However, the flipside of short length is a lack of speed and glide, and the Otter is no exception. In fact, Otter owners indicate that its maximum capacity of 225 pounds can easily be pushed to 250 pounds without compromising performance or seaworthiness. 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. This boat is a Greenland, is fairly short, and has no skeg. Cal, PWSPacific Water Sports. The lake sits at an elevation of 1,660' and has a mean depth of 130', and an area of 1.484 mi. 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. Read Sea Otter R reviews or submit your own review to share with the paddling community. Saturday & Sunday: 11:00AM3:00PM. steve. However, any kayak will eventually start to show signs of wear. DearTim, So interesting to see the history of sea kayaking as you portray it. Like my other designs, the Intrepid is easy to use compared to other kayaks of similar performance. The Intrepids initial stability is comfortable enough without being too stiff to set the boat on edge to initiate a turn. With its design dating back to the 1990s, the Old Town Otter is one of the original recreational kayaks. Dowd brought in folding kayaks from Europe and sold many of the new North American designs including Eddylines Orca, Pacific Water Sports Sea Otter, and Nimbus kayaks. The boat flexes in rough water; it's like a live thing. It is fairly narrow (20") and has a V-hull that doesn't have much initial stability. There is a small crack in the gelcoat behind the seat. 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 was Frontiersman Fiberglass Products of Mission, B.C., building sea kayaks in 1976. There isn't that personal involvement any more.". 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. TE6 1, 200-pound male. 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. The boats strong turning ability when on edge helped keep the bow pointed down the face of the wave (TE). Veracruz and Huasteca Inspiration in a Mexican Whitewater Destination. If youre handy, its easy to add comfort to the Old Town Otter with glued in foam pads and DIY seat modifications. It is very comfortable with good lumbar support. This boat therefore is extremely stable (secondary stability) in bumpy water. For straight paddling, the seat was comfortable throughout a five-hour paddle (GL). mat, 8-oz. I worried that when the previous owner retired, these kayaks would disappear. On its side in the water, it would flood quickly. The short length makes the Old Town Otter perfect for exploring narrow rivers and wetlands; however, the short length makes it bob like a cork in waves and chopstick to sheltered water and easy rivers for best performance and safety. My Uncle still has his Polaris II, Ive gone paddling with him in Port Angeles Harbor and at Lake Crescent. Henry opened Ocean River Sports in Victoria in November 1981. Uncle Paul started taking me paddling in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. You get a few pointers from the last builder, and so take on the unwritten responsibility to pass your knowledge alongto the next. Prized for their light weight, dry storage carrying capacity, stability and speed. It was for Nimbus, anyway. From paddling a kayak someone made to paddling a kayak I made. He sandwiched a long, wide piece of metal between two other pieces of metal with a single bolt. By 1982, Nimbus had come up with its flagship Seafarer design, which is still produced. The seating arrangement on the Old Town Otter feels basic compared to some of the ultra-adjustable and padded seats in contemporary kayaks, but its still very supportive and easy to modify with glued-in padding. In 1982, Bob Licht followed the Ecomarine example and opened Sea Trek Ocean Kayak Center in Sausalito, California. J. Deep bow entry, tracks well, fairly stable andboring. So thats why I bought NC Kayaks. There, they met Werner Furrerthe name thats stamped on many of our paddles today. [ Plan your next adventure with the Paddling Trip Guide ]. Manufacturers Address: [The Intrepid] was very well balanced at the middle of the coaming (GL). The bulkheads are all curved panels of translucent fiberglass. The Moyers, who divorced four years ago, plan to go their separate ways after Pacific Water Sports' liquidation sale, which starts tomorrow. I went out and purchased an Eddyline Orca. Rear bulkhead.Adjustable foot rests which control the rudder.Deck lashing points and a bow line.Well built, well used, comfortable . 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. In the foot well there is just enough room for a pair of size 12 water sports shoes(TE). In 1975, Ken Fink, an oceanographer in Maine, started paddling his whitewater slalom boat on the Atlantic Oceana not-uncommon way for whitewater kayakers of the day to discover touring. Since the Otters conception in the 1990s, various Otter models have been sold at outdoor stores across North America by the thousands. TE may have to leave his size 12s behind if he tries it, though. 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. I was going to be in the kayak business, he said. 123 Main Street Required fields are marked *. Closing hours changes seasonally. Or, if youre lucky, you can find someonewith a bit of experience to build you a boatfor a few hundred bucks. "I dream of being an hourly employee," he said. This was the first expedition-capable kayak I had ever seen. It does drift a little in the wind, probably because it is so lightweight (<30 lbs. Besides trolling yard sales in cottage areas, your best bet is searching Old Town Otter kayak Craigslist for a bargain on this classic entry level kayak. Women's Sea Of Cortez Island Exploration & Assisting Baby Sea Turtles of the Pacific~ November 2023. . ", In 2001, Pacific Water Sports moved to Tukwila, nestled next to the Duwamish River and among industrial buildings near Boeing Field, after their SeaTac landlord decided to build a parking lot where their store stood. Our latest Loon features the ACS2 seat, creating the most advanced and best-fitting cockpit available. Empty and with 100 pounds of gear. nly this faint stirring in the air remains: the whisper of ancients only a generation past. 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. 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. 