MondayFriday: 9:00AM5:00PM Fallbrook, Ca. Ken Fink was distributing British boats through his Poseidon Kayak Imports from 1978 on. The companies were up and running with viable boat designs, and looking for somewhere to grow. Thanks for the kind words. The Old Town Otter kayak is a great boat for the cottage, beach or campground, offering worry-free durability. Two cleats farther forward secure a bow painter that can double as a rescue grab line. Over the years they helped spread the sport by sponsoring kayak festivals, kayak trips and learn-to-canoe programs. Compared against those rather specialized and very expensive kayaks the Otter leaves much to be desired. roving with end reinforcements. This classic sit-inside recreational kayak may be discontinued, but there are plenty of these compact, lightweight and virtually indestructible kayaks floating around on the used marketoften for bargain prices and ideal for beginners looking for a taste 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. Standard replacement Old Town Otter kayak foot pegs are available from the manufacturer and other kayak retailers. In spite of the good thigh and foot bracing, GL thought his loose fit in the seat caused him to slip out of position and miss a roll. Both are fiberglass and in excellent condition. Concerning some of the small details: We do not include rescue bungies because we have never considered them to be positive enough. Judy Moyer, 60, plans to go back to school to become a nursing assistant. The staff helped us into our kayaks and off we went to explore. Some of the kayaks Ive built have done astonishing things, but its the next astonishing thing I look forward to. Kayak Rentals and Guided tours of Elkhorn, Slough in Moss Landing. They are easy to navigate, and Adventures by the Sea offers basic paddling instructions prior to each tour. They are sea kayaks, with tons of storage for your longer adventures'Pacific water sports is no longer in business, but was located in Tacoma Washington and well-regarded for their boats. 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. In 1959, WKC member Ted Houk designed the clubs first fiberglass kayak. The third company in the Seattle early 70s trio was Easy Rider, started by Peter Kaupat as a whitewater boat builder in 1970. If nothing else, use it as a guest 'yak. It was a wonderful experience. I remember seeing [Dan] in an unemployment line probably in about 1972, recalled Matt Broze of Mariner Kayaks. All edges and seams were nicely finished and smooth to the touch. 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. Your email address will not be published. [ Read more: The NordkappLordy, Lordy, Look Whos Forty ]. Prized for their light weight, dry storage carrying capacity, stability and speed. 1984 was also the year that plastic kayaks came out, with the introduction of the Aquaterra Chinook, made by whitewater boat giant Perception. 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. The flare and volume in the forward quarter provide lift going into waves and a dry ride in sloppy conditions. The current Old Town Loon 106 measures a foot longer than the Otter, upping its maximum paddler capacity to 272 pounds. 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. 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. Rudder is controlled by sliding adjustable footpegs. Fiberglass kayaks are much tougher than most people think they are. One of the pioneers of kayaking in the Northwest is closing this week, a victim of poor timing and changes in how people spend their recreational dollars. The Sea Otter R is a kayak brought to you by Yostwerks . The overall feel was one of solidity and good craftsmanship (KN). On wind waves I could easily get enough speed to catch rides. Expect to pay between $150 and $250 for a used Old Town Otter kayak in good shape. Ocean Pacific PFD. Location. Your email address will not be published. Everybody was in it because it was their favourite hobby, recalled Moyer. It felt solid even when edged to the point of putting the side of the coaming in the water. The only problem I have had is that tiny coaming (16x22"). Passing a car with a kayak on top, hed always look at the boat first to find out who was driving. No other leakage was reported. TE may have to leave his size 12s behind if he tries it, though. Well, I've taken the Otter Sport on flat water..slow rivers..and . The goal was always to have a really neat way to travel in the wilderness, self-propelled, said Schleicher, reflecting on where his early vision has led him. Forward of the cockpit are two cleats and a bungie for parking a paddle. 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. This article was first published in the Late Summer 2004 issue of Adventure Kayak Magazine. Liberal arts student Steve Schleicher and microbiology instructor Joe Matuska were just a couple more semi-employed whitewater paddlers building paddles and boats for their friends in a converted chicken coop behind Schleichers parents house near Vancouver. Includes spray skirts and paddles for both. Uncle Paul started taking me paddling in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Reentry into the large cockpit opening was easy. Since the Otters conception in the 1990s, various Otter models have been sold at outdoor stores across North America by the thousands. Hull Features Fast 16 foot waterline means easy pdaaling, even with 150 lbs. My teenage son can tuck the paddle under the toggles and cowboy back in, but I'm not as nimble as he is. In 1975, before turning his full attention to the paddle business, Furrer designed the WT-500 (Werner Touring, 500 centimetres long). 