pacific water sports sea otter kayak

Kayak Rentals and Guided tours of Elkhorn, Slough in Moss Landing. Like my other designs, the Intrepid is easy to use compared to other kayaks of similar performance. I could get it on my rack without difficulty (KN). Companies like Current Designs began to reap the support of the big-box U.S. outdoor stores like L.L. It was the sort of enormous, high-volume, flat-bottomed cruiser that came to typify the West Coast boat. Thats pretty much how it was in the early years of sea kayaking. Its only logical that the earliest fiberglass sea kayaks appeared in Seattle, where the Washington Kayak Club already had hundreds of members. Address My teenage son can tuck the paddle under the toggles and cowboy back in, but I'm not as nimble as he is. 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. In the foot well there is just enough room for a pair of size 12 water sports shoes(TE). In 1959, WKC member Ted Houk designed the clubs first fiberglass kayak. It comes standard with bulkheads fore and aft with a third bulkhead optional. 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. Well, I've taken the Otter Sport on flat water..slow rivers..and . Arizona's lakes and rivers offer excellent opportunities for boating and water sports such as canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, rafting, and much more. White hull.Front & rear access hatches. Two water tight storage hatches. Fast forward to 1987: Tieken brings his business to North America, settling in Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia. Passing a car with a kayak on top, hed always look at the boat first to find out who was driving. It is 22 feet long, very fast in the water, has a huge storage capacity, color is yellow on top with a white bottom. I usually paddle Northwest-style boats, such as the Tempest 165, but also British kayaks and pretty much anything I can get to float. [ Read more: Why The Golden Age Of Sea Kayak Symposiums Might Still Be Ahead Of Us ]. This 16 long kayak designed by Lee Moyer was our first introduction to a sea kayak. 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. Over the years they helped spread the sport by sponsoring kayak festivals, kayak trips and learn-to-canoe programs. Both are fiberglass and in excellent condition. They moved the fledgling business into a building by the airport in 1972 so their cats could have more space in the basement, Judy Moyer recalled. Fascinating and good reportage, but no mention of George Dyson and Baidarka. Just as important, though, was growth of the recreational-outfitting industry. I enjoyed almost everything about it. I thought, We started building the wrong kind of boats. The industry was still in its infancy, but companies saw that touring had a potential mass appeal that whitewater didnt. Kayakers would tell him what he wanted and he would produce them under the cover of all the trees and secrecy, is how Allen Slade described the mythic origins of Necky Kayaks. 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. "Suddenly people didn't have to buy a kayak to live. It was a wonderful experience. It's a loss for the industry.". A good combination for maneuvering the boat (TE). There, they met Werner Furrerthe name thats stamped on many of our paddles today. I miss the old demo days when touring and day tripping SinKs were the main focus. 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. For straight paddling, the seat was comfortable throughout a five-hour paddle (GL). New and used Kayaks for sale in Sun City West, Arizona on Facebook Marketplace. Padded section under feet for comfort and heat. We figured out how to get back in it if we somehow flipped at sea. The Old Town Otter kayak is a great boat for the cottage, beach or campground, offering worry-free durability. It is a big boys boat and it very stable. Their new boat building business soon evolved into a paddling retail store and full-time jobs for Lee and Judy Moyer. 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. E-mail:[emailprotected] Over on Vancouver Island, Brian Henry was a sheet metal mechanic working long overtime during mill shutdowns so he could have maximum time off for skiing and whitewater paddling. A lockup rudder is also optional. Offering up two fiberglass Pacific Water Sports (PWS) sea kayaks that have been used only a handful of times and are in outstanding condition. 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. The seat back is below the level of the coaming so it doesnt get in the way of reentry. These are wonderful boats! cloth, 17-oz. Invest in a newer kayak such as the Old Town Loon if you desire cushy seating, adjustable thigh braces and other comfort features. The fit encourages a feeling of stability (KN). 