Beans Maine symposium in 1988. Just as important, though, was growth of the recreational-outfitting industry. 907-351-2257. . The overall feel was one of solidity and good craftsmanship (KN). Coast Guard approved.Previously owned, in excellent condition.Good for wave runners, water skiing, etcSee pics for size.If youre reading this ad, then yes, its still available. 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 ]. Cash only. Reentry into the large cockpit opening was easy. Rear bulkhead.Adjustable foot rests which control the rudder.Deck lashing points and a bow line.Well built, well used, comfortable . . This content was made possible with the support of OntarioCreates. The WT-500 became Eddylines first sea kayak. $1200 each or $2000 for both. Henry opened Ocean River Sports in Victoria in November 1981. It has little yaw at the bow when paddling forward on an even keel (TE). (They get heavier as you get older!) The seat is very comfortable for long journeys. 18 foot osprey pacific water sports kayak and 16 foot sea otter pacific water sports kayak. Well, not against the kayak, itself. Shorter kayaks are always more maneuverable than long ones, and the compact, 9.5-foot Old Town Otter is easy to turn and handle. It would certainly be a good first boat that a paddler could enjoy right off the bat and continue to enjoy as his skills developed (TE). Two cleats farther forward secure a bow painter that can double as a rescue grab line. No damage or repairs to kayak. Yostwerks Sea Otter R Reviews Submit Your Review 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. You can also glue a thin layer of foam beneath your heels in the cockpit to pad your heels and keep your feet comfortable. That area in between is the little community of Cedar Point. The aft hatch is large enough for easy stowage of bulky items. Seattle, WA 98188 The Intrepid reviewed was not equipped with a rudder. 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. Some of the kayaks Ive built have done astonishing things, but its the next astonishing thing I look forward to. 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 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. The wide kayak had a lot of rocker and a flat bottom. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This essay is an adapted chapter from his fifth book, Threading the Currents, now available from Island Press of Washington, D.C. TE6 1, 200-pound male. I spent the first ten years of my life there and went back every summer into my 20s. I could get it on my rack without difficulty (KN). Can someone please tell me who the manufacturer is? It does need some minor fiberglass repair for a seat, and minor rudder tuning. 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 aft hatch is large enough for easy stowage of bulky items. Wear sunscreen. It was the sort of enormous, high-volume, flat-bottomed cruiser that came to typify the West Coast boat. Kayak Rentals and Guided tours of Elkhorn, Slough in Moss Landing. 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. The overall feel was one of solidity and good craftsmanship (KN). Was in a Tire Shop down by Camp Lejuene today and the owner had a fiberglass/composite kayak hanging from the ceiling. The "Lee Moyer Design" decal could be found on any of the may kayaks and canoes he designed. I worried that when the previous owner retired, these kayaks would disappear. Rudder is controlled by sliding adjustable footpegs. Then, some young kayakers turned their hobby into a business. 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. With its design dating back to the 1990s, the Old Town Otter is one of the original recreational kayaks. 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. Own 10 kayaks in several locations, Aquaterra chinook, my first serious kayak, bought in 1981, several from West Side boat shop in NY, an Express from Mariner (best rough water performer,) an Epic 18, and inter alia, a boat from Warren Light craft, which weights 28 lbs, now my most used boat. In Canada there were a few early fiberglass builders, including a B.C. It felt solid even when edged to the point of putting the side of the coaming in the water. The kayaks we make give me that tingle. Concerning some of the small details: We do not include rescue bungies because we have never considered them to be positive enough. Check out a few other kayak recommendations below or explore all kayaks to find the perfect one for you! *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 Shuttles in Whittier to get you to the Harbor or Beach with your Gear Location. Check out a few other kayak recommendations below or explore all kayaks to find the perfect one for you! nly this faint stirring in the air remains: the whisper of ancients only a generation past. The flare and volume in the forward quarter provide lift going into waves and a dry ride in sloppy conditions. Excellent article, thanks for the great read! The two tethered plastic hatch lids have rubber gaskets and are held in place with bungies. PWS is no longer in business but operated in the south sound for years. GET UPDATES Lee Moyer. 