ToddG

Updated Craigslist posting: https://rochester.craigslist.org/boa/d/rochester-swift-saranac-15-kayak/7459584692.html It’s light as a feather and paddles well with excellent stability.

Any chance this is still available?

2021 model, Orange over white. Practically new condition. My father bought this kayak last spring and has paddled it 4 times. He is no longer able to paddle and we are selling it now. This boat weighs approximately 38 lbs. The carbon fusion layup is incredibly stiff and light. The initial and secondary stability are great, and the cockpit has a lot of volume which makes for a very comfortable paddling experience. The seat is fantastic - supportive and comfortable. Asking $3500 (paid ~$4250). More pics available. Let me know if you have any questions. ~Todd

Thanks, Prudence! I'd love to attend. However, I won't be able to make it that weekend. I'll do my best to stay involved in the other happenings. ~tg

What time are you thinking? I could swing a morning paddle...high tide looks to be around 7 am. ~ToddG

Thanks, Jim! You are too right - this is not the time for a solo paddle. Stay warm! ~tg

This sounds like a great trip, Julia! I've wanted to paddle when the whales are moving in Newfoundland, but this is a lot closer. ? I'm new to the group (posted an intro on the general board), and am interested in joining trips if space exists. Timing is of the essence, and my potential to join in will be dependent upon the dates. I'll be camping in the Adirondacks the first week in August, so I'll wait to see the dates others are available, if any. I'm happy to help in any planning needs... ~ToddG

Hello, all, and happy new year! I wanted to introduce myself as a (somewhat) new resident in the NH seacoast region looking for paddling opportunities with like-minded folks. My name is Todd Guerdat. We moved to Exeter many moons ago, then headed inland for several years. We're back in Exeter and the need for time on the water is burning a hole in my drysuit. I am less the type that likes to play in the rock gardens and more of the exploring ilk, looking to escape the daily noise and get into the experience of paddling. I paddle a P&H Quest - she's been my trusty favorite since 2005 when I first paddled her new, and we have logged too many miles to count from the Outer Banks to Lake Pontchatrain, the many lakes in the Adirondacks to Great Bay and the Rye coast, and cruising the Long Island Sound along the Connecticut shoreline. My favorite spots to paddle, however, have been the Georgian Bay in Ontario, and Tasmania. I started off my life as a whitewater paddler, but after meeting my maker several years in a row, I transitioned to surf and sea kayaking. I enjoy remote camping whenever possible, and am always up for an impromptu paddle. I work in Durham and can be somewhat flexible for a trip when conditions are right, but weekends and summer trips are always easiest. My kids and wife also love kayaking, but we keep it a bit more low key for them. We have been exploring Umbagog Lake and have fallen in love with the remote camp sites and unbelievable serenity out there first thing in the morning. I know it's a bit chilly to be thinking about hitting the water currently (2 F and a steady 15 mph off the water!), but I've been sitting idly too long and need to prime the pump. So, as trip ideas and daily excursions come up, I'll be jumping in if there is space for the likes of a new NSPN member. Thanks to all for keeping the paddling spirit alive. I'm looking forward to meeting folks over the next year. Cheers! ToddG

Thanks Lisa, for the input as well. The Quest does have a skeg, and is very stable and all around efficient in big conditions. I toyed with the idea of bringing both boats with me, but in the end I will not push the envelope this time. I'd rather finish than anything else. I've been surprised at the comments a out the lack of stability for the 18x as I've not really come out of a paddling session. With a feeling of unstable performance. I think since there have been multiple people to mention the stability issue in rougher conditions, I want to play more on my personal time and answer the questions when I can afford to mess around. Thanks again for the insight. I very much appreciate it. Todd P.S. Ed, I'm sorry the autocorrect on my phone translated your name to 'head'. I think it would be more appropriate to refer to the feature as 'autowrong'. I'll be sure to re-read my posts next time... Cheers!