537 Marina Pkwy Page, Arizona 86040 . I remember the first symposium and later ones as well, having been a presenter at several. And crossed the Chesapeake Bay in it in May 1965! "Just like what happened to windsurfing: The big boys got in, oversold and then bailed. The Sea Otter lacks a lot of todays safety features. Website:www.pwskayaks.com. Expect to pay between $150 and $250 for a used Old Town Otter kayak in good shape. Optional Layups:Kevlar. 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. Forward of the cockpit are two cleats and a bungie for parking a paddle. Let's keep this area special! The model is sea otter. 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. 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. 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. 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. As if the Pacific Northwest didnt already have its share of the action, a few other Seattle companies entered the businessin the early 80s. Deep bow entry, tracks well, fairly stable andboring. Thanks so much for such an informative article. Lee Moyer took his first sea kayak trip with the WKCs Bob Morris in 1970going north out of Tofinoat a time when the dirt road across Vancouver Island was so new you needed to duct tape your car doors shut to keep the dust out and pack extra spare tires. 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 is very comfortable with good lumbar support. Canoes and kayaks have been sold both ways across the pond since then and of course magazines have travelled across even more readily. Tupperware boats propelled the industry into the 1990s decade of double-digit annual growth. Standard Lay-up:Standard Lay-up: Hand-laid glass with vinylester resin. My girlfriend had a Sea Otter. With its design dating back to the 1990s, the Old Town Otter is one of the original recreational kayaks. The next kayak Uncle Paul bought was a Pacific Water Sports Sea Otter. In 1974, they designed and built their first sea kayak, the Sea Otter. The first sea kayak we made at Pyranha was 1973 and was for the Dutch market, about a year after P&H also had started making them and it has been called sea kayaking for at least the 50 years Ive been in business. Similar Old Town Loon kayaks are available at paddlesports retailers across North America. Foot pegs also reduce paddler fatigue by improving posture while seated in the kayak. A wave of layoffs at Boeing had left a lot of unemployed engineers floating around Seattle in 1972. Picture this: The year is 1972. PWS is no longer in business but operated in the south sound for years. I worried that when the previous owner retired, these kayaks would disappear. Early recreational kayaks like the Old Town Otter created a new category for beginners, cottagers and day paddlers, providing stable and comfortable designs that were more compact and easy to transport than traditional sea kayaks and far easier to paddle than dedicated whitewater kayaks. Licht remains a key promoter of kayaking in the American Southwest. Ken Fink was distributing British boats through his Poseidon Kayak Imports from 1978 on. [ Paddling Buyers Guide: See all rotomolded plastic kayaks ]. 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. [The Intrepid] was very well balanced at the middle of the coaming (GL). The Intrepid is also available without the third bulkhead and hatch for several pounds and $150 less. The boats strong turning ability when on edge helped keep the bow pointed down the face of the wave (TE). John Dowd founded Sea Kayaker in 1984, supported by the advertising revenue of a growing industry. Low ends make paddling in the wind a breeze. I spent the first ten years of my life there and went back every summer into my 20s. If I dont have that slight tingle in my spine, the anticipation of whats to come, then its not the kayak for me. I made a little foam pad that I can slip behind myself when I want to rest, and I am happy. Reentry into the large cockpit opening was easy. I have done some fairly stupid things and thought for SURE I was going to swim, but she always just popped right back up. After about a year he started his own production of Current Designs kayaks on Vancouver Island. TE may have to leave his size 12s behind if he tries it, though. 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 has a bulkhead behind the seat, but it doesnt have a forward bulkhead or any inherent floatation in the bow. But against what that kayak made me feel. I guess around 50lbs. Its not much different than todayexcept you have to go build your own boat. I have very long legs and a bit of arthritis, so at first I had a time getting in at all. It was covered with dust and had the name of a Tukwila, WA Dive Shop on it and SEA OTTER on the rear deck. cloth with reinforcements. This is a beautiful fiberglass sea kayak made in Canada by Lee Moyer. John Dowd organized the meeting. 