Thanks for the great overview of the industry. It was covered with dust and had the name of a Tukwila, WA Dive Shop on it and SEA OTTER on the rear deck. 1. Like any kayak, there are plenty of ways you can improve a basic Old Town Otter kayak. One day while paddling out of Clallam Bay, the wind picked up and was coming out of the Northwest. The model is sea otter. This was just Mike Neckar, care of somewhere in Garibaldi Park. Combined with the low-volume stern, this also gives predictable handling in following seas. Cal. Others had homebuilt boats whose hulls resembled European downriver racing kayaks or traditional fold-boats, so that by 1974 when commercial production was just getting going, most Seattle-area kayakers were already paddling fiberglass. The boat will initiate a turn with a slight lean and then make a sharp turn when put high on edge (TE). The first Easy Rider sea kayak, circa 1975, was the Dolphin, designed by Dan Ruuskaanother ex-Boeing engineer who went from moulding ultra-sleek engine intakes to hydrodynamic hulls. Expect to pay between $150 and $250 for a used Old Town Otter kayak in good shape. Rudder is controlled by sliding adjustable footpegs. I just wanted to have a little kayak store that I could run for a few months of the year and I couldpaddle and I could ski. Well into the 80s, if Fink saw a kayak on the highway it was probably one hed sold. Its not much different than todayexcept you have to go build your own boat. I bought this little boat already built, so I cannot comment on the building process, but I can review the boat itself. Starved out, decimated by smallpox, swindled by the fur trade, and seduced by religion, rifles, whiskey, sewing needles, sedentary comforts. MondayFriday: 9:00AM5:00PM Like the other manufacturers, Tieken saw the need for a distinct North American design that was beginner-friendly, so he came up with his flagship, the Sealution, introduced at the L.L. Own 10 kayaks in several locations, Aquaterra chinook, my first serious kayak, bought in 1981, several from West Side boat shop in NY, an Express from Mariner (best rough water performer,) an Epic 18, and inter alia, a boat from Warren Light craft, which weights 28 lbs, now my most used boat. 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. The Old Town Otter kayak is a great boat for the cottage, beach or campground, offering worry-free durability. There is ample stowage in the three bulkheaded compartments, enough for weekend and week-long cruises. Highway 1 Discovery Route is a destination in its own right! The Old Town Otter offers excellent value in a basic, entry-level recreational kayak that fits a wide range of paddlers and performs well in flatwater conditions. The thigh braces fit and functioned very well, and the foot braces performed solidly and are easy to reach and adjust from the cockpit (GL). KN57, 125-pound female. GL thought the Intrepid was a good-looking kayak with good speed and plenty of stowage for long trips. Dowd is also credited with coining the term sea kayaking with the publication of his book of that title in 1981. Furrer, a design engineer from Austria who had toured in folding kayaks since the 1940s, built his first fiberglass kayak in 1965a slender Greenland-style boat he called the Eskimo. Look for a spray skirt size of 2.5 from popular manufacturer Seals Sprayskirts to fit all Old Town Otter models except the tandem Old Town Otter Twin. Slade had started out by importing Derek Hutchinson Baidarka Explorers from Britain: When Neckar saw these he thought they were crap, which seems to have been a typical North American response to the British designs. Its easy to spend an afternoon making an Otter kayak more comfortable and functional with modifications. 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. I still measure kayaks against that kayak. 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). 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. Lower profile model is available. 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. Eddyline Kayaks was started by Tom and Lisa Derrer in 1971 out of a tiny shop in Boulder, Colorado. People thought I was nuts, remembers Moyer. With its design dating back to the 1990s, the Old Town Otter is one of the original recreational kayaks. 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. They were still here, clothed in skins, dancing in igloos, beating on drums, walking the ridges, and spearing caribou at river crossings, when I was a young boy learning to ride a tricycle in a Boston suburb and John Kennedy had a decade yet to live. Thats pretty much how it was in the early years of sea kayaking. The most challenging paddle destinations for kayaking in the Pacific Northwest (in the south) include the Klickitat River, Wind River, Little White Salmon River and more. Here musk ox pound craters in the snow with their chins to reach winter grass. 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 co-owners Lee and Judy Moyer. Its also a good choice for paddlers looking for a lightweight kayak thats easy to car-top and carry to the launch. [ Paddling Buyers Guide: See all rotomolded plastic kayaks ]. It was the year that two of TASKs key promotional visions were realized: a magazine and a symposium. In 1959, WKC member Ted Houk designed the clubs first fiberglass kayak. 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. It's a loss for the industry.". Teak In Great Condition, Too. Fiberglass, 16' 2" long, 26" wideGreen deck. Deck: 11/2-oz. The sea kayaking industry as we know it did not happen by accident. Shorter kayaks are always more maneuverable than long ones, and the compact, 9.5-foot Old Town Otter is easy to turn and handle. Hung seat. Two cleats farther forward secure a bow painter that can double as a rescue grab line. Yet Nimbus became a fulltime business by around 1976starving to death in the winter., [ Read more: Explore The Kayaking Capital Just Minutes From Downtown Vancouver ]. 