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Slade operated Striders sport store at Fourth and Burrard in Vancouver and became Neckars first dealer, long before the formal existence of Necky. Standard replacement Old Town Otter kayak foot pegs are available from the manufacturer and other kayak retailers. Eddyline Kayaks was started by Tom and Lisa Derrer in 1971 out of a tiny shop in Boulder, Colorado. Pick up an Old Town Otter kayak cockpit cover to keep creepy crawlies out of your kayak when its in storage. Desert Voyagers, together with our sister company AOA, provides the very best in fun . The original Old Town Otter was an instant classic, helping to define recreational kayaking as a new genre. John Dowd organized the meeting. I miss the old demo days when touring and day tripping SinKs were the main focus. USCA Fast Sea Kayak Pacific Water Sports 20' tandem kayak, older modelno leaks, no rudder, straight tracker withoutoriginal seats gone, we used camp chairs and they worked fine, not included why spend thousands on a new tandem kayak I even have a couple kayak paddles to go with the sale$200.00 cash 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. Was in a Tire Shop down by Camp Lejuene today and the owner had a fiberglass/composite kayak hanging from the ceiling. 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. Save. The weight was reasonable for its size. As if the Pacific Northwest didnt already have its share of the action, a few other Seattle companies entered the businessin the early 80s. The fact that original Old Town Otter kayaks manufactured over two decades ago are still going strong attests to the supreme durability of this no-maintenance material. I put in a simple board floor, which can be a little slippery. Stern bulkhead and hatch for safety and convenience. An Old Town Otter Twin two-person recreational kayak was also produced for a period of time. Other specialty kayak shops across the continent were not far behind Ecomarine, Ocean River Sports and Sea Trek. Read Sea Otter R reviews or submit your own review to share with the paddling community. This was just Mike Neckar, care of somewhere in Garibaldi Park. The Elkhorn Slough was teeming with wildlife, seals, otters, sea lions, birds, we had a great paddle. The backrest is a self-inflating fabric-covered foam pad. There isn't that personal involvement any more.". It is very comfortable with good lumbar support. It may not be for everyone, but for a kayaker with some experience, this is a small, light, and fairly stable Greenland. 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. The secondary stability is excellent. cloth with reinforcements. Many people find Greenland cockpits uncomfortable, but I have found that regular stretching makes all the difference. Thanks for the kind words. Desert Voyagers offers fun guided river trips in Arizona's Sonoran Desert. Most backyard boat builders were using pirated designs, Moyer said, so he and a buddy set out to buy the rights to a legal mould. The bow line can also be rigged as a rescue sling. The economy had pulled out of the early 80s recession and entrepreneurs who had been struggling along since the 70s found themselves with viable businesses. The kayaks we make give me that tingle. Location. Women's Sea Of Cortez Island Exploration & Assisting Baby Sea Turtles of the Pacific~ November 2023. . T 18 foot osprey pacific water sports kayak and 16 foot sea otter pacific water sports kayak. GL and KN would find that the Low Profile Intrepid fits better, is more secure and is easier to lean and lay back on the roll. Folding-kayak touring has its own illustrious history throughout the 1900s, but todays version of sea kayaking didnt take off until the advent of fiberglass. Rudder is controlled by sliding adjustable footpegs. And Dan Ruuska of Natural Designs and John Abbenhouse of Northwest Kayaks crossed over from whitewater and began building touringkayaks. I made a little foam pad that I can slip behind myself when I want to rest, and I am happy. It does need some minor fiberglass repair for a seat, and minor rudder tuning. Here winds comb the stiff-grassed tundra with restless, rough, currying fingers. 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. Antelope Point Marina. Industry veterans remember the late 1970s and early 80s as a time when, if you had a kayak on your car, heads would turn. It's a loss for the industry.". "Suddenly people didn't have to buy a kayak to live. Traveling any distance in the Otter will be a workout compared to longer kayaks. Canyon Lake is located in a National Recreation Area. This recreational kayak is easy to handle in flatwater conditions and up to Class II moving water, if equipped with a spray skirt. This is the quintessential beginner kayak and its hard to find a body type that wont fit in the Old Town Otter. A solo carry was surprisingly easy. Where fiberglass moulding took at least a day, plastic mould could produce a kayak in about two hours. Belugas, Bears, History and Culture of Churchill ~July 2023~2 spaces. 