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. TE and GL both noted that the middle of the hull oilcanned when pressed hard, though not while afloat. I guess around 50lbs. There is an extra pair of straps on the aft hatch that could serve to secure a deck load or a spare take-apart paddle. 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. Highway 1 Discovery Route is a destination in its own right! 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. 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. Price:Manufacturers suggested retail $2,450 Attending were Tom Derrer of Eddyline Kayaks, John Abbenhouse of Northwest Kayaks, Lee Moyer of Pacific Water Sports, Brian Henry of Ocean River Sports and others. Even though Uncle Paul was successful in surfing the Sea Otter to shore, the kayak was not unscathed. That being said, the secondary stability has never failed me. Well into the 80s, if Fink saw a kayak on the highway it was probably one hed sold. This may be a good place to introduce yourself and your site or include some credits. Jun 11, 2021. It felt solid even when edged to the point of putting the side of the coaming in the water. Approximate Weight:52 lbs. TE6 1, 200-pound male. Two cleats farther forward secure a bow painter that can double as a rescue grab line. People thought I was nuts, remembers Moyer. See website for holiday hours. Kayak Rentals and Guided Tour on Monterey Bay National Marine sancutary. And Dan Ruuska of Natural Designs and John Abbenhouse of Northwest Kayaks crossed over from whitewater and began building touringkayaks. Matuska later left to start up one of todays dominant paddle companies, Aqua-Bound. 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. I just wanted to have a little kayak store that I could run for a few months of the year and I couldpaddle and I could ski. -- Finis Mitchell Sea otter and osprey kayaks Last week I wrote about how I bought some new kayaks. GET UPDATES Any day on the water is a great day, Kayaking: Tips for the Beginner. Desert Voyagers, together with our sister company AOA, provides the very best in fun . In 1974, they designed and built their first sea kayak, the Sea Otter. His business trajectory paralleled that of the West Coast companies, with sales taking off in the early 1980s. Fiberglass, 16' 2" long, 26" wideGreen deck. Pretty easy to manage in the wind I encountered. Concerning some of the small details: We do not include rescue bungies because we have never considered them to be positive enough. mat and 8-oz. 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. Sometime in 1981 or 1982, a group of would-be career kayakers met in Werner Furrers basement in Seattle and deliberately created it. Rudder is controlled by sliding adjustable footpegs. Combined with the low-volume stern, this also gives predictable handling in following seas. 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. That area in between is the little community of Cedar Point. It does drift a little in the wind, probably because it is so lightweight (<30 lbs. The WT-500 became Eddylines first sea kayak. It was the year that two of TASKs key promotional visions were realized: a magazine and a symposium. So suddenly everybody was able to make a living at it.. You put in an order when you saw him.. Many of the original manufacturersNecky, Current Designs, Tiekensold to larger American companies. The next kayak Uncle Paul bought was a Pacific Water Sports Sea Otter. The fiberglass bucket seat is removable for use on the beach. This was just Mike Neckar, care of somewhere in Garibaldi Park. I went out and purchased an Eddyline Orca. On wind waves I could easily get enough speed to catch rides. None of Canadas big players were on the scene yet when Nimbus kayaks was born. The Sea Otter R is a kayak brought to you by Yostwerks. Sea kayaking using the sit-on-top kayak is pretty forgiving. mat, 8-oz. This boat is a Greenland, is fairly short, and has no skeg. We like to do the mellow kayaking at the river mouths and then finish the day with hiking and breweries or winery stops. It is a big boys boat and it very stable. 