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. Joe's and other large-scale retailers. 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. These are very well regarded boats that have been on many short lists of the best touring boats of their time. Lake Powell is a wonder of water sport recreation, glorious views, spectacular hiking, rich. Price: $1,200.00 18 foot osprey pacific water sports kayak and 16 foot sea otter pacific water sports kayak. 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. The aft hatch is large enough for easy stowage of bulky items. Similar Old Town Loon kayaks are available at paddlesports retailers across North America. We were greeted kindly, filled out our paperwork quickly and then were outfitted and briefed efficiently. Both are fiberglass and in excellent condition. Kayak Rentals and Guided tours of Elkhorn, Slough in Moss Landing. After about a year he started his own production of Current Designs kayaks on Vancouver Island. Kind of reminds of the Hurricane Tracker. In this little blue fiberglass kayak turning was easy not turning was impossible. The wide kayak had a lot of rocker and a flat bottom. I gave it a 10 because it deserves it. KN found the Intrepid easy to roll, as did TE, though the height of the aft deck kept him from getting close to the aft deck for a lay back roll. A look back through the history of sea kayaking shows how the sport transformed from a tiny niche activity in 1972 to one of wide and enduring popularity today. [ Paddling Buyers Guide: See all Eddyline sea kayaks ]. Open daily 9:00 (except Christmas). 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. Monterey, California Features animals Contact Suggest edits to improve what we show. steve. Concerning some of the small details: We do not include rescue bungies because we have never considered them to be positive enough. Many people find Greenland cockpits uncomfortable, but I have found that regular stretching makes all the difference. It seems quite capable of handing the work of cruising while it is also a quick and responsive day paddler. We have an optional paddle-float rescue system of rope and cleats we believe is much more positive and is easier to set up while you are laying on the kayak, out of the water. Lots of room for camping gear. 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. Meanwhile, in the Garibaldi Highlands just south of Whistler Village, a gruff Czech immigrant and whitewater champion named Mike Neckar was also moulding whitewater boats on an informal basis in a falling-down shop in the rainforest. I decided when Icame back I wasnt going to be a construction worker anymore. They underestimated the cost of the move and were slow to lay off their 12 employees when the recession hit, said Lee Moyer. No other leakage was reported. Read Sea Otter R reviews or submit your own review to share with the paddling community. This may be a good place to introduce yourself and your site or include some credits. "When we started out, it was all people who got into the business because they loved paddling," said Judy Moyer, surrounded by bright liquidation-sale signs in the store yesterday. The current Old Town Loon 106 measures a foot longer than the Otter, upping its maximum paddler capacity to 272 pounds. 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. If I dont have that slight tingle in my spine, the anticipation of whats to come, then its not the kayak for me. Or, if youre lucky, you can find someonewith a bit of experience to build you a boatfor a few hundred bucks. We figured out how to get back in it if we somehow flipped at sea. -- Finis Mitchell Sea otter and osprey kayaks Last week I wrote about how I bought some new kayaks. The short length makes the Old Town Otter perfect for exploring narrow rivers and wetlands; however, the short length makes it bob like a cork in waves and chopstick to sheltered water and easy rivers for best performance and safety. The kayaks we make give me that tingle. In 1975, before turning his full attention to the paddle business, Furrer designed the WT-500 (Werner Touring, 500 centimetres long). The secondary stability is excellent. He would paddle the Sea Otter and I would paddle the old blue kayak. Hung seat. Includes spray skirts and paddles for both. Well balanced for wind. For straight paddling, the seat was comfortable throughout a five-hour paddle (GL). It does a fine job of doing what it is designed for (KN). Email. As the shock cord at the hatches ages and loosens, it can be easily re-knotted to tighten the seal of the hatches if leaks develop. There is an extra pair of straps on the aft hatch that could serve to secure a deck load or a spare take-apart paddle. And that seems to be what most of our boats are actually geared to doing.. 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. From paddling a kayak someone made to paddling a kayak I made. The Old Town Otter kayaks rudimentary outfitting reveals its stature as a vintage recreational kayak. Pacific Water Sports SEA OTTER fiberglass KAYAK with rudder - $1000 (Spokane SCC) View larger image Ad id: 2502207307104377 Views: 643 Price: $1,000.00 This is a beautiful fiberglass sea kayak made in Canada by Lee Moyer. This recreational kayak is easy to handle in flatwater conditions and up to Class II moving water, if equipped with a spray skirt. Flatwater conditions and up to Class II moving water, if Fink saw a kayak on highway! 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