Thanks again, Leon. I joke about the 'no brainer' decision to take the Quest because I have been agonizing over which boat would be the most appropriate. In the end, I know the area where the race takes place very well, and with the current forecast, the conditions will be less than ideal for at least half of the race. I am surprised to hear about the lack of stability mentioned here about the 18x. I have actually commented several times to myself on how much initial stability it seemed to have (2012 model) for me. The new rudder system (and hatch closures too) is pretty nice too. I assume you are liking the new style rudder you've installed... My concern on stability relates to the days of olde where whitewater kayaking was what ruled my life. Water on the back deck always made for an unsettled feeling and caused me to do a lot of bracing. I think the result of water on the aft deck here (18x) would likely be much less pronounced, but given the lack of experience paddling the fully loaded boat, 2-4 ft waves (predicted for only the duration of the race, of course), and a great deal of the event far from civilization, I'm going to go with 'the tank'. The Quest is bomb-proof for the likes of me and I feel comfortable taking it in almost any condition. With all of this said, the reality is I have been trying to justify taking my new toy out to play when I know deep down I should save it for another day. I am paddling this event to finish, not to win. Either way, it's an adventure. Also, the 70 mile race in Florida along the Gulf Coast is in a gorgeous area. I could be talked into sharing the driving if anyone wanted to entertain the idea.... Fingers crossed in the mean time... ToddG

thanks, head. The more I talk about it, the more I talk myself into a no brainer answer. I will let you know how everything turns out with the quest. :-) ToddG

Thanks, Leon. Was your race in NYC with a loaded or unloaded boat? This will be a multi day event complete with nighttime paddling (with the same wind forecast as previously mentioned), so the boat will be loaded with gear and whatnot. I've been relatively happy with the initial stability of the 18x, and equally so with the Quest (when loaded). However, I've not paddled the 18x in the rough while fully loaded. The Quest has seen it all. Would the straighter/longer water line prove cumbersome, do you think, in the rougher water and pose more of a chance for broaching of waves? Or, in your experience with the Ultra, have you been able to stay on top of the maneuverability in rougher seas? In your post, you mention you were bracing quite a lot. What sort of conditions were you in specifically? I've plenty of surf/rough seas experience in the Quest and am not worried, but I did buy the Epic to overcome the bulky ride... Thanks for the link... I've seen Epic's site and many a video of the performance in the rough stuff. It looks fun. It's also nice to get the opinion of someone directly when I can fire questions to and fro. So, laden vs. empty. The Quest is far and wide a better boat when loaded down in terms of stability when compared to empty. I can't speak about the Epic in the same context with rough seas, however. And it sure is fast......... Thanks again Todd Also, thanks for the note on rockered vs. extended bows. This is mostly extended, yes, but with some rocker as well. Largely, the Quest is meant to stay on top of the water at all costs whereas the 18x will punch thru with a more level ride. Does that level ride come at an additional cost of fighting water on the deck? Perhaps it just remains to be determined....

I will pose a question in hopes of leaning on others' experience here... I will be participating in a kayak race this weekend in NC (WaterTribe North Challenge). The weather has rapidly been changing from relatively calm to much more windy forecasts. My question is one of comfort and/or efficiency - which boat to use? I have a P&H Quest and an Epic 18x. The obvious choice in ideal conditions is the Epic for efficiency reasons. However, in adverse conditions (25 mph winds with a long fetch, in this case) the waves will be rather intense, likely. So, which one? The plumb bow of the Epic will punch through the waves while the Quest will stay on top. Buoyancy is always favorable, yes, but efficiency and stability will be the name of this game. My largest concern will be water on the back deck of the Epic (it's wife and shallow to reduce windage and eliminate weathercocking). The Quest is a tank when weighed down with gear and is stable as anything in these conditions, at rye expense of efficiency. I can go on and on with pros and cons, but I would like to leave it to the community now to chime in with any suggestions, comments, and general chiding Many thanks in advance for your input and insight. ToddG

That's a good start. We were on the western side and didn't see anything on Sunday. Where did you catch a glimpse of the buggers?

I don't know about anyone else, but we didn't see squat last weekend. Hopefully we'll have better luck this weekend. Perhaps the rain drove the crabs out of the bay with low salinity. Anyone else have any luck?