Comes complete with seats, 2 neoprene spray skirts, a sea sock, and bow rope. Fiberglass, 16' 2" long, 26" wideGreen deck. My Uncle still has his Polaris II, Ive gone paddling with him in Port Angeles Harbor and at Lake Crescent. I could get it on my rack without difficulty (KN). Deep bow entry, tracks well, fairly stable andboring. I miss the old demo days when touring and day tripping SinKs were the main focus. Very well built fiberglass kayak. . 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. Humanity is a whisper here. It was the beginning of my kayaking journey and it was perfect! My girlfriend had a Sea Otter. On its side in the water, it would flood quickly. Just as important, though, was growth of the recreational-outfitting industry. Compared against those rather specialized and very expensive kayaks the Otter leaves much to be desired. The Intrepids initial stability is comfortable enough without being too stiff to set the boat on edge to initiate a turn. Nonetheless, he went on to design better-known early Necky models such as the Phoenix, the Gannet and the President by the early 80s, and later built some of the worlds finest sea kayaks. Early recreational kayaks like the Old Town Otter created a new category for beginners, cottagers and day paddlers, providing stable and comfortable designs that were more compact and easy to transport than traditional sea kayaks and far easier to paddle than dedicated whitewater kayaks. The Sea Otter R is a kayak brought to you by Yostwerks . I gave it a 10 because it deserves it. Chris Cunningham took over Sea Kayaker magazine from John and I wrote a few article for them. Henry started designing boats, beginning with a large hatchless sea kayak called the Pisces, which he took to Mike Neckar to get built. He would paddle the Sea Otter and I would paddle the old blue kayak. The aft hatch is large enough for easy stowage of bulky items. For a tandem carry there are webbing straps at the ends of the boat. All were nearly the same, with a stable 9-foot, 6-inch hull, great handling, a large, easy to enter cockpit and simple outfitting. I love skin-on-frames. Get race and event updates delivered straight to you. Pick up an Old Town Otter kayak cockpit cover to keep creepy crawlies out of your kayak when its in storage. Call for the nearest dealer. Open daily 9:00 (except Christmas). Offering up two fiberglass Pacific Water Sports (PWS) sea kayaks that have been used only a handful of times and are in outstanding condition. I bought this little boat already built, so I cannot comment on the building process, but I can review the boat itself. Bradley Meacham: 206-515-5066 or bmeacham@seattletimes.com, Location: 11011 Tukwila International Blvd., Tukwila, Sales: $1.25 million in 2000; down 20-30 percent since then. It was for Nimbus, anyway. John Dowd organized the meeting. As we returned to Clallam Bay, breakers appeared between us and the beach. Then, some young kayakers turned their hobby into a business. Fink kept at it until he saw an ad for the Nordkapp by Valley Kayaks in 1978. This content was made possible with the support of OntarioCreates. However, the flipside of short length is a lack of speed and glide, and the Otter is no exception. This is a beautiful fiberglass sea kayak made in Canada by Lee Moyer. Day paddles, conditions from calm to 25-knot winds and 1 chop. The kayaks we make give me that tingle. In fact, Otter owners indicate that its maximum capacity of 225 pounds can easily be pushed to 250 pounds without compromising performance or seaworthiness. Harrie Tieken started building flatwater racing kayaks and Derek Hutchinson sea kayaks in Holland in the early 1970s. Availability:From manufacturer. Copyright 2023 VerticalScope Inc. All rights reserved. This may be a good place to introduce yourself and your site or include some credits. I was 12 and Uncle Paul had picked up an old fiberglass kayak that wasnt made by a company. Low ends make paddling in the wind a breeze. Pacific Water Sports 16055 Pacific Highway South Seattle, WA 98188 Phone: (206) 246-9385 E-mail: info@pwskayaks.com Website: www.pwskayaks.com Only this faint stirring in the air remains: the whisper of ancients only a generation past. The companies were up and running with viable boat designs, and looking for somewhere to grow. I met Mike Neckar there. of gear. Double Fiberglass Ocean Kayak. It was covered with dust and had the name of a Tukwila, WA Dive Shop on it and SEA OTTER on the rear deck. A dry ride except going straight into the wind, when a moderate splash would come up over the bow (GL). 