflatable very portable. TBH I wouldn't swap it for a rigid.
http://www.gwdoling.co.uk/Inflatable_kayaks/kayak_...
I have that. Done costal stuff, many nights on the Thames camping with the kids at locks and white water on the Wye - best product i bought last year!http://www.gwdoling.co.uk/Inflatable_kayaks/kayak_...
mcdjl said:
Why the adventure boats rather than the explorers? I've never paddled the former, but the big explorers types are awesome people carriers and will probably do better as the kids get bigger. As for paddling with one ended paddles I'd think that either sit in boat would be too high for a double end paddle to be comfy. Your kids are more than big enough to help you out! That said a bit of practice and it does get easier. Have you thought about getting kayaks, how trustworthy are your kids- I've seen their age in their own boats before.
Oh and a V70 won't struggle....well two explorers might start to be a problem.
The bigger ones do look better for sure, I just dont get on very well with an oar rather than a paddle, just personal preference. The 7 yo is a good swimmer and would love his own, my concern would be if I had to rescue him for any reason, it would mean leaving the 5yo alone and she has only just turned 5..... she is sensible but not sure about him in his on boat just yet. I'm certainly planning on getting them their own sit on tops when they are ready..Oh and a V70 won't struggle....well two explorers might start to be a problem.
rhinochopig said:
What about a Zpro Tango inflatable. Three adult seats, very very good reviews - which I can vouch for as I have one - and being inflatable very portable. TBH I wouldn't swap it for a rigid.
http://www.gwdoling.co.uk/Inflatable_kayaks/kayak_...
TBH when in the title i put ....vs..... I was thinking of inflatables, only thing that puts me off is drift in the wind, but I guess with 3 of us on board its not such an issue and it wont be deep sea, mostly lake and shallow surf, playing abouthttp://www.gwdoling.co.uk/Inflatable_kayaks/kayak_...
TedMaul said:
TBH when in the title i put ....vs..... I was thinking of inflatables, only thing that puts me off is drift in the wind, but I guess with 3 of us on board its not such an issue and it wont be deep sea, mostly lake and shallow surf, playing about
It does come with a skeg which helps.TedMaul said:
TBH when in the title i put ....vs..... I was thinking of inflatables, only thing that puts me off is drift in the wind, but I guess with 3 of us on board its not such an issue and it wont be deep sea, mostly lake and shallow surf, playing about
Been on the solent with mine in wind and had no issue with the skeg on.I love how I can go from the boot of the car to paddling away for a couple of nights camping on the river in 10 mins flat!
Have a look at our website (hope this is allowed - just trying to be helpful!)
Linder canoes
http://www.bhg-marine.co.uk/canoes-and-kayaks/lind...
Z-Pro kayaks
http://www.bhg-marine.co.uk/canoes-and-kayaks/z-pr...
Let me know if you have any questions.
Linder canoes
http://www.bhg-marine.co.uk/canoes-and-kayaks/lind...
Z-Pro kayaks
http://www.bhg-marine.co.uk/canoes-and-kayaks/z-pr...
Let me know if you have any questions.
danyeates said:
Have a look at our website (hope this is allowed - just trying to be helpful!)
Linder canoes
http://www.bhg-marine.co.uk/canoes-and-kayaks/lind...
Z-Pro kayaks
http://www.bhg-marine.co.uk/canoes-and-kayaks/z-pr...
Let me know if you have any questions.
Shame I didn't know about a fellow PH'er owning a shop that sold them, I'd have bought mine from you. You're cheaper too, which is even more of a shame. I'll bookmark your site in case I need any more kit.Linder canoes
http://www.bhg-marine.co.uk/canoes-and-kayaks/lind...
Z-Pro kayaks
http://www.bhg-marine.co.uk/canoes-and-kayaks/z-pr...
Let me know if you have any questions.