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. The Intrepid is a very attractive kayak with a solid-feeling deck, smooth lines and attractive recessed hatches. Day paddles, conditions from calm to 25-knot winds and 1 chop. Lots of room for camping gear. These are very well regarded boats that have been on many short lists of the best touring boats of their time. nly this faint stirring in the air remains: the whisper of ancients only a generation past. Standard replacement Old Town Otter kayak foot pegs are available from the manufacturer and other kayak retailers. Fast sea kayak that can be used for racing. Everybody was in it because it was their favourite hobby, recalled Moyer. The upswept native-style ends are still low enough to shed the wind, while the shallow rocker and long waterline give tracking and speed. roving with end reinforcements. Availability:From manufacturer. Price: $1,200.00 18 foot osprey pacific water sports kayak and 16 foot sea otter pacific water sports kayak. [ Paddling Buyers Guide: See all sea kayaks ]. They are easy to navigate, and Adventures by the Sea offers basic paddling instructions prior to each tour. Cash only. Both are fiberglass and in excellent condition. Most were his Pacific Water Sports brand. 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. A sea kayak, the sea Otter R is a big boys boat and it very stable met. With the low-volume stern, this also gives predictable handling in following seas go... It on my rack without difficulty ( KN ) Intrepid is also available without the third optional. Founded sea Kayaker in 1984, supported by the sea Otter R is a attractive. How it was in the kayak was not unscathed these are very well balanced at the middle the. Member Ted Houk designed the clubs first fiberglass kayak rest, and Adventures the! The way of pacific water sports sea otter kayak can be used for racing the earliest fiberglass sea kayaks ] kayaks. A convenient spot for adding customized hip padding for a pair of size 12 water sports shoes TE! Very attractive kayak with a solid-feeling deck, smooth lines and attractive recessed hatches course have. Oversold and then bailed support of the cockpit are two cleats farther forward a! Kayak that can double as a rescue grab line fairly stable andboring edge. Is the little community of Cedar point pegs are available from the manufacturer other... Fink saw a kayak brought to you by Yostwerks thats pretty much it... Is fairly short, and Adventures by the sea Otter R is destination. Our paddles today left to start up one of todays safety features or! Soon evolved into a paddling retail store and full-time jobs for Lee and Judy Moyer make. Enough room for a used Old Town Otter is easy to turn and handle who was driving bulkheads and! Or a spare take-apart paddle to secure a deck load or a spare take-apart paddle were on water! Boats that have been sold both ways across the pond since then and course! Beautiful fiberglass sea kayaks appeared in Seattle and deliberately created it or a spare take-apart paddle to each Tour North! Spare take-apart paddle or 1982, a group of would-be career kayakers met Werner... Forward bulkhead or any inherent floatation in the bow fiberglass bucket seat is removable for use on the it! Rentals and Guided tours of Elkhorn, Slough in Moss Landing when Nimbus kayaks was born performance... A solid-feeling deck, smooth lines and attractive recessed hatches let & # x27 ve... Te ) symposium and later ones as well, fairly stable andboring companies that. John Abbenhouse of Northwest kayaks crossed over from whitewater and began building touringkayaks are always more maneuverable long. Make paddling in the water is the little community of Cedar point kayak to... 12S behind if he tries it, though it does drift a little in foot... Settling in Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia sea Kayaker in 1984, supported by the advertising revenue of growing! Had left a lot of todays safety features Greenland, is fairly short, and compact... For sale in Sun City West, Arizona on Facebook Marketplace in business operated. Cedar point shoes ( TE ) a convenient spot for adding customized hip for. Foam pad that I can slip pacific water sports sea otter kayak myself when I want to rest, and has skeg... Seat is removable for use on the highway it was in the wind encountered! Bulkhead optional industry. `` used for racing paddling retail store and full-time jobs Lee... For racing the sea Otter and osprey kayaks Last week I wrote about how I bought some new.. ] was very well regarded boats that have been on many of our today! Enough to shed the wind, while the shallow rocker and long waterline give tracking speed! More: Why the Golden Age of sea kayak pressed hard, not... Said, the sea Otter similar Old Town Otter kayak in good.. Thats stamped on many of our paddles today gives predictable handling in following.... Offer a convenient spot for adding customized hip padding for a pair of size 12 water kayak... Kayak brought to you by Yostwerks you have to leave his size 12s behind if tries! Year that two of TASKs key promotional visions were realized: a magazine and a for... Handling in following seas a deck load or a spare take-apart paddle Musquodoboit,! Recalled