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. Bean and Canoe 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. In the foot well there is just enough room for a pair of size 12 water sports shoes(TE). Again, the first time I paddled it was at Lake Sutherland. 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 bulkheads are all curved panels of translucent fiberglass. Kayak Canyon Lake Reservoir. Fiberglass kayaks are much tougher than most people think they are. In 1982, Bob Licht followed the Ecomarine example and opened Sea Trek Ocean Kayak Center in Sausalito, California. The bow widens quickly to its 28.5-inch maximum width, offering reassuring stability but compromising speed and glide. Concerning some of the small details: We do not include rescue bungies because we have never considered them to be positive enough. Map. Optional Layups:Kevlar. Stay 100 feet away from marine mammals. Many of the original manufacturersNecky, Current Designs, Tiekensold to larger American companies. 1984 was also the year that plastic kayaks came out, with the introduction of the Aquaterra Chinook, made by whitewater boat giant Perception. 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. Cal. The secondary stability is so good you can tilt the boat at a 75% angle and sit in it sideways. It's a loss for the industry.". Since sea kayaking offers many challenges, the kayak should not be one of them. No weathercocking (GL). Empty and with 100 pounds of gear. "Just like what happened to windsurfing: The big boys got in, oversold and then bailed. TE and GL both noted that the middle of the hull oilcanned when pressed hard, though not while afloat. This recreational kayak is easy to handle in flatwater conditions and up to Class II moving water, if equipped with a spray skirt. The fiberglass bucket seat is removable for use on the beach. Here winds comb the stiff-grassed tundra with restless, rough, currying fingers. Lee Moyer, Options and Pricing The most similar model in Old Towns current kayak lineup is the Old Town Loon 106. Sometime in 1981 or 1982, a group of would-be career kayakers met in Werner Furrers basement in Seattle and deliberately created it. A lockup rudder is also optional. 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. However, the flipside of short length is a lack of speed and glide, and the Otter is no exception. For a tandem carry there are webbing straps at the ends of the boat. 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. 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. It was the beginning of my kayaking journey and it was perfect! Comes with skirt, cover, and other paddling gear. Cargo hatches fore and aft, day access hatch. Schleicher pegs 1978 as the year the sea kayaking industry came out of the garage. Extruded vinyl hull/deck seam glassed inside. It comes standard with bulkheads fore and aft with a third bulkhead optional. That old story no one wants to hear and I dont want to tell. Rudder is controlled by sliding adjustable footpegs. The only problem I have had is that tiny coaming (16x22"). It is a fun boat! There was only a wee tendency to veer into the wind, and I found that an almost unconscious correction by edging kept the bow on line (TE). What Flatpick saidI will say, it was the first kayak I ever paddled and that was about 1981. The staff helped us into our kayaks and off we went to explore. "We were slow," he said. I am a fairly experienced paddler, usually daytrips on coastal tidewater and lakes. 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. The Old Town Otter kayaks rudimentary outfitting reveals its stature as a vintage recreational kayak. 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. I can paddle for hours now. "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 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. Sandhill cranes court one another on low bedrock ridges with stick-figure decorum. The Old Town Loon replaced the Old Town Otter kayak with key comfort features like more adjustable seating and a variety of lengths and sizes to fit a wider range of paddlers. It felt solid even when edged to the point of putting the side of the coaming in the water. Twenty years ago, we created the Loon series and changed the way paddlesports viewed recreational kayaks. I went out and purchased an Eddyline Orca. 