Read a few reviews of the zpro, especially comparing it to the Sevylor and the zpro seems to win hands down each time. Seems to fold reasonably well and with folding paddles, very easy to move about, no need for cumbersome trolleys either.
Comments about the skeg all very positive too, as you say, seems to make a huge difference to all who have tried it.
I think thats the go. I have a few things on the go, work and home both absolute nightmares, hence only posting every other day (yes, it is that bad!!!) but once things settle down, I'll give one of those a go. At £350, you cant go wrong, and maybe get myself a rigid sit on top which eldest can inherit when he is ready.
Thanks for the sound advice
Comments about the skeg all very positive too, as you say, seems to make a huge difference to all who have tried it.
I think thats the go. I have a few things on the go, work and home both absolute nightmares, hence only posting every other day (yes, it is that bad!!!) but once things settle down, I'll give one of those a go. At £350, you cant go wrong, and maybe get myself a rigid sit on top which eldest can inherit when he is ready.
Thanks for the sound advice
The other good thing about a zpro....(if you live near a Decathalon store) is that you dont get people saying "oh, did you buy that at Decathalon" all the time! And the colour is very "Ray Mears" and not toy like as with the blue boats.
Heres mine loaded for 3 nights on the river (we use two of the 3 seats with mine sat way back as im 6ft6) My lad normally sits in the back with the tent and matress/food!)
Making our way to the campsite 100yards from the river...easy to carry the gear, all very light. Kid does tent and paddles...I do boat!
Thames lock keepers all very good about letting small boats through
As you say, for a few hundread you cant beat it.
Heres mine loaded for 3 nights on the river (we use two of the 3 seats with mine sat way back as im 6ft6) My lad normally sits in the back with the tent and matress/food!)
Making our way to the campsite 100yards from the river...easy to carry the gear, all very light. Kid does tent and paddles...I do boat!
Thames lock keepers all very good about letting small boats through
As you say, for a few hundread you cant beat it.
Tiggsy said:
The other good thing about a zpro....(if you live near a Decathalon store) is that you dont get people saying "oh, did you buy that at Decathalon" all the time! And the colour is very "Ray Mears" and not toy like as with the blue boats.
Heres mine loaded for 3 nights on the river (we use two of the 3 seats with mine sat way back as im 6ft6) My lad normally sits in the back with the tent and matress/food!)
Making our way to the campsite 100yards from the river...easy to carry the gear, all very light. Kid does tent and paddles...I do boat!
Thames lock keepers all very good about letting small boats through
As you say, for a few hundread you cant beat it.
Braver man than me, going in to those locks in a kayak. I normally run round them, unless I'm purposefully entering the weirs at Hurley, hambledon, boulters etc for a spot of playing :-)Heres mine loaded for 3 nights on the river (we use two of the 3 seats with mine sat way back as im 6ft6) My lad normally sits in the back with the tent and matress/food!)
Making our way to the campsite 100yards from the river...easy to carry the gear, all very light. Kid does tent and paddles...I do boat!
Thames lock keepers all very good about letting small boats through
As you say, for a few hundread you cant beat it.
Olf said:
Going to have to try one of these - have to admit to being a naysayer not through experience just from always being in hard boats.
I had my Z-Pro 3 man out last week off Abersoch in some pretty big swells and it was stable, fast enough to be fun, and very very comfortable. They're built more like a RIB in terms of durability than one of those beach toys that most people have in mind when they picture one.I really cannot fault the z-pro design, other than it's a little heavy to lug around by yourself.
rhinochopig said:
Olf said:
Going to have to try one of these - have to admit to being a naysayer not through experience just from always being in hard boats.
I had my Z-Pro 3 man out last week off Abersoch in some pretty big swells and it was stable, fast enough to be fun, and very very comfortable. They're built more like a RIB in terms of durability than one of those beach toys that most people have in mind when they picture one.I really cannot fault the z-pro design, other than it's a little heavy to lug around by yourself.
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