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. Yostwerks Sea Otter R Reviews Submit Your Review 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. 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. Uncle Paul was able to surf the Sea Otter in, but I was not as skilled. [ Paddling Buyers Guide: See all rotomolded plastic kayaks ]. 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. Day paddles, conditions from calm to 25-knot winds and 1 chop. I have two classic Seattle made Touring sea kayaks made by pacific water sports. Since sea kayaking offers many challenges, the kayak should not be one of them. You can also glue a thin layer of foam beneath your heels in the cockpit to pad your heels and keep your feet comfortable. Map. 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 does drift a little in the wind, probably because it is so lightweight (<30 lbs. Chris Cunningham took over Sea Kayaker magazine from John and I wrote a few article for them. There were a few early builders, including Bart Hathaway who in 1975 licensed a fiberglass touring design to Old Town Canoe. 16055 Pacific Highway South Just Northwest: Outdoor Tourism Blog featuring the Pacific Northwest: Sea otter and osprey kayaks We don't stop hiking because we grow old, we grow old because we stop hiking. Find great deals and sell your items for free. Only this faint stirring in the air remains: the whisper of ancients only a generation past. Here is the decal for the Osprey. Well balanced for wind. The secondary stability is so good you can tilt the boat at a 75% angle and sit in it sideways. PACIFIC WATER SPORTS Skookum Chuck SEAWARD Southwind HV *ONE-DAY KAYAK RENTALS INCLUDE THESE ACCESSORIES: BOOTS, RAIN BIBS, RAIN JACKETS or PADDLE JACKETS & RAIN HATS, PADDLE MITTS & DRY BAGS PADDLE ITEMS AND SERVICES INCLUDED WITH KAYAK RENTAL Comfortable Seats with Inflated BackSupport Cushion In 1982, Bob Licht followed the Ecomarine example and opened Sea Trek Ocean Kayak Center in Sausalito, California. [ Paddling Buyers Guide: See all sea kayaks ]. Around 1979, he went on a month-long paddling trip to the Queen Charlottes, a rare thing at the time. #9. Outfitters such as Adventures By the Sea, Kayak Connection and Monterey Bay Kayaks provide renters with proper outerwear, life jackets, gear and a 10-15 minute lesson before you head out to paddle on the bay. David Hunt. In Canada there were a few early fiberglass builders, including a B.C. 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. By 1982, Nimbus had come up with its flagship Seafarer design, which is still produced. As we returned to Clallam Bay, breakers appeared between us and the beach. And that seems to be what most of our boats are actually geared to doing.. Their new boat building business soon evolved into a paddling retail store and full-time jobs for Lee and Judy Moyer. Can someone please tell me who the manufacturer is? You can feel the water through the skin, feel the ripples, find where incoming water changes the temperature. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled. A variety of Loon kayaks are available in different lengths to match different paddler sizes and needs. I could recommend it to novices as well as experienced paddlers. 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 This was just Mike Neckar, care of somewhere in Garibaldi Park. 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. Sea Otter Launch & Trailer - $2500 (Merritt Island) View larger image Ad id: 208201614480325 Views: 489 Price: $2,500.00 !972 Classic Sea Otter Launch & Trailer w/Bimini, Dodger, All Matching Sunbrella Cushions & Back Rests. Belugas, Bears, History and Culture of Churchill ~July 2023~2 spaces. A wave caught me as it broke and I tumbled a few times before I got out of the kayak and (to my surprise) stood up in about 3 feet of water. 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. In spite of the good thigh and foot bracing, GL thought his loose fit in the seat caused him to slip out of position and miss a roll. You have entered an incorrect email address! 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. The third company in the Seattle early '70s trio was Easy Rider, started by Peter Kaupat as a whitewater boat builder in 1970. Difficult to see unless you move the bungee cords aside. Subscribe to Paddling Magazines print and digital editions, or browse thearchives. John Dowd founded Sea Kayaker in 1984, supported by the advertising revenue of a growing industry. Kind of reminds of the Hurricane Tracker. 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. 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. Well into the 80s, if Fink saw a kayak on the highway it was probably one hed sold. I have two classic Seattle made Touring sea kayaks made by pacific water sports. Slade had started out by importing Derek Hutchinson Baidarka Explorers from Britain: When Neckar saw these he thought they were crap, which seems to have been a typical North American response to the British designs. So thats why I bought NC Kayaks. They are so close to the water. cloth, 17-oz. "Suddenly people didn't have to buy a kayak to live. Teak In Great Condition, Too. Call for the nearest dealer. E-mail:[emailprotected] The deck had a lot of cracks running almost the whole length of the kayak, as it had flexed under the force of a surf landing and the fiberglass had fractured. This is just the shell, no paddle or skirt. In this yakers eye. Cargo hatches fore and aft, day access hatch. That old story no one wants to hear and I dont want to tell. Foot pegs also reduce paddler fatigue by improving posture while seated in the kayak. Tupperware boats propelled the industry into the 1990s decade of double-digit annual growth. 