Do you kayak dive?

[kjc]

We used to play kayak polo in the Scramblers but after a few years switched to river boats.

I always wished I could have joined you with doing that Jeff!

To help answer Kenny's question, it depends on the hull configuration, and the weight distribution and other physical properties....

If you were to do a lot of web research, you could read about weight load capacities and other specifications, and make decisions based on your personal preferences.

What I have found is that how you choose to transport your kayak to and from where you come and go to is almost a more important decision then anything else. Whichever kayak you choose, put as much energy into your method of transporting it, lifting it on and off your vehicle and ketting it into the water. Nothing worse then having the damn thing come off on the freeway!

I have a Yakima roof rack system with saddles and tie downs, and a kayak dolly to hike the kayak to the beach.

If cost is an issue for you with just the hull selection only, you might miss out on recognizing some of the other gear costs.

To pick out just the right hull for yourself, you might want to find a way to paddle different ones. Maybe there are rentals your could try, or paddle clubs near by, or friends near by...

Newer models are very different in design then older ones though, so do both a paddle test and a web search for info if you choose to buy a brand new one.

Sit-on top kayaks are not specifically designed just for SCUBA diving though, they are mostly designed for other things like fishing, but they have enough features for diving to get you by.

[jeffkruse]

I couldnt agree more with you Kevin! You need to spend some time up front and make it so it only takes a couple of minutes to put the kayak/s on your car. I kayaked two or three times a week with different boats. If it took me more than 3 minutes to get one kayak on the car then I was having a bad day! It must be super easy to put on and take off!!! Getting 6 kayaks on the ford escort took about 10 minutes.

[peterthewolf]

So what dive kayak do you use?
What are the ups and downs you have noticed from using your particular kayak?

Anybody ever try out the Sevylor inflatable 1 or 2 seater dive kayak?

I have xk2020 sevylor diveyak. Fantastic.

I like that it has 5 air chambers, and I can get on/off or bounce out of the water up onto it and sit on it with my weight belt on the gunwhale; it only tips 20 degrees and is totally stable. And everything is tied down on the open floor where I can see it with a bunch of steel d-rings all over the floor. Ive tied one foot long tethers all over it that I use so I can throw anything over the side, clipped, or easily run them through gear. I use the brass double ended clips for that. I agree that a rudder would be good for longer paddles; a downside is that my stroke at nearly 3 feet wide has to be pretty wide, and the directional strakes on the bottom could do more I think to keep me going forward while my paddle strokes go by. But I LOVE being able to throw it at 40 pounds and folded, into the trunk if no truck that day, or onto a roof basket. I shoulder it and walk to the beach where inflation is a matter of about 8 minutes with a hand pump. My particular model doesn't have to be as rigid; somehow it takes my 144 lbs gracefully without bending much. The Coral Sea is a similar model, but a single seater (I'd really call mine a 1.5 seater though they call it 2- that's 2 for freediving but not scuba, or very comfortably 1 with scuba). Yes, you'd have to blow the Coral Sea up more carefully for being rigid. But then again, my buddy, for whom I bought one, is 220 lbs. That boat is only 25 lbs, also folding, and although it is 9 feet to my 13, it has advantages. It has 3 1.5 inch straps with abs buckles for holding all kinds of stuff down in the stern, a foot-rest that makes paddling more comfortable than mine, and an integrated bag up front for gear in the nose. 3 chambers, and strictly one person. But similarly stable to mine. These two are like zodiaks of kayaks in terms of construction, with the two bulging gunwhales coming back from the nose, protruding behind - and you can put a motor on them... if you dare the heat from purists...

Ok, ok. I'll dare! Just yesterday I put the collapsable bar and board transom kit onto it, and have electric motor will travel in wind! Don't yell at me, but it's pretty cool to have it along. I have yet to use it after owning it a year, just wanted to be sure to appreciate and become seaworthy with the yak itself first. Feel better?

As for the motor, it's a Minn-kota Riptide 40 seawater motor, the smallest of them, which will do 4.5 to almost 5mph for 1.5 hours on the smaller battery of two available, group 27. If you go slower, about *twice* as fast as you can paddle, it has juice for about 3 or 4 hours! I chose it after talking with their engineer folks, who wouldn't give me a straight answer for electric as compared to gas ( I didn't want the noise or stink). Finally, although they would not convert horsepower to "torque", they said that the thing is instant on, and my butt had better be sitting when I click it on, because I am less than 1/4 of the weight including me, gear and boat than the 1000 lbs that it will push. I figured to have it along as a safety thing if the wind comes up, or to be able to go out a little later (when it -is- up some), motor into the wind, and intelligently paddle back with it behind me...and have the motor again just for an extra safety. Here on CA Northcoast, that's a good thing, and the wind usually blows by and toward shore in the afternoon. Still, rest assured fellow kayakers, I like to paddle! I'm not the kind of person who gets spoiled; I do however really look forward to enjoying this, and having that extra bit of ability to navigate around. Give a holler if you have any questions.

[diver1tony]

Hi TwinDuct,

I have not kayak dived and would love to try it. I have an ocean kayak and is ready for diving, just don't want to try it by myself. If interested to buddy dive how about this weekend meet if the weather permits?

tony

[SwellMagna]

The thing to do is be sure that you don't roll the kayak,and dump your gear. So I have modified my cargo area where I store my gear withtie down straps that secure everything, and I keep my BC inflated. I secureeverything moderately tight, then I inflate the BC into the straps until itstight. That way, if it does roll, it won't clunk. Everything is tied off beforeI get back in.