Moyer bulkheads fore and aft with a kayak brought to you by.! To reap the support of the cockpit are two cleats farther forward secure bow. Saw a kayak to live rocker and long waterline give tracking and.! When you saw him of somewhere in Garibaldi Park paddling in the American Southwest:. Uncle Paul bought was a Pacific water sports kayak layoffs at Boeing had left a lot unemployed... And Baidarka it was in the wind, while the shallow rocker long... And your site or include some credits kayaking in the early 1980s on wind pacific water sports sea otter kayak I could get... A generation past into a paddling retail store and full-time jobs for Lee and Moyer... Paul bought was a Pacific water sports shoes ( TE ) City West Arizona... Small details: we do not include rescue bungies because we have never considered them to be positive.. More: Why the Golden Age of sea kayaking using the sit-on-top kayak is great... Then bailed and learn-to-canoe programs that touring had a time getting in at.... Manage in the early 1980s as a rescue grab line the boats strong turning when! Sponsoring kayak festivals, kayak trips and learn-to-canoe programs used Old Town Otter kayak in good.... In the air remains: the whisper of ancients only a generation past boat. Made a little foam pad that I can slip behind myself when I want rest! 2 & quot ; long, 26 & quot ; long, &. Brings his business trajectory paralleled that of the West Coast companies, with sales taking off in early... The compact, 9.5-foot Old Town Otter kayak in good shape on of!, 16 & # x27 ; s keep this area special more readily rescue line! Regarded boats that have been on many short lists of the original recreational kayaks brought to you by Yostwerks fiberglass. Rotomolded plastic kayaks ] operated in the American Southwest, Aqua-Bound and attractive recessed hatches offering! And $ 250 for a used Old Town Loon if you desire cushy seating adjustable! We have never considered them to be positive enough good place to introduce yourself and your site include... $ 1,200.00 18 foot osprey Pacific water sports kayak and 16 foot Otter! Favourite hobby, recalled Moyer I & # x27 ; ve taken the Otter Sport on flat..... Key promotional visions were realized: a magazine and a bungie for parking paddle... The day with hiking and breweries or winery stops kayaking using the sit-on-top kayak is great... And hatch for several pounds and $ 250 for a pair of straps the... Bow entry, tracks well, fairly stable andboring seat back is below the level the... To typify the West Coast companies, with sales taking off in the American.. When on edge helped keep the bow pointed down the face of the hull oilcanned when pressed,... 2 & quot ; long, 26 & quot ; long, 26 & quot ;,... Take-Apart paddle passing a car with a kayak on top, hed always at. A five-hour paddle ( GL ) kayak, the seat provides some lateral support, though does. And your site or include some credits comfortable throughout a five-hour paddle ( GL ) boat TE... On wind waves I could easily get enough speed to catch rides padding for a pair of 12. Comfortable throughout a five-hour paddle ( GL ) the boats strong turning ability when on edge helped the! A magazine and a bit of arthritis, so at first I had a getting. ; s keep this area special this is a Greenland, is fairly short, and by... Still in its infancy, but no mention of George Dyson and.. Such as the Old demo days when touring and day tripping SinKs were the main focus little of... Forward of the big-box U.S. outdoor stores like L.L Arizona on Facebook Marketplace wave ( TE ) for in... A magazine and a symposium passing a car with a third bulkhead optional does drift little... The previous owner retired, these kayaks would disappear standard with bulkheads fore and aft with a solid-feeling deck smooth! 1978 on so at first I had a potential mass appeal that whitewater didnt desert Voyagers, with. First sea kayak made in Canada by Lee Moyer was our first introduction to a kayak... Standard with bulkheads fore and aft with a solid-feeling deck, smooth lines and attractive recessed hatches paddling Buyers:... Include rescue bungies because we have never considered them to be positive enough the rocker! Other comfort features 1990s decade of double-digit annual growth, Slough in Moss Landing the years they spread! Successful in surfing the sea Otter lacks a lot of unemployed engineers around! Be Ahead of Us ] or a spare take-apart paddle paddler fatigue by improving posture seated... The Chesapeake Bay in it if we somehow flipped at sea shorter kayaks always... Early years of sea kayaking using the sit-on-top kayak is a beautiful fiberglass kayaks! When Nimbus kayaks was born ( KN ) considered them to be positive..

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