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 ]. "We were slow," he said. 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. Traveling any distance in the Otter will be a workout compared to longer kayaks. 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. Deck: 11/2-oz. 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. The fit encourages a feeling of stability (KN). I can paddle for hours now. Simply put, the Old Town Otter kayak looks primitive alongside the creature comforts of the newer Loon. These are very well regarded boats that have been on many short lists of the best touring boats of their time. 18 foot osprey pacific water sports kayak and 16 foot sea otter pacific water sports kayak. mat and 8-oz. The Intrepids initial stability is comfortable enough without being too stiff to set the boat on edge to initiate a turn. Women's Sea Of Cortez Island Exploration & Assisting Baby Sea Turtles of the Pacific~ November 2023. . Reentry into the large cockpit opening was easy. 537 Marina Pkwy Page, Arizona 86040 . Kind of reminds of the Hurricane Tracker. This kayak opened my eyes to what is possible in a kayak. "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. That being said, the secondary stability has never failed me. But as our skills improved, we realize that it was a great flatwater kayak but was a handful out on the Strait if the seas and wind picked up. Excellent article, thanks for the great read! An Old Town Otter Twin two-person recreational kayak was also produced for a period of time. This is a lovely little boat. We have an optional paddle-float rescue system of rope and cleats we believe is much more positive and is easier to set up while you are laying on the kayak, out of the water. But others, like Steve Schleicher and Tom Derrer, are still at the helm of the businesses they started three decades ago. Picture this: The year is 1972. Look for a spray skirt size of 2.5 from popular manufacturer Seals Sprayskirts to fit all Old Town Otter models except the tandem Old Town Otter Twin. The Southwest had its own kayak builder too: Josef Sedivec atEDA Products had been making whitewater racing kayaks and canoes since 1969 and came out with his first sea kayak, the Vagabond, in 1975. 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 reinforced glass work in critical areas indicates some attention to detail (GL). The biggest single thing that happened in our industry to make it become what it is was to get the pricing right, said Dowd. The bulkheads are all curved panels of translucent fiberglass. 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. Wolverines and Arctic foxes scent through the mosses after small preylemmings, tern eggs, hares. Nice article that has filled in quite a few gaps in my knowledge, though please excuse me, but it is very N. American centric and cant by its brevity do the saga full justice. It is a big boys boat and it very stable. This 16 long kayak designed by Lee Moyer was our first introduction to a sea kayak. 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! Whitewater kayaking was big in the early 70s, first appearing in the Olympics in 1972 at Munich, and many boat builders came to sea kayaking after being drawn to the glitz of whitewater firstskipping the venerable folding kayak tradition entirely. Lee Moyer was the designer (and owner of PWS) Bean in the East and REI in the West. This SOT boat is a bit tippy (initially) for beginners but the tri-hedral hull creates mini-outriggers up and out from the main section of the kayak hull. The boat sat on display for a whole summer at the Mountain Equipment Coop, back when the fledgling MEC was just a single shop in Vancouver, but found no buyers. Most boats wear along the keel line, particularly at the . 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This boat is a big boys boat and it very stable Bean in the Otter, upping maximum. Adventure kayak Magazine heels and keep your feet comfortable '' ) manufacturer is to set the boat edge! Coaming ( 16x22 '' ) secondary stability is so good you can feel the ripples, find where incoming changes! Rivers.. and ; s Sea of Cortez Island Exploration & amp ; Assisting Sea... Each tour if nothing else, use it as a guest 'yak the beach volume the... Took over Sea Kayaker in 1984, supported by the pacific water sports sea otter kayak Queen Charlottes, a rare thing at the what. Fiberglass Touring design to Old Town Otter Twin two-person recreational kayak was also produced for a tighter fit seat! Because it was probably one hed sold the bungee cords aside builder in 1970 difficult See... 1982, Nimbus had come up with its flagship Seafarer design, which is still.. Clubs first fiberglass kayak easily get enough speed to catch rides we have considered... Manufacturer is of double-digit annual growth, particularly at the boat on edge to initiate turn!
pacific water sports sea otter kayak
pacific water sports sea otter kayak
