Kayak for my Wife

I'm  getting a Prowler 15 angler and am looking for something similar for my wife. She is more interested in rec yaking with me than fishing.

She wants stability. I'd like her to get a 14-16 sit on top so she can keep up with me.

She tried the Liquidlogic Manta Ray (14ft) which was OK. Any other suggestions?

Thanks

 

Stability can be "learned" (just like riding a bicycle). Why not get another P15?

Other Yaks to try: IMO

Cobra Tourer
Tarpon 160

She is going to try my P15 this weekend at Tahoe. The Tarpon 160 does look like a possibility. I'd like her try three SOTs before making the plunge.

I just got a P15 and my wife just picked up a T140 because she wasn't comfortable in the Prowler but loved the way the Tarpon handles. She's able to keep up without a problem.

I agree with Mooch, if you like the Ocean Kayak line, get another P-15... My girlfriend rather paddle a Tarpon 160 over a Tarpon 120, becuase it glides better, and is less work.  I guess initially, because she is small, I assumed she'd be more comfy on a smaller kayak.... which is not the case... I'll probably get her a rudder as well on the next Tarpon 160, for easier tracking.  From other East Coast boards, once you go rudder, you never go back... makes sense... 

Chris

On the right boat a rudder can be a great addition.

From other East Coast boards, once you go rudder, you never go back... makes sense... 

Chris

I am not so sure about that statement. When I purchased our 2 Tourers I bought rudder kits but didn't use them right at first. Eventually we installed them and even used them a few times. Last week we took them off again and I just don't think we will ever put them back on. It certainly depends on where you will use the kayaks most and what you plan on doing with the kayak.

We fish the delta and the kelp beds and we also dive out of the kayak so the rudder in the case of the fishing we do can't really be deployed otherwise it would hang up on the kelp or in the delta grass, weeds or the random tree floating just beneath the surface. In the case of diving it was just more clutter and a potential hazard getting into and out of the kayak.

Now there was a few times paddling into the wind in water free from anything that would catch the rudder that it made keeping a straight course without a lot of corrective paddling nice, and a few times drifting for striper in the delta we used them as well. But in the end we found that because we had learned to paddle without them in the first place it was more hassle to use them than not.

My suggestion: If you think you would benefit from them have them installed they aren't really that much more expensive; it is generally only a couple of knots and a couple of screws to remove them later on. But learn or get instruction on paddling technique as well; if nothing else there is always the potential the rudders will break, fail etc. and you don't want to be relying on the rudder system as your main source of moving or turning. I can now turn my 15' Tourer with paddle strokes faster than I can using the rudder.

Jeff

Lots of good stuff here. My wife is 5' 2" (she'll tell you 5'3") and 110 lbs, yet overwhelmingly prefers the 17'x22" SIK over the 14'x26" Scupper Classic. I thought she'd appreciate the shorter length, as it would allow her to maneuver a bit easier. Boy was I wrong. Her comments on the Scupper were "This thing is really slow, isn't it?". She's spent a couple hours in a Cobra Tandem rented from MBK, otherwise her entire kayaking experience is in SIK boats. That will kind of prejudice you

Shorter, lighter paddlers are (generally) inherently more stable than heavier, taller paddlers. Smaller paddlers may also appreciate the better glide of a longer boat. Since (many) smaller paddlers have figured out easy ways to get the cumbersome boat to the water, a shorter, lighter boat may not be of any great advantage. Wider boats may also not be any advantage.

Consider me an individual that is in complete agreement with both scwafish and freediverca. Rudders do have their place, but they also have drawbacks to offset their advantages.

Regards,
Scott

my wife really likes her Tarpon 140...thats all I know   

On the right boat a rudder can be a great addition.

The Tarpon 160 is very hard to turn without a rudder. I never use it without the rudder. On other kayaks, I don't use the rudder as much.

Congrats on your new "toys" and congrats for having a keeper wife

I would never trade a kayak for your wife.  Maybe two?     

Sorry bud.  You left the opening.  I had to take it.