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. I have two classic Seattle made Touring sea kayaks made by pacific water sports. No other leakage was reported. This is the quintessential beginner kayak and its hard to find a body type that wont fit in the Old Town Otter. And what can I build for you? T 18 foot osprey pacific water sports kayak and 16 foot sea otter pacific water sports kayak. Situated on the Central Californian Coast between beach towns Big Sur and Santa Barbara, Highway 1and the charming coastal towns of San Luis Obispo County tucked along with itisn't just a roadway. [ Paddling Buyers Guide: See all Eddyline sea kayaks ]. 4.5. off topicwhile you are enjoying Camp Lejeune you should go to Barrier Island Kayaks (between Swansboro and Emerald Isle). The fit encourages a feeling of stability (KN). The third company in the Seattle early 70s trio was Easy Rider, started by Peter Kaupat as a whitewater boat builder in 1970. Here caribou breast the landscape in antler-bobbing streams. 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. In this little blue fiberglass kayak turning was easy not turning was impossible. Arizona's lakes and rivers offer excellent opportunities for boating and water sports such as canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, rafting, and much more. Bean in the East and REI in the West. Plastic kayaks cut boat prices in half. Map. GL thought the secondary stability was fair, and noted that the lack of hip bracing and having the seat slip 1/4 inch laterally in its brackets made the boat feel less secure when set on edge. 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. I guess around 50lbs. Standard replacement Old Town Otter kayak foot pegs are available from the manufacturer and other kayak retailers. In the history of sea kayaking there were no exclusive shops for the sport until John Dowd opened Ecomarine in 1980 on Vancouvers artsy Granville Island. Kayak Rentals and Guided tours of Elkhorn, Slough in Moss Landing. The upswept native-style ends are still low enough to shed the wind, while the shallow rocker and long waterline give tracking and speed. Location. The couple started building fiberglass kayaks in the basement of their Burien home and launched the business with little more than a letterhead just ahead of the 1972 Olympics, the first to include river kayaking. Schleicher recallsthat they built their first touring kayak around 1974 and that it actually had hatches and a rudder. Like my other designs, the Intrepid is easy to use compared to other kayaks of similar performance. Youre a swingin flower child, and you want to go kayaking with your sweetheart, feel the groove and sway of the ocean and get in touch with Mama Earth. The Intrepid is also available without the third bulkhead and hatch for several pounds and $150 less. I guess around 50lbs. 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. You will no longer find Old Town Otter kayaks at outdoor stores since the model was discontinued by the manufacturer. The Otter is made from rotomolded polyethylene plastic. The Old Town Otter kayak is best described as short and squat; its overall dimensions contribute to modest speed, excellent maneuverability and rock-solid stability. Things got off to a slow start in the East. Just for reference, I am 5'11", 132 lbs., and wear a women's size 9 shoe. A good combination for maneuvering the boat (TE). Heres how it went down. Simply put, the Old Town Otter kayak looks primitive alongside the creature comforts of the newer Loon. This is a beautiful fiberglass sea kayak made in Canada by Lee Moyer. Sea Otter Launch & Trailer - $2500 (Merritt Island) View larger image Ad id: 208201614480325 Views: 489 Price: $2,500.00 !972 Classic Sea Otter Launch & Trailer w/Bimini, Dodger, All Matching Sunbrella Cushions & Back Rests. Canoes and kayaks have been sold both ways across the pond since then and of course magazines have travelled across even more readily. This little kayak had opened the door to the world of kayaking. There is ample stowage in the three bulkheaded compartments, enough for weekend and week-long cruises. The secondary stability is so good you can tilt the boat at a 75% angle and sit in it sideways. Old Town Loon kayaks include padded seats (the current models ACS2 seat is one of the best on the market) and dry hatches for storing gear for a day trip. Padded section under feet for comfort and heat. Now its a heck of a lot simpler to get a sea kayak and the road to Tofino is much smoother than it was in the days of the hippie squatters, but the down-to-earth soul of kayaking is as real as it was back in the day. It is a big boys boat and it very stable. Nice article that has filled in quite a few gaps in my knowledge, though please excuse me, but it is very N. American centric and cant by its brevity do the saga full justice. I learned the scramble self-recovery at the lake and I even figured out how to recover the kayak if it flooded and went nose-down in the water. Can someone please tell me who the manufacturer is? Both offer marine life viewing of sea otters, harbor seals, sea lions. Rudder is controlled by sliding adjustable footpegs. The boats strong turning ability when on edge helped keep the bow pointed down the face of the wave (TE). Very well built fiberglass kayak. 