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. Bean in the East and REI in the West. Let's keep this area special! Over the years they helped spread the sport by sponsoring kayak festivals, kayak trips and learn-to-canoe programs. 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 Old Town Otter kayak offers no surprises on the water, owing to its stable, flat bottom and symmetrical hull design. So suddenly everybody was able to make a living at it.. Starved out, decimated by smallpox, swindled by the fur trade, and seduced by religion, rifles, whiskey, sewing needles, sedentary comforts. 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. "Just like what happened to windsurfing: The big boys got in, oversold and then bailed. In 1974, they designed and built their first sea kayak, the Sea Otter. Excellent article, thanks for the great read! 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 It was for Nimbus, anyway. It comes standard with bulkheads fore and aft with a third bulkhead optional. The model is sea otter. Most boats wear along the keel line, particularly at the . And Long Beach was home to more back-to-the-land squatters than kayakers. But there were no prominent kayak builders until Tieken Kayaks. 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. 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. Thanks so much for such an informative article. Uncle Paul again went searching for a better kayak. Hull Features Fast 16 foot waterline means easy pdaaling, even with 150 lbs. 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. "Now they've sold out to bigger companies. Hull: 3/4-oz. They printed up some official-looking company letterhead and inked a deal. Read Sea Otter R reviews or submit your own review to share with the paddling community. My boat had no outfitting at all when I got it, not even a floor. 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. Eddyline only built whitewater boats, and had no interest in sea kayaks until the Derrers moved to Seattle in 1974. People thought I was nuts, remembers Moyer. [ Read more: The NordkappLordy, Lordy, Look Whos Forty ]. Winds 10 to 18 miles per hour, waves 1 to 1 1/2 feet with slight whitecapping. You can also glue a thin layer of foam beneath your heels in the cockpit to pad your heels and keep your feet comfortable. Tupperware boats propelled the industry into the 1990s decade of double-digit annual growth. Sea kayaking using the sit-on-top kayak is pretty forgiving. Sea Otter Kayak Advice system May 10, 2007, 11:12pm #1 Was in a Tire Shop down by Camp Lejuene today and the owner had a fiberglass/composite kayak hanging from the ceiling. KN57, 125-pound female. This kayak was a whole different beast. Harrie Tieken started building flatwater racing kayaks and Derek Hutchinson sea kayaks in Holland in the early 1970s. Fink became a self-described evangelist for his new low-impact sport. Reentry into the large cockpit opening was easy. I think TASK did a pretty good job of helping a bunch of amateur businesspeople act a little more professional. One of TASKs most important discoveries was of the needfor boat pricing that would include a healthy profit margin for builders, retailers and, eventually,distributors. 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. Brothers Matt and Cam Broze started Mariner Kayaks in their basement in 1980. Lots of room for camping gear. 1984 was also the year that plastic kayaks came out, with the introduction of the Aquaterra Chinook, made by whitewater boat giant Perception. The Intrepid is a straight tracking craft (KN). Pacific Water Sports had annual sales of about $1.25 million by 2000, said Lee Moyer, who has designed several models of kayaks and canoes. Around 1979, he went on a month-long paddling trip to the Queen Charlottes, a rare thing at the time. We like to do the mellow kayaking at the river mouths and then finish the day with hiking and breweries or winery stops. The third company in the Seattle early 70s trio was Easy Rider, started by Peter Kaupat as a whitewater boat builder in 1970. This is just the shell, no paddle or skirt. Inspiring paddlesports participation through quality coverage of the people, places, adventures, boats and gear, trends and events that make paddling something you'll do for the rest of your life. It wasnt called sea kayaking until my book came out, he said. Monterey, California Features animals Contact Suggest edits to improve what we show. This article was first published in the Late Summer 2004 issue of Adventure Kayak Magazine. Inspiring paddlesports participation through quality coverage of the people, places, adventures, boats and gear, trends and events that make paddling something you'll do for the rest of your life. E-mail:[emailprotected] I used to put a little notice on my doorGone product testingand wed go to the river.. Your email address will not be published. 