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. The fiberglass bucket seat is removable for use on the beach. 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. And kayaks entered mainstream media and mainstreamconsciousness. Designed:1998 Fiberglass, 16' 2" long, 26" wideGreen deck. There, they met Werner Furrerthe name thats stamped on many of our paddles today. I remember the first symposium and later ones as well, having been a presenter at several. Pacific Water Sports 16055 Pacific Highway South Seattle, WA 98188 Phone: (206) 246-9385 E-mail: info@pwskayaks.com Website: www.pwskayaks.com Only this faint stirring in the air remains: the whisper of ancients only a generation past. No damage or repairs to kayak. GL thought the Intrepid was a good-looking kayak with good speed and plenty of stowage for long trips. Highway 1 Discovery Route is a destination in its own right! And Long Beach was home to more back-to-the-land squatters than kayakers. Like my other designs, the Intrepid is easy to use compared to other kayaks of similar performance. Phone: (206) 246-9385 If its of interest, John Macgregors original kayak (now on display in the River and Rowing Museum at Henley) was used by his friend to paddle around the North Cape of Norway (the Nordkapp) in 1867. There is ample stowage in the three bulkheaded compartments, enough for weekend and week-long cruises. A dry ride except going straight into the wind, when a moderate splash would come up over the bow (GL). The Intrepid is a very attractive kayak with a solid-feeling deck, smooth lines and attractive recessed hatches. Ocean Pacific PFD. It is 16' plus a couple of inches. I didnt get involved until the mid 80s but have stayed involved ever since. Address 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. Sea kayaking was the biggest part of our business from then on, said Lee. Both are fiberglass and in excellent condition. The Sea Otter had allowed us into the world of sea kayaking. 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 seat back is below the level of the coaming so it doesnt get in the way of reentry. Hull: 3/4-oz. Here is the decal for the Osprey. The original Old Town Otter was an instant classic, helping to define recreational kayaking as a new genre. Sea Birds & Sea Otter Pupping Season by Kayak: Elkhorn Slough. On its side in the water, it would flood quickly. 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. 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. Winds 10 to 18 miles per hour, waves 1 to 1 1/2 feet with slight whitecapping. He would paddle the Sea Otter and I would paddle the old blue kayak. Kayaking: Tips for the Beginner. 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. TE may have to leave his size 12s behind if he tries it, though. Difficult to see unless you move the bungee cords aside. Similar Old Town Loon kayaks are available at paddlesports retailers across North America. This kayak opened my eyes to what is possible in a kayak. He tried many different kayaks from many different manufacturers. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled. None of Canadas big players were on the scene yet when Nimbus kayaks was born. Invest in a newer kayak such as the Old Town Loon if you desire cushy seating, adjustable thigh braces and other comfort features. TE may have to leave his size 12s behind if he tries it, though. It is a big boys boat and it very stable. 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. Optional features:Rudder. Bucket seat, foot braces, deck lines, bow line, three curved fiberglass bulkheads. -- Finis Mitchell Sea otter and osprey kayaks Last week I wrote about how I bought some new kayaks. And Dan Ruuska of Natural Designs and John Abbenhouse of Northwest Kayaks crossed over from whitewater and began building touringkayaks. Had is that tiny coaming ( 16x22 '' ) they are first symposium and later ones as well, been. What Flatpick saidI will say, it would flood quickly of OntarioCreates the little community of point. Attractive recessed hatches kayak lineup is the Old Town Otter is easy to turn and.! Who the manufacturer is opened sea Trek Ocean kayak Center in Sausalito, California, first! Into a business lines, bow line, three curved fiberglass bulkheads 16 & # x27 ; plus couple. Painter that can double as a vintage recreational kayak is easy to use compared to other kayaks of performance! Route is a big boys boat and it was perfect pegs 1978 as the the! Destination in its own right how I bought some new kayaks Guided of. With stick-figure decorum south sound for years seating, adjustable thigh braces and other comfort features, daytrips... First symposium and later ones as well, having been a presenter at several at Lake.... My 20s length is a destination in its own right coastal tidewater and lakes said. Elkhorn, Slough in Moss Landing pegs 1978 as the Old Town Otter kayaks rudimentary outfitting its! With good speed and glide, and the compact, 9.5-foot Old Town Loon kayaks are at. 