Is A Tandem Kayak Right For You?

Double Duty, Double Trouble

By Haywood U. Splashless

They call tandem kayaks "divorce boats" because paddling together in the same boat can test any marriage. However, as long as your spouse is in the forward seat, you won't have any problem. You can make sure she is pulling her weight, and she can't see you slacking off. Perfect. Just tell her you are "ruddering," and, no, that wasn't the sound of a beer opening.

Seriously, tandem kayaking can work pretty well. My wife Leslie and I have enjoyed our Perception Acadia II on many occasions, paddling small lakes around Memphis, navigating the tight turns and unpredictable currents of the upper Wolf River in West Tennessee, even crossing the Intracoastal Waterway along the Florida Gulf Coast. It just takes some teamwork and a little patience.

It also takes a strong back. Tandem kayaks come in all lengths and weights, of course, but, by and large (mostly large), the full-featured polyethylene recreational versions most of us can afford are heavy. Ours is especially so, weighing in at 82 pounds. At 14 feet long, that's a cumbersome load for a guy to get on the roof of the van.

Another consideration is this: once paddlers become somewhat proficient at the sport, they clamor for their own boat. You just don't have the same sort of freedom in a tandem that you do in your own personal kayak. Tandem kayaking is a kind of marriage, remember.


That said, our Acadia is a dreamboat once it's in the water. At 33 inches wide, stability is outstanding. Its wide open cockpit has room for people and gear. There's a removable kid's seat in the middle in case you want to bean your child with your paddle. There's also a hatch in the stern in case you want to hide the evidence. It moves surprisingly well and has good glide for such a wide boat. And because it has a keel configuration at the stern as well as channels along the bottom, it tracks pretty well without a rudder. In waves, there is some flex–unavoidable with such a large cockpit. But the ride stays pretty dry, even in a good chop.

On occasion, I have slid the forward seat to the mid ship position and gone kayak fishing in it. It's a lot like having a canoe or even a small john boat. Plenty of room for your tackle box, ice chest, rods, the works. And, again, the stability is reassuring. I wouldn't want to single hand the Acadia II for long distances, but it's a great fishing boat near the docks.

Since buying the tandem, I have bought a fishing sit-on-top for my solo fishing/camping excursions. We also have an Old Town Otter that our daughter uses. So, I can just about guarantee that if a tandem is your first kayak purchase, others will follow. Don't be tricked into thinking that one boat will do simply because it's a tandem.

Tandems do come in handy. If you have three paddlers and only room on the rack for two kayaks, problem solved. If you want to take a passenger out, young or old, who can't or won't paddle, tandems are the answer.

I often wonder, if I had it to do over again, would I still buy a tandem? There's a wonderful freedom you get paddling solo. You are one with your boat. But there's something special about sharing a boat, too, with a child or grandchild, or perhaps your dog. And when it comes to your spouse, being in the same boat just seems right somehow. Especially when you've been married since 1984. And really, what would you rather be one with, a boat or a spouse?


Feeling the power of your shipmate move you physically through the water can move you in other ways. Relying on each other. Making small decisions together. Passing the camera back and forth. Letting her rest as you propel her along. Feeling the true weight of her being in the world. Seeing up close her reaction to the world around her. Knowing she is right there, safe with you. These are the pluses of tandem paddling. And if she packs a lunch, all the better.

You can find other opinions of the Acadia II and many other kayaks at paddling.net.

ACADIA II
Specifications

Length:	14' 3" / 434 cm
Width:	33.25" / 84 cm
Max Capacity:	650 lbs. / 295 kg
Deck Height:	13.75" / 35 cm
Weight:	82 lbs. / 37 kg
Cockpit Length:	86.75" / 220 cm
Cockpit Width:	24.5" / 62 cm