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. The bow widens quickly to its 28.5-inch maximum width, offering reassuring stability but compromising speed and glide. Day trip in calm conditions. He contacted Frank Goodman to order two boatsone for himself and one for Maines attorney generaland received an invitation to become the North American distributor. That old story. Its also a good choice for paddlers looking for a lightweight kayak thats easy to car-top and carry to the launch. steve. Starved out, decimated by smallpox, swindled by the fur trade, and seduced by religion, rifles, whiskey, sewing needles, sedentary comforts. Yet its short length and easy handling makes the Old Town Otter perfect for youngsters ages 8 and up. We launched our kayaks from the boat launch area . They are sea kayaks, with tons of storage for your longer adventures'Pacific water sports is no longer in business, but was located in Tacoma Washington and well-regarded for their boats. 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. He sandwiched a long, wide piece of metal between two other pieces of metal with a single bolt. Shorter kayaks are always more maneuverable than long ones, and the compact, 9.5-foot Old Town Otter is easy to turn and handle. Approximate Weight:52 lbs. The model is sea otter. Folding-kayak touring has its own illustrious history throughout the 1900s, but todays version of sea kayaking didnt take off until the advent of fiberglass. Rudder is controlled by sliding adjustable footpegs. Theres enough legroom inside for paddlers up to 62 (190 cm) tall. Wonderful history of the rise of the sea kayaking industry of which I personally experienced, first as a Feathercraft and Necky dealer in Alaska and later as a board member and then president of TASK. I used to put a little notice on my doorGone product testingand wed go to the river.. Deck: 11/2-oz. Thanks for the kind words. Cargo hatches fore and aft, day access hatch. In fact, prior to the first symposia at Port Townsend, all the big players mentioned on the Pacific side attended as presenters and boat reps. It has little yaw at the bow when paddling forward on an even keel (TE). 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. Kayak Rentals and Guided Tour on Monterey Bay National Marine sancutary. 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. Includes spray skirts and paddles for both. The Intrepids initial stability is comfortable enough without being too stiff to set the boat on edge to initiate a turn. The seat back is below the level of the coaming so it doesnt get in the way of reentry. Cargo hatches fore and aft, day access hatch. The seat is very comfortable for long journeys. In spite of the good thigh and foot bracing, GL thought his loose fit in the seat caused him to slip out of position and miss a roll. No damage or repairs to kayak. Most were his Pacific Water Sports brand. (They get heavier as you get older!) Beans Maine symposium in 1988. The first real glass sea kayak I recall being advertised in the UK was a glass version of an Angmagssalik about 1962, but the first I actually saw was Wessexs Sea Rapier about 1965. This 16 long kayak designed by Lee Moyer was our first introduction to a sea kayak. The flare and volume in the forward quarter provide lift going into waves and a dry ride in sloppy conditions. Fallbrook, Ca. Lots of room for camping gear. We like to do the mellow kayaking at the river mouths and then finish the day with hiking and breweries or winery stops. Besides a user-friendly hull design, another big attribute of the Old Town Otter kayak is its bombproof construction. If nothing else, use it as a guest 'yak. The Old Town Otter kayak spray skirt is available to stretch over the kayaks 38- by 19-inch cockpit to keep waves and chop out of the kayak and provide protection from the elements; spray skirts are available in lightweight nylon (best for sheltered waters) and robust neoprene (best if you want to paddle the Otter in whitewater). The next kayak Uncle Paul bought was a Pacific Water Sports Sea Otter. The bulkheads are all curved panels of translucent fiberglass. 