At the end of last summer, I started to think about getting a canoe so that my dog could join me on paddles. I got some great advice from Chuck on solo canoes. At this point, my budget is fairly tight (~$500) and while my dog loves the water, I'm not sure how he'll do in a boat for a few hours so I'm not ready for an investment. I came across a used Perception Cove 14.5 Tandem Kayak. The REI ad says "Front seat easily converts to solo position using an intuitive slide-rail system; foot pegs adjust to provide maneuverability in solo position". I'm wondering how easy it'd be for me to paddle & control the boat alone with a 45 lb dog. Thanks in advance!
Re: kayak advice
Posted by Zorro on 4/13/2024, 8:32 am, in reply to "kayak advice"
Your best bet is to test paddle the boat. All the research in the world won’t tell you how you and your pup will enjoy the boat. The boat is over 70 lbs You will have to get this on and off your vehicle and to and from the water.
Re: kayak advice
Posted by Aaron Rouby on 4/13/2024, 10:57 am, in reply to "Re: kayak advice"
Agree with what Zorro said but want to emphasize the weight of the boat. 70 lbs is quite a lot. I would need a "load assist bar" to get that on the roof rack by myself. I would suggest looking in the used market on Craigslist and Facebook marketplace. A "Solo/combi" canoe might fit the bill for you - a canoe that could be paddled tandem but works well paddled solo. Something between 14-16 feet in length probably. The canoe would probably be more comfortable for you and your dog than a tandem kayak, but test paddle is certainly the way to go. Good luck!
Re: kayak advice
Posted by Patricia S Lardner on 4/14/2024, 8:43 am, in reply to "kayak advice"
Roberta, I used a tandem kayak for years with my border collie. It was an old town, Dirigo. It worked beautifully both in thei Adirondacks and locally. The only issue I had with it is it’s kind of heavy..