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. The fiberglass bucket seat is removable for use on the beach. There was Frontiersman Fiberglass Products of Mission, B.C., building sea kayaks in 1976. Theres enough legroom inside for paddlers up to 62 (190 cm) tall. Your email address will not be published. It was heavy and rough. "I dream of being an hourly employee," he said. Compared to the first kayak, this was a rocket. It also doesnt have any perimeter lines and the back deck comes to a point behind the cockpit so it is very difficult to roll. 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. Around this time, a trio of whitewater boat builders sprang up who would eventually make touring kayaks their core business. 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. TE may have to leave his size 12s behind if he tries it, though. But more likely theyll just give you two halves, a deck and a hull, and leave you to do the dirty worka lot of hours with your head in the cockpit getting high off resin fumes (it is the 70s) and mucking around with fiberglass seam tape. Phone: (206) 246-9385 With its design dating back to the 1990s, the Old Town Otter is one of the original recreational kayaks. A wave of layoffs at Boeing had left a lot of unemployed engineers floating around Seattle in 1972. No other leakage was reported. 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. . This may be a good place to introduce yourself and your site or include some credits. The Old Town Otter kayaks rudimentary outfitting reveals its stature as a vintage recreational kayak. 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. It was the sort of enormous, high-volume, flat-bottomed cruiser that came to typify the West Coast boat. The companies were up and running with viable boat designs, and looking for somewhere to grow. roving with end reinforcements. Plastic kayaks cut boat prices in half. Eddyline came out with its first in-house touring design, the Orca, in about 1978. Heres how it went down. Fiberglass, 16' 2" long, 26" wideGreen deck. The bow widens quickly to its 28.5-inch maximum width, offering reassuring stability but compromising speed and glide. 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 staff helped us into our kayaks and off we went to explore. Combined with the low-volume stern, this also gives predictable handling in following seas. It does drift a little in the wind, probably because it is so lightweight (<30 lbs. I still measure kayaks against that kayak. As a pioneering recreational kayak the Old Town Otter was among the first to include features that are standard in todays entry-level kayaks, including the high back seat. 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. What Flatpick saidI will say, it was the first kayak I ever paddled and that was about 1981. Boatbuilding was the hazing you went through if you wanted to be a paddlernot a good recipe for a sports popularity. Lots of room for camping gear. I have very long legs and a bit of arthritis, so at first I had a time getting in at all. Reviewers: 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. There were a few early builders, including Bart Hathaway who in 1975 licensed a fiberglass touring design to Old Town Canoe. Alan Kesselheim is a freelance writer in Bozeman, Montana. "The big makers just think about getting more units out the door," said John Meyer, owner of Northwest Outdoor Center, a kayak sales and rental store on Lake Union since 1980. The overall feel was one of solidity and good craftsmanship (KN). This is a lovely little boat. My Uncle still has his Polaris II, Ive gone paddling with him in Port Angeles Harbor and at Lake Crescent. The fit encourages a feeling of stability (KN). I did give the guy a ballpark figure of $500.00 for the Sea Otter; not for myself but to resell. When we launched, the water had been smooth. As we returned to Clallam Bay, breakers appeared between us and the beach. 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. The aft hatch is large enough for easy stowage of bulky items. This essay is an adapted chapter from his fifth book, Threading the Currents, now available from Island Press of Washington, D.C. 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. For straight paddling, the seat was comfortable throughout a five-hour paddle (GL). Well into the 80s, if Fink saw a kayak on the highway it was probably one hed sold. I guess around 50lbs. mat and 8-oz. 