Hot Wheels
Published April 4, 2010 | 
We’ve all got wheels to take ourselves away
We’ve got telephones to say what we can’t say
We all got higher and higher every day
– emmylou harris
So, I have this friend who’s getting the kayak bug. He doesn’t want to do those “crazy” things I do (Isn’t it strange how sea kayaking or rolling can be seen as “crazy?), but wants to fish… and maybe cruise around a bit too. Of course when someone asks for this sort of advice and has never paddled before, you have to keep Karma in mind. Whatever advice you give will have repercussions in the end. I find it’s best to open doors to ideas, rather than offer my faux-expert advice.
In the process of our discussions we looked at a variety of boats, rec boats, big open cockpit versions like the Pungo, sit-on-tops like the Moken 12 pictured here and others. After a couple weeks the question I feared would show up did.. “Could I take this out to explore around Door County?” Sometimes you just know the open water question is coming. Now was time for some serious advice because you see, while a pungo or a sit-on-top such as the Moken may be perfect for fishing & exploring in local lakes, they may not be your first choice for poking around the white cliffs and caves of Door County. On the other hand, I can’t think of a single sea kayak that comes with a “wheel in the Keel”. Decisions, decisions…
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4 Responses to Hot Wheels
When that “open water question” comes up. I would definitely rather see someone in a sit-on-top rather than a Pungo (assuming I can’t convince them to get a touring/sea kayak), preferably with enough length to provide adequate flotation for the person to climb back on board like a surfboard. Sit-on-tops are used extensively in warm-water/weather destinations even on the open ocean. If you capsize a Pungo, you better be prepared to stay in the water until someone can pull you out or be able to swim to shore (not good options in Lake Michigan). I’ve let students try doing wet exits and rescues with Pungos (and other recreational kayaks) in safe conditions knowing full well that they weren’t going to be successful due to the large open cockpit and insufficient flotation. If they didn’t believe me before, they see the reason behind my boat recommendations after trying the rescues for themselves.
Good points! I’ve taken students out to let them sink their pungos as well. It’s always an eye-opening experience.
SOT boats are definitely the way to go if someone wants a recreational kayak to take onto open water. Rescue is simplified, the boats pretty much can’t sink, and many of them are set up specifically for fishing. Of course, you have to dress as if you expect to get a little wet, but we are supposed to be doing that anyway.
Seeing this kayak on this site, the first thing that crossed my mind is “FERRARI” lol… I agree. Sit on top kayaks is the best way to go. At the end of the day, you need to decide what kind of kayaking you want to do and then do some research on the kind of kayak you will need to buy for the specific activity you want to do.