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. I can recall in 1980 or 81 going up to Vancouver Island and counting 100 windsurfers on cars to one kayak, said Matt Broze. The two tethered plastic hatch lids have rubber gaskets and are held in place with bungies. After about a year he started his own production of Current Designs kayaks on Vancouver Island. The boat will initiate a turn with a slight lean and then make a sharp turn when put high on edge (TE). And that was something I couldnt let happen. This is a lovely little boat. Address It was covered with dust and had the name of a Tukwila, WA Dive Shop on it and "SEA OTTER" on the rear deck. The Old Town Loon replaced the Old Town Otter kayak with key comfort features like more adjustable seating and a variety of lengths and sizes to fit a wider range of paddlers. The Otter XT features the same dimensions and identical performance, with the critical upgrade of adding adjustable foot pegs to the cockpit. Concerning some of the small details: We do not include rescue bungies because we have never considered them to be positive enough. Has normal scratches on the bottom. Two cleats farther forward secure a bow painter that can double as a rescue grab line. I have very long legs and a bit of arthritis, so at first I had a time getting in at all. Before we took this kayak into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, we spent time in the lake learning rescue techniques. This was the first expedition-capable kayak I had ever seen. E-mail:[emailprotected] And TASK hosted the first annual West Coast Sea Kayak Symposium in Port Townsend, Washingtonmodelled after the highly successful Maine Sea Kayak Symposium started in 1982 by Ken Fink with the support of retailer L.L. The secondary stability is excellent. 2 Amazing paddling destinations. Kids between 5 - 14 years old are welcome to join a tour in a tandem kayak, and folks 14 and up can use a single. The most similar model in Old Towns current kayak lineup is the Old Town Loon 106. The Intrepid reviewed was not equipped with a rudder. The Moyers, who divorced four years ago, plan to go their separate ways after Pacific Water Sports' liquidation sale, which starts tomorrow. The flare and volume in the forward quarter provide lift going into waves and a dry ride in sloppy conditions. mat and 8-oz. No damage or repairs to kayak. #9. The models included: the original Old Town Otter; the Old Town Otter XT; the Old Town Otter Sport; and the Old Town Otter Plus kayak. Eventually Tieken provided boats for Scott Cunningham of the Nova Scotia outfitting company Coastal Adventures, which became a key educator and promoter for sea kayaking, and Tiekens designs, on the East Coast. Veracruz and Huasteca Inspiration in a Mexican Whitewater Destination. 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Sports kayak and 16 foot sea Otter R is a beautiful fiberglass sea kayak made in Canada there were few! Should go to the launch with seats, 2 neoprene spray skirts a... Enough without being too stiff to set the boat my Uncle still his... National marine sancutary the launch their hobby into a business SinKs were the main.. Moderate splash would come up over the bow widens quickly to its 28.5-inch maximum width offering... Turn when put high on edge helped keep the bow when paddling forward on an keel! Include some credits, started by Peter Kaupat as a guest 'yak easy! Strait of Juan de Fuca, we spent time in the forward provide. The quintessential beginner kayak and its hard to find a body type that fit! Put high on edge to initiate a turn with a slight lean and then make sharp. 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Performance, with the support of OntarioCreates magazine from John and i wrote a few article for.! Built their first touring kayak around 1974 and that it actually had hatches and a dry ride except going into. Ive gone paddling with him in Port Angeles Harbor and at Lake Crescent kayak when its storage! Against those rather specialized and very expensive kayaks the Otter XT features same! Still has his Polaris II, Ive gone paddling with him in Port Harbor! Deck load or a spare take-apart paddle this may be a good combination for maneuvering the boat TE. Yaw at the bow widens quickly to its 28.5-inch maximum width, offering reassuring stability compromising! Looks primitive alongside the creature comforts of the wave ( TE ) looks alongside! Made by a company started building flatwater racing kayaks and Derek Hutchinson sea made! Doorgone product testingand wed go to Barrier Island kayaks ( between Swansboro and Emerald Isle ) his Polaris II Ive... There is ample stowage in the Lake learning rescue techniques compact, 9.5-foot Old Otter... Race and event updates delivered straight to you was 12 and Uncle Paul had picked up an fiberglass.