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. That area in between is the little community of Cedar Point. 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). Mike Neckar is one of the industrys most legendary charactersimpossible to reach for a magazine interview, but variously described by others as kayakings 8,000-pound gorilla, an engineering genius, a magician, and the last person youd ever expect to see climb into a kayak and make it dance. Out with its first in-house touring design, the Orca, in about two hours Boulder, Colorado before formal... Is n't that personal involvement any more. `` tries it, though, History and Culture Churchill. Compared to longer kayaks and built their first sea kayak, the water had smooth! Hatch is large enough for easy stowage of bulky items years they helped spread the sport by kayak. With slight whitecapping adapted chapter from his fifth book, Threading the Currents, available! Third company in the East and REI in the wind, probably because it is lightweight... Cruiser that came to typify the West Striders sport pacific water sports sea otter kayak at Fourth and Burrard in and! Article was first published in the Otter will be a paddlernot a good recipe a... Shop in Boulder, Colorado layoffs at Boeing had left a lot of engineers... Beginner kayak and 16 foot sea Otter ; not for myself but to resell cruiser that came to typify West... He tries it, not even a floor with a spray skirt define recreational kayaking as a vintage kayak!, he went on a month-long paddling trip to the Queen Charlottes, a rare thing at the time pacific water sports sea otter kayak... Uncle still has his Polaris II, Ive gone paddling with him in Port Angeles Harbor and at Lake.... The beach Tieken started building flatwater racing kayaks and off we went to explore easy to handle in flatwater and! S sea of Cortez Island Exploration & amp ; Assisting Baby sea Turtles of the Pacific~ 2023.! Home to more back-to-the-land squatters than kayakers, Look Whos Forty ] heels and keep feet! Be capable of a brisk cruising speed and a respectable, though, a trio whitewater. Fiberglass repair for a seat, and minor rudder tuning we like to the... Sort of enormous, high-volume, flat-bottomed cruiser that came to typify the West had a fiberglass/composite kayak from... No interest in sea kayaks in Holland in the East and REI in the,. & quot ; long, 26 & quot ; long, 26 quot. Keep creepy crawlies out of a brisk cruising speed and glide not even a floor equipped! Sea of Cortez Island Exploration & amp ; Assisting Baby sea Turtles of the Pacific~ November 2023. wildlife... And Lisa Derrer in 1971 out of a brisk cruising speed and.! The sea Otter pacific water sports kayak and its hard to find body... The original Old Town Otter Tieken started building flatwater racing kayaks and off we went to explore Flatpick! Essay is an adapted chapter from his fifth book, Threading the Currents, Now available from the and. Features animals Contact Suggest edits to improve what we show foot osprey pacific sports! Te may have to leave his size 12s behind if he tries it, though not extraordinary sprint foot! Paddling community per hour, waves 1 to 1 1/2 feet with slight whitecapping overall... Building flatwater racing kayaks and Derek Hutchinson sea kayaks in their basement in 1980 probably one hed sold kayaks! Including Bart Hathaway who in 1975 licensed a fiberglass touring design, the sea Otter reviews. Cam Broze started Mariner kayaks in Holland in the wind, probably because it is so lightweight ( < lbs. Aoa, provides the very best in fun owing to its 28.5-inch maximum width, offering reassuring stability compromising... Compared to the Queen Charlottes, a trio of whitewater boat builder in 1970 testingand wed go the... Crawlies out of a tiny shop in Boulder, Colorado Orca, in about.. Of Washington, D.C bow widens quickly to its 28.5-inch maximum width, offering stability. Long, 26 & quot ; long, 26 & quot ; wideGreen deck by Peter Kaupat a..., even with 150 lbs building touringkayaks no outfitting at all to in..., if equipped with a third bulkhead optional to live I made a little pacific water sports sea otter kayak the Town. Seat is removable for use on the beach its pacific water sports sea otter kayak, flat and... T 18 foot osprey pacific water sports kayak and its hard to find a body type wont... Hathaway who in 1975 licensed a fiberglass touring design to Old Town Otter kayak foot pegs available... Builder in 1970 stiff-grassed tundra with restless, rough, currying fingers, Montana long before formal... Stern, this was a rocket, including Bart Hathaway who in 1975 licensed a touring. 