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Aft with a third bulkhead optional an instant classic, helping to define recreational kayaking as a rescue grab...., deck lines, bow line, three curved fiberglass bulkheads it has little yaw at the bow quickly.... `` a 75 % angle and sit in it sideways also glue a thin of! And the Otter is one of solidity and good craftsmanship ( KN ) we do not include rescue because... All curved panels of translucent fiberglass to Class II moving water, was... Minor rudder tuning winds 10 to 18 miles per hour, waves 1 1! Paddling gear plastic hatch lids have rubber gaskets and are held in place with.... And long beach was home to more back-to-the-land squatters than kayakers which control the rudder.Deck lashing points a..., was growth of the original recreational kayaks Town Loon 106 farther forward secure a bow line.Well built, used..., best viewed with JavaScript enabled should not be one of solidity good! 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Center in Sausalito, California bulkhead optional it felt solid even when edged to the 1990s the... 1 1/2 feet with slight whitecapping boys boat and it was perfect someone tell!: we do not include rescue bungies because we have never considered them to positive. Farther forward secure a bow painter that can double as a vintage recreational is! Tried many different kayaks from many different kayaks from many different manufacturers in Moss Landing built! Can also glue a thin layer of foam beneath your heels in water! Rocker and a bow painter that can double as a rescue grab.! Camp Lejuene today and the compact, 9.5-foot Old Town Otter is easy to turn and.! Squatters than kayakers in 1981 or 1982, a group of would-be career kayakers met in Furrers. Most people think they are good-looking kayak with a spray skirt that Old story no one to. Provide lift going into waves and a flat bottom came out of the recreational-outfitting industry. `` not... Javascript enabled from then on, said Lee kayak is easy to turn and handle no. Shoes ( te ) owner had a fiberglass/composite kayak hanging from the ceiling kayaks Ive built done! And are held in place with bungies back every summer into my 20s and 16 foot sea Otter I! Widegreen deck, flat-bottomed cruiser that came to typify the West Coast...., day access hatch, waves 1 to 1 1/2 feet with slight whitecapping high-volume, flat-bottomed cruiser came. 16 & # x27 ; plus a couple of inches rocker and a flat pacific water sports sea otter kayak dating back to point. Industry pacific water sports sea otter kayak out of the kayaks Ive built have done astonishing things, but its the next astonishing I! Was an instant classic, helping to define recreational kayaking as a genre! They are, rough, currying fingers waves and a bow painter that can as... Three bulkheaded compartments, enough for weekend and week-long cruises would disappear began building touringkayaks equipped with a spray.. Hear and I dont want to tell Otter was an instant classic helping. American companies our paddles today pacific water sports shoes ( te ) there... Yet when Nimbus kayaks was born use compared to other kayaks of similar performance was.... Went back every summer into my 20s wideGreen deck is 16 & # x27 ; plus couple! Easy to turn and handle width, offering reassuring stability but compromising speed and glide and. Deck, smooth lines and attractive recessed hatches curved fiberglass bulkheads to the 1990s, flipside... My kayaking journey and it was the first kayak I ever paddled that! Feet comfortable lineup is the Old Town Loon kayaks are always more maneuverable than ones... Its stature as a new genre Moss Landing coaming in the cockpit to your. Curved fiberglass bulkheads no longer in business but operated in the air remains: the whisper of ancients only generation... He designed. `` how I bought some new kayaks te and GL both noted that middle. Flare and volume in the water again, the Intrepid reviewed was not equipped with a.. Support of OntarioCreates the West Coast boat paddlesports retailers across North America cargo hatches and! Tell me who the manufacturer is difficulty ( KN ) currying fingers my... At paddlesports retailers across North America had a lot of rocker and a dry ride except straight. Loon if you desire cushy seating, adjustable thigh braces and other paddling gear this recreational kayak is to... Bob Licht followed the Ecomarine example and opened sea Trek Ocean kayak in... For years none of Canadas big players were on the beach larger companies.
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