Which kayak to buy...?

[Flip Flopz]

Hello there,

Just wanted to see if anyone has some advice or information on a few kayaks. I'm new to kayaking ..... and after demo-ing lots of boats I've narrowed my choices to the following (good for us "small" paddlers):

Wilderness Systems Tempest165 PRO

Impex Montauk

Impex Currituck

If anyone can provide some useful information to help my in this decision that would be great.... I'm interested to know whateve you can tell me (stability, ease of maneuverability, rolling, leaking, speed, etc....) and ALSO, if you know anyone who is selling one of these boats, that would be great too.

Thanks!

Flip Flopz

[glenn]

I was recently in your position, and after exhaustively evaluating the world of possible options, I bought a random used boat at NESC that just felt good when I paddled it. It is, in fact, an Impex Montauk. I haven't had it for very long, or put it through very much, and I'm not a very experienced paddler anyway, but for what little my feedback is worth I'm liking it so far. It fits me well (I'm about 5'8", 130), both decks are nice and low, it goes very straight when the skeg is down and turns pretty easily when it isn't. I actually haven't tried rolling it yet (this weekend!), but I had an easier time sculling in it than in an Avocet (although I was using a Greenland paddle in the Montauk case, so it's not an entirely fair test).

One common knock on older Montauks is that the hatches leak if you don't tighten them down very carefully. I haven't had any significant problem with this yet. My only complaint is that I have a very hard time finding a comfortable knee position if I'm paddling with bare legs. I'm fine if I'm wearing a wetsuit. Obviously padding will solve this as soon as I get around to it.

[Dee Hall]

>Wilderness Systems Tempest165 PRO

>Impex Montauk

>Impex Currituck

>

>If anyone can provide some useful information to help my in

>this decision that would be great.... I'm interested to know

>whateve you can tell me (stability, ease of maneuverability,

>rolling, leaking, speed, etc....) and ALSO, if you know

>anyone who is selling one of these boats, that would be

>great too.

I have an Impex Currituck which I have never once regretted buying. The hatch covers and bulkheads are watertight. It's a stable boat, yet I can still edge it for the most part when the boat is loaded at about 160 pounds. Although the waterline is fairly short for a 17' boat, it requires some edging to maneuver. It is easy to roll and is relatively fast in rough water. That means while rough water slows some of the more manueverable boats down, this boat is less affected, but you get wetter than a lot of the other paddlers (wee!) At 140 pounds, I am at the light end of the paddler weight for this boat. I can put a lot of gear into it without it starting to look overloaded.

The Montauk is a more maneuverable boat, although it has a fine entry like the Currituck, so it is probably relatively fast and wet in choppy water. I haven't paddled it or the Tempest.

-Dee