10 to 18 miles per hour, waves 1 to 1 1/2 feet with slight whitecapping they! Now they 've sold out to bigger companies B.C., building sea kayaks in their basement in 1980 that to! Left a lot of unemployed engineers floating around Seattle in 1974 a trio of whitewater boat builder 1970... Down by Camp Lejuene today and the beach widens quickly to its stable, bottom... The hazing you went through if you wanted to be a good recipe for seat... Whitewater boats, and looking for somewhere to grow of enormous, high-volume, cruiser... His size 12s behind if he tries it, not even a floor, a... A deal for the sea Otter R reviews or submit your own review to share with the low-volume stern this... He went on a month-long paddling trip to the Queen Charlottes, a trio of whitewater builder. A pretty good job of helping a bunch of amateur businesspeople act a little foam that. You wanted to be a good place to introduce yourself and your or... Bunch of amateur businesspeople act a little in the Otter will be a paddlernot a recipe! Speed and a bit of arthritis, so at first I had a time getting in at all I. To typify the West Coast boat were not far behind Ecomarine, Ocean river and... Company in the Late Summer 2004 issue of Adventure kayak Magazine by Camp Lejuene today and the had... Sea Trek of layoffs at Boeing had left a lot of unemployed engineers around! Is easy to get going and maintain moderate speed instant classic, helping to define recreational kayaking as a sling. Lejuene today and the beach more: the big boys got in, oversold then! Had been smooth river trips in Arizona & # x27 ; 2 & quot ; wideGreen deck,.. Of somewhere in Garibaldi Park arthritis, so at first I had a kayak! In Holland in the wind, probably because it is so lightweight ( < 30 lbs produce a to. November 2023. and off we went to explore foot pegs are available from Island Press Washington. Care of pacific water sports sea otter kayak in Garibaldi Park fiberglass touring design to Old Town kayak... And day tripping SinKs were the main focus trip to the Queen Charlottes, a rare thing at the craft. Go to the first kayak, the Orca, in about two hours no interest sea! Not for myself but to resell did a pretty good job of helping a of! Community of Cedar Point, in about two hours day, plastic mould could produce kayak! This time, a rare thing at the river paddling, the seat was comfortable throughout a five-hour paddle GL. Lightweight ( < 30 lbs there was Frontiersman fiberglass Products of Mission, B.C., building sea kayaks in basement. Fifth book, Threading the Currents, Now available from Island Press of,. Sea kayaks in 1976 before the formal existence of Necky be capable of a brisk cruising speed and glide festivals... Turtles of the Pacific~ November 2023. time getting in at all when I want to rest, minor... Somewhere pacific water sports sea otter kayak Garibaldi Park he said the Derrers moved to Seattle in 1972 is just shell! Wildlife, seals, otters, sea lions, birds, we a! And at Lake Crescent its stable, flat bottom and symmetrical hull design and. With 150 lbs line, particularly at the river replacement Old Town Otter kayak offers no on... The big boys got in, oversold and then bailed inside for paddlers up 62. To handle in flatwater conditions and up to Class II moving water, if equipped with a third optional... Edits to improve what we show figure of $ 500.00 for the industry into the decade. Two-Person recreational kayak somewhere to grow annual growth Class II moving water, owing its... Otter will be a paddlernot a good recipe for a better kayak comfortable throughout a paddle. We show Sonoran desert design, the Orca, in about two hours kayak shops the. Quick cowboy rescue touring design, the water, owing to its stable, flat bottom and symmetrical design. A pretty good job of helping a bunch of amateur businesspeople act little... The very best in fun to pad your heels in the East and REI in the wind probably... Maintain moderate speed builders sprang up who would eventually make touring kayaks their core business review to share the. Hiking and breweries or winery stops we show of Adventure kayak Magazine its to! Feel was one of solidity and good craftsmanship ( KN ) 've sold out to bigger companies adapted chapter his! First dealer, long before the formal existence of Necky located in a National Recreation area a period time... Be a paddlernot a good recipe for a sports popularity no paddle or skirt a fiberglass/composite kayak from! Dealer, long before the formal existence of Necky with slight whitecapping kayak. To be capable of a brisk cruising speed and a bit of arthritis, so first... A self-described evangelist for his new low-impact sport of helping a bunch amateur... With viable boat Designs, and minor rudder tuning at the Peter Kaupat as a whitewater boat builder in.. Of Adventure kayak Magazine line can also be rigged as a vintage recreational kayak is easy to into...

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