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. KN found the Intrepid easy to roll, as did TE, though the height of the aft deck kept him from getting close to the aft deck for a lay back roll. How did sea kayaking become the sport we know today? 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. I miss the old demo days when touring and day tripping SinKs were the main focus. Most were his Pacific Water Sports brand. 907-351-2257. "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 Old Town Otter kayak is best described as short and squat; its overall dimensions contribute to modest speed, excellent maneuverability and rock-solid stability. Not too many years later I bought a kayak from him.. [ Paddling Buyers Guide: See all Eddyline sea kayaks ]. It was called kayak touring or sea canoeing or canoe touring, blue-water paddling, coastal paddling, all those things.. All were nearly the same, with a stable 9-foot, 6-inch hull, great handling, a large, easy to enter cockpit and simple outfitting. Both offer marine life viewing of sea otters, harbor seals, sea lions. Approximate Weight:52 lbs. Cargo hatches fore and aft, day access hatch. 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. roving with end reinforcements. 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. They are sea kayaks, with tons of storage for your longer adventures' The boat will initiate a turn with a slight lean and then make a sharp turn when put high on edge (TE). None of Canadas big players were on the scene yet when Nimbus kayaks was born. 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 still measure kayaks against that kayak. Just for reference, I am 5'11", 132 lbs., and wear a women's size 9 shoe. So together they strived to develop adesign that was stable, roomy and comfortable, that the average paddler could take out on the ocean. In 1975, before turning his full attention to the paddle business, Furrer designed the WT-500 (Werner Touring, 500 centimetres long). The cockpit opening is large enough to get into butt first, then feet, for a quick cowboy rescue. "Just like what happened to windsurfing: The big boys got in, oversold and then bailed. And what can I build for you? Traveling any distance in the Otter will be a workout compared to longer kayaks. This recreational kayak is easy to handle in flatwater conditions and up to Class II moving water, if equipped with a spray skirt. The flare and volume in the forward quarter provide lift going into waves and a dry ride in sloppy conditions. Plenty of stability for fishing or photography. The Intrepid would be a swell beginner to intermediate kayak because of its stability and maneuverability. The forward hatch is set in a recess to reduce spray from water coming over the bow. The weight was reasonable for its size. Uncle Paul had seen some old photos of Pacific Rim Native Kayakers and made kayak paddles based on those images. 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.. I enjoyed almost everything about it. The aft hatch is large enough for easy stowage of bulky items. The bulkheads are all curved panels of translucent fiberglass. Matuska later left to start up one of todays dominant paddle companies, Aqua-Bound. "We were slow," he said. We launched our kayaks from the boat launch area . "Now they've sold out to bigger companies. The biggest single thing that happened in our industry to make it become what it is was to get the pricing right, said Dowd. Designed:1998 The Sea Otter Series 500 sets the standard for touring kayak expedition capacity and high performance. See website for holiday hours. I have two classic Seattle made Touring sea kayaks made by pacific water sports. Shorter kayaks are always more maneuverable than long ones, and the compact, 9.5-foot Old Town Otter is easy to turn and handle. Fallbrook, Ca. The Old Town Otter offers excellent value in a basic, entry-level recreational kayak that fits a wide range of paddlers and performs well in flatwater conditions. Yostwerks Sea Otter R Reviews Submit Your Review The companies were up and running with viable boat designs, and looking for somewhere to grow. The model is sea otter. Bean and Canoe magazine. He contacted Frank Goodman to order two boatsone for himself and one for Maines attorney generaland received an invitation to become the North American distributor. Thanks for the kind words. 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. 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. Humanity is a whisper here. We were greeted kindly, filled out our paperwork quickly and then were outfitted and briefed efficiently. Alan Kesselheim is a freelance writer in Bozeman, Montana. Reentry into the large cockpit opening was easy. 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. cloth, 17-oz. You put in an order when you saw him.. 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. Compared against those rather specialized and very expensive kayaks the Otter leaves much to be desired. People were laughing at me basically.. These are very well regarded boats that have been on many short lists of the best touring boats of their time. 4.5. Seattle, WA 98188 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. Well, not against the kayak, itself. Eventually Tieken provided boats for Scott Cunningham of the Nova Scotia outfitting company Coastal Adventures, which became a key educator and promoter for sea kayaking, and Tiekens designs, on the East Coast. Thanks, The original Old Town Otter was an instant classic, helping to define recreational kayaking as a new genre. 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). 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). Both are fiberglass and in excellent condition. I can recall in 1980 or 81 going up to Vancouver Island and counting 100 windsurfers on cars to one kayak, said Matt Broze. Kind of reminds of the Hurricane Tracker. It wasnt called sea kayaking until my book came out, he said. No damage or repairs to kayak. 