Comments on: Is taking my Old Town Tandem Kayak out into the ocean a bad idea? http://oldtownkayaks.net/is-taking-my-old-town-tandem-kayak-out-into-the-ocean-a-bad-idea Read all about Old Town Kayaks and which to buy. Sat, 19 May 2012 16:17:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: c_kayak_fun http://oldtownkayaks.net/is-taking-my-old-town-tandem-kayak-out-into-the-ocean-a-bad-idea/comment-page-1#comment-262 c_kayak_fun Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:07:29 +0000 http://oldtownkayaks.net/is-taking-my-old-town-tandem-kayak-out-into-the-ocean-a-bad-idea#comment-262 Depends on the ocean. In a sheltered bay with warm and tranquil water in calm weather, you might be fine if you stick close to shore. But I would not recommend taking such a recreational-style boat into any kind of surf or heavy currents or colder water or stiff breezes. For one thing it is an open cockpit so you have no way to keep spray and wave wash out of the boat. You would definitely need to take a good high-volume hand pump. There is not enough room for inflatable flotation below deck so you could easily get swamped or even have the boat sink. Second, that model has no rudder or skeg so it's going to be hard to keep it tracking straight in wind and moving water without tremendous effort. It is wide so it will tend to weathercock and could be flooded or even capsized if a wave hits it broadside. Trying to breach a wave head on will also get you a hull full of water. This is why sea kayaks are closed cockpit boats. That boat design you have is really for lakes and moderate flatwater rivers. it is more similar to a canoe. Would you take a canoe out on the water you are considering? Give it some thought. The open cockpit and "sit on top" boats you see people using in tropical waters tend to be self bailing models and built to be buoyant with float chambers or inflatable sections. Your boat has none of these features. The ocean is big -- be sure you know what you're getting into and are equipped to get yourself back out. Depends on the ocean. In a sheltered bay with warm and tranquil water in calm weather, you might be fine if you stick close to shore. But I would not recommend taking such a recreational-style boat into any kind of surf or heavy currents or colder water or stiff breezes. For one thing it is an open cockpit so you have no way to keep spray and wave wash out of the boat. You would definitely need to take a good high-volume hand pump. There is not enough room for inflatable flotation below deck so you could easily get swamped or even have the boat sink. Second, that model has no rudder or skeg so it’s going to be hard to keep it tracking straight in wind and moving water without tremendous effort. It is wide so it will tend to weathercock and could be flooded or even capsized if a wave hits it broadside. Trying to breach a wave head on will also get you a hull full of water. This is why sea kayaks are closed cockpit boats.

That boat design you have is really for lakes and moderate flatwater rivers. it is more similar to a canoe. Would you take a canoe out on the water you are considering? Give it some thought. The open cockpit and "sit on top" boats you see people using in tropical waters tend to be self bailing models and built to be buoyant with float chambers or inflatable sections. Your boat has none of these features.

The ocean is big — be sure you know what you’re getting into and are equipped to get yourself back out.

]]> By: Theresa http://oldtownkayaks.net/is-taking-my-old-town-tandem-kayak-out-into-the-ocean-a-bad-idea/comment-page-1#comment-263 Theresa Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:07:29 +0000 http://oldtownkayaks.net/is-taking-my-old-town-tandem-kayak-out-into-the-ocean-a-bad-idea#comment-263 I don't believe it's a bad idea as long as you rinse it off afterwards. I gave my husband a kayak for x-mas and wasn't sure if it was for freshwater or salt. (bought it used from a craigslist ad) I called the company hq in Canada and was told you can take ANY kayak in saltwater as long as you rinse it off afterwards. HAVE FUN! I know my hubby will when he takes his out this summer in Lewes DE! I don’t believe it’s a bad idea as long as you rinse it off afterwards.
I gave my husband a kayak for x-mas and wasn’t sure if it was for freshwater or salt. (bought it used from a craigslist ad) I called the company hq in Canada and was told you can take ANY kayak in saltwater as long as you rinse it off afterwards.
HAVE FUN! I know my hubby will when he takes his out this summer in Lewes DE!

]]> By: NATE http://oldtownkayaks.net/is-taking-my-old-town-tandem-kayak-out-into-the-ocean-a-bad-idea/comment-page-1#comment-264 NATE Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:07:29 +0000 http://oldtownkayaks.net/is-taking-my-old-town-tandem-kayak-out-into-the-ocean-a-bad-idea#comment-264 dont matter as long as u wash it out o u also might want to see if they have a spray sqwet that goss with your boat so u dont talk on as much watter is the waves are big dont matter as long as u wash it out o u also might want to see if they have a spray sqwet that goss with your boat so u dont talk on as much watter is the waves are big

]]> By: Ally B http://oldtownkayaks.net/is-taking-my-old-town-tandem-kayak-out-into-the-ocean-a-bad-idea/comment-page-1#comment-265 Ally B Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:07:29 +0000 http://oldtownkayaks.net/is-taking-my-old-town-tandem-kayak-out-into-the-ocean-a-bad-idea#comment-265 You can use any kayak in the ocean as long as it is a safe area you are kayaking in. I recommend rinsing with fresh water after kayaking in the ocean as the salt can gradually erode the kayak especially if it is fiber glass. I have an old town one person kayak I find them great to kayak in the sea with. You can use any kayak in the ocean as long as it is a safe area you are kayaking in. I recommend rinsing with fresh water after kayaking in the ocean as the salt can gradually erode the kayak especially if it is fiber glass. I have an old town one person kayak I find them great to kayak in the sea with.

]]>