Comments on: To Tandem or Not…That is the Question

By: Deb Dahlberg Rowland

Deb Dahlberg Rowland — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 13:00:07 +0000

My husband and I are thinking about getting a tandem, we already have two singles. Thanks for the overview of the plus and minus! Super helpful.

By: Mary Ellen

Mary Ellen — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 13:15:15 +0000

Thank you Roland, Actually, my nerves were from my son being in the boat by himself, even though it was somewhat unwarranted because he did quite well. I have a Trailex aluminum trailer. It is configured for 1 kayak right now but there is a kit I could purchase to convert it to a 2 kayak trailer. I do love my Tarpon 120! I was thinking the 100 might be easier to manuver in tight areas and could double at a surf kayak (small swell off Florida coast) but I am still relatively new at this and not sure if that is correct thinking on my part. I originally wanted our third kayak to be a tandem, Tarpon 130T. Even though I prefer paddling solo, I thought it would be nice to have a tandem for certain circumstances and when we have out of state family visiting, but this is a large purchase and can’t buy one of each! Trying to keep the big picture in mind. Thanks for your help.

By: Roland

Roland — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 14:34:00 +0000

Appreciate all the comments folks. I am glad to hear many agree that the Pamlico 135T and 145T is a great option solo/tandem option. A couple of you mentioned the Native Watercraft Ultimate 14.5 Tandem. The Ultimate has been one of my favorite all time boats and should have made mention of it. The ability to switch it into a tandem withing minutes makes it another ideal solo/tandem boat.

Capt Dan, very cool…a true “man’s best friend”.

Judy, I love your story…you are an inspiration! Can we write a story about you and your experiences? If interested, email me directly at news@austinkayak.com. I hope to hear from you!

Mary, it depends on a few things. You mentioned something about a trailer, can you share the brand/model with us? Can it only hold one because of the saddle configuration? In terms of the two boats you mention, there has always been some debate between paddlers choosing between a 120 and 100. A few things to keep in mind…100 + lighter, more affordable and the 120 + slightly better capacity, better performance. My personal preference is the 120, it just seems quicker and more stable to me and is only 8lbs heavier than it’s little brother. You mentioned being nervous so I assume that you are probably looking or something with stability in it. While both boats are extremely stable, I think the 120 edges a bit better here.

By: Mary Ellen

Mary Ellen — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 14:05:56 +0000

I am struggling with this question right now. I have two single Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120′s currently. One is mine, then other is my husbands. We have a 27 yr old son with Down Syndrome. He is very high level. I have taken him out and he has paddled solo in my husbands kayak and did well overall but I was nervous. I have also used a rental tandem with him but due to our different paddling techniques, I was a little frustrated. I would like to take him more often but I do not always have access to my husbands truck. I have a kayak trailer I use when my husbands truck is not available. It only holds one kayak. There have been times when we cuold all three go but one of us had to stay behind for lack of a boat. Now these are my options. 1. Get another single for my son (and a conversion kit for the trailer).
2. Get a tandem that can be converted to solo. Probably the Wilderness Tarpon 130T
Seeing this all written out I am leaning towards another single, but do I get the 120 (12′) or the 100 (10′)?
Any comments would be appreciated.

By: Judy Bauman

Judy Bauman — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 03:24:17 +0000

I have loved the water all my life but my dear husband of 47 years never did. I turned 70 years old this year and it was time to grab for the gusto. For many years I had several blow up kayaks and always took many friends with me. Last year I started doing a lot of investigating for my own person hard body kayak and decided to buy an Ocean Kayak Venus ll. The only one that is designed especially for women. I never purchased a thing on line but was so confortable talking to Lyle at Austin Kayak, he made it appear like a simple thing to do. I found a store that carried the kayak I wanted in Georgia so I could sit in it and get a good feel. What a thrill that was the day it arrived at the Senior Center. A friend showed me how to tie it on top of my small SUV and off I went. I love it and have purchased additional accessories Just remember life begins at 70. I was in a tennis tournament recently and was beat out by an 89 year old.
Judy Bauman Roswell, Ga.

By: Capt Dan

Capt Dan — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 01:21:08 +0000

I’m disabled, and kayak with my service dog. Amy is a 130 lb Newfoundland, no little rat-dog. We paddle a Pamlico 135T, with the front seat modified to make Amy a bit more comfortable. I couldn’t imagine not taking her – she is my right arm. There is no way she’d fit in any solo I’ve seen, and this is the perfect set-up for anyone needing to take along another, whether person or dog.

By: Don

Don — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:35:55 +0000

The best of both for me is my native ultimate 14. Myself, myself and wife, me and up to two grandkids, or me with wife and one grandkids..

By: Mike S

Mike S — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 20:50:24 +0000

Synchronized paddling is harder than it looks. I’ve observed that many beginner kayakers who go tandem eventually want their own singles.

By: Janet Wright

Janet Wright — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 18:06:52 +0000

Nice article. Like Bill H, I LOVE my Wilderness Systems Pamlico 145T, and I usually go solo. The front seat slides back to a well-balanced single-paddler position, and the back seat is a handy platform for my GPS, extra shirt, snacks, etc. The big cockpit gives lots of room for collecting things or picking up trash, or for my dog to go along. I’m a little slower than a sleeker single, but most of my paddling is for wildlife watching, so who cares? The 145T does weathervane a bit in a crosswind. A rudder would be a nice addition.

By: Jim Talone

Jim Talone — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 17:14:37 +0000

I struggled with this issue before settling on a Hobie Mirage Outfitter a few years ago. If I bought two singles, one would have rarely been used. Hobie mirages are relatively expensive and the tandem was a lot less than two similar single mirages by about $1000. The deciding factor however was that although my wife likes to go out with me in it, she is not comfortable enough on the water to go out alone. It so happens that the outfitter handles well as a single and as a tandem. My daughter, who is much more comfortable on the water, had a single (not a Hobie Mirage) and her boyfriend recently bought a single too. That works well for them.