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. If I dont have that slight tingle in my spine, the anticipation of whats to come, then its not the kayak for me. It does need some minor fiberglass repair for a seat, and minor rudder tuning. Includes spray skirts and paddles for both. And Long Beach was home to more back-to-the-land squatters than kayakers. This is a beautiful fiberglass sea kayak made in Canada by Lee Moyer. E-mail:[emailprotected] It comes standard with bulkheads fore and aft with a third bulkhead optional. I have two classic Seattle made Touring sea kayaks made by pacific water sports. Thank you Kayak Connection! Read reviews for the Sea Otter R by Yostwerks as submitted by your fellow paddlers. For a tandem carry there are webbing straps at the ends of the boat. Price: $1,200.00 18 foot osprey pacific water sports kayak and 16 foot sea otter pacific water sports kayak. Availability:From manufacturer. No weathercocking (GL). The Sea Otter had allowed us into the world of sea kayaking. The reinforced glass work in critical areas indicates some attention to detail (GL). They are easy to navigate, and Adventures by the Sea offers basic paddling instructions prior to each tour. The Intrepid is an appealing boat. Just as important, though, was growth of the recreational-outfitting industry. Adding in 2 Werner Carbon paddles and Dragonfly spray skirts. 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! The overall feel was one of solidity and good craftsmanship (KN). PWS is no longer in business but operated in the south sound for years. 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. 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. Sea Birds & Sea Otter Pupping Season by Kayak: Elkhorn Slough. 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. 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. 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. The Intrepid is a very attractive kayak with a solid-feeling deck, smooth lines and attractive recessed hatches. I bought this little boat already built, so I cannot comment on the building process, but I can review the boat itself. Its easy to spend an afternoon making an Otter kayak more comfortable and functional with modifications. Sea kayak and standup paddleboard rentals, guided tours, classes and sales at two amazing wildlife locations, Monterey and Elkhorn Slough @ Moss Landing! of gear. It felt solid even when edged to the point of putting the side of the coaming in the water. It felt solid even when edged to the point of putting the side of the coaming in the water. A variety of Loon kayaks are available in different lengths to match different paddler sizes and needs. 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. Here winds comb the stiff-grassed tundra with restless, rough, currying fingers. 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. Ocean Pacific PFD. GL thought the secondary stability was fair, and noted that the lack of hip bracing and having the seat slip 1/4 inch laterally in its brackets made the boat feel less secure when set on edge. 537 Marina Pkwy Page, Arizona 86040 . The Old Town Otter kayaks rudimentary outfitting reveals its stature as a vintage recreational kayak. Its not much different than todayexcept you have to go build your own boat. A good combination for maneuvering the boat (TE). 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. Has normal scratches on the bottom. Thanks for the great overview of the industry. 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 Intrepid is available in a low-profile model for smaller paddlers and with two seat styles. Theres enough legroom inside for paddlers up to 62 (190 cm) tall. These are wonderful boats! Two cleats farther forward secure a bow painter that can double as a rescue grab line. 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. John Dowd organized the meeting. It protruded down into the water off the stern, and the bolt allowed it to flip up if it hit anything and not snag. Comes with skirt, cover, and other paddling gear. Most boats wear along the keel line, particularly at the . There were absolutely no more than 10 people paddling open water in the East at the time, he guesses. Cash only. Website:www.pwskayaks.com. Both are fiberglass and in excellent condition. It is 22 feet long, very fast in the water, has a huge storage capacity, color is yellow on top with a white bottom. 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. The seat back is below the level of the coaming so it doesnt get in the way of reentry. Check out a few other kayak recommendations below or explore all kayaks to find the perfect one for you! Schleicher pegs 1978 as the year the sea kayaking industry came out of the garage. People said the ocean is too dangerous for a kayak. Arizona's lakes and rivers offer excellent opportunities for boating and water sports such as canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, rafting, and much more. As we returned to Clallam Bay, breakers appeared between us and the beach. 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). But others, like Steve Schleicher and Tom Derrer, are still at the helm of the businesses they started three decades ago. Sometime in 1981 or 1982, a group of would-be career kayakers met in Werner Furrers basement in Seattle and deliberately created it. Can someone please tell me who the manufacturer is? 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. Neckar came up with a design based on a high-volume whitewater boat, but longer, wider, with a large cockpit. Highway 1 Discovery Route is a destination in its own right! cloth with reinforcements. The bow line can also be rigged as a rescue sling. 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). Having founded one of the first sea kayak guiding companies in Maine in the mid-1970s I ultimately paddled many different designs of sea kayaks many thousands of miles. Deck: 11/2-oz. Kayak and Gear reviews, Guides, Stories & More, Intrepid Design Statement 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. 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. Location. 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. Call for the nearest dealer. Uncle Paul was able to surf the Sea Otter in, but I was not as skilled. These are very well regarded boats that have been on many short lists of the best touring boats of their time. 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. For their light weight, dry storage carrying capacity, stability and maneuverability a. Kayaks was born signs of wear, so interesting to see the history of sea kayaking become sport... Kayaks are available in different lengths to match different paddler sizes and needs a low-profile for. 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