My wife and I rented a tandem kayak today and it was our first time. We are in our mid fifties, above average fitness for our age, and married 34 years. We paddled Navajo Lake in Utah and it was very windy. I don’t need to go into detail that it took all of our marital skills to traverse the two mile lake. It took us three hours and at times the wind was so strong we didn’t move while paddling. Now that we are done I am laughing so hard at the divorce boat comments. We were completely exhausted at the end and really cold from being wet from white cap waves at times. No doubt, tandem kayaking is not for the faint of heart or for those who struggle to work with their partner, similar to hooking up a truck and trailer or backing your trailer into an RV spot or loading a boat into a ramp. My stomach hurts from the adventure today, but even more so from laughing at the comments and article on the tandem kayak endeavor.
My first kayak was a tandem, I have 5 young girls. It was the perfect boat! I can have as many as 3 girls with me. I can do all the work and they enjoy the experience!!Now we have plenty of single kayaks, we can spread out more now!
I'm with you! Tandem kayaks is how I shared the water with my daughter for the first 7 years, before she could really start paddling her own kayak. I would even run whitewater rivers with her in the Jackson Kayak Dynamic Duo. Awesome way to introduce kids to the water!
You made my day by saying you’re going to be doing the tandem more! I think it’s great to make connections with our partners and what a better way to share the beauty of the water together in a new fun way! I, myself, love to look down into the water, near the shorelines, to see the fish and other wildlife. It’s so relaxing and peaceful. Thanks for the video!!!
we were "canoodists" for 20 years before the kayak bug bit so we had plenty of experience but truthfully we enjoy spending time with each other on the water. through the years it has been in the Big Tuna, then the Kilroy DT and now in the Take Two. we put out a tandem tip video last year i believe that we hoped would help folks stop calling these "divorce boats" LOL even though we both run solo boats as well, some of the most memorable times on the water were just spent together in the tandem.
Last year I bought my first kayak which was in fact a tandem kayak 😂 I was looking for something, my girlfriend and I could enjoy together as our interests sometimes differ a lot. She is more of the chill out type of person where I like to challenge myself and always go a little bit further exploring. And I heard the term "divorce boat" a lot when I did my research and feared that it would end up in a disaster. But I must say I love kayaking our Prijon Poseidon and I just regret not buying a tandem kayak earlier. And the best is, she loves it too. When she gets exhausted on a trip, I can drive her around with no problem and I love it. We took it on so many trips over the last 2 years and every one of them was so much fun and we were making memories of places you could not see without a boat. Of course you have to talk about what your expectations are as you are literally sitting in the same boat 😅 But if you are considerate to your partner it is just so much fun. So don't be afraid to try it out 😂 Thanks for the video, Ken! 😊 I would really love to see more tandems reviewed or some Prijon boats as they are manufactured near my hometown and provide some good quality stuff, especially their HTP kayaks 😉
My interest in tandem kayaks vs singles, has to do with looking out for each other. If my wife and I are in different kayaks, it would be very difficult for me to help her if she runs into problems (ex. gets tired due to windy conditions or current). In a tandem kayak, we can help each other. If one of us gets tired or is hurt, the other can help compensate. It would be great to have a tandem that also works well as a single.
@@PaddleTV Ken, thank you for the reply, maybe consider having a video on how to paddle/use a tandem with a single rower (sorry if you had this and I missed it). Also consider a review on the lightest, most single rower-friendly tandem. Thanks again!!
Hey Ken, great video, thanks! I have a quick question ... what is the length of the paddles you guys were using in this video? I am just completing the build of plywood tandem kayak (Chesapeke Light Craft's Mill Creek 16.5) and it is about the same width as the boat in your video. I know I need longish paddles, but not sure how long. Your paddles seemed to work very well. Thanks!
One of the big differences between the boat you're building (which is super cool BTW) and the Targa, is that you sit much lower in your kayak (sit inside). This means you won't need as long a paddle to 'reach' the water. We used 250cm paddles in the Targa, but I would think that 230-240cm in your boat would be great. Aqua Bound has a new ferrule system for their 2-piece paddles (Versa-Lok) which lets you adjust the length of the paddle between 230 - 245cm. I would highly recommend going for something like that, so that you can play around and find what length you prefer on the water. Enjoy!
You forgot to mention before you go out with your wife, make sure you have made the bed in the spare room, so you have somewhere to sleep when your home. !
You don't! You enjoy the opportunity to do so! :). Kidding... Biggest thing is to plant the paddle before pulling on it, so that you're minimizing splashes. If your paddle is too short, that sometimes causes more splashing as well, as you need to use a more vertical stroke. You should be using a 240 - 250cm paddle with this kayak.
Two canoe trips. I really know she thought she was thinking if you paddle on the same side of the turn... she got better as the end of the second canoe trip. I LOVED IT..... SO MUCH FUN! A friend of mine was standing on a sand bar.... we were having a conversation while I swimming in a pretty fair speed current and maybe 6 feet from one another.... It has been a while a while but I believe that was at "Two Bridges"? (Noeth white fork....at missouri/Arkansas.... or the Current both were fantastic)
The pre-tip - "Tailor the trip to both partners" - should be the first tip. P.S. You might have spoken about this a number of times, but still: what would you say is the optimal length of a paddle?
Depends on the kayak you're using... but tandems are wider in general and so I would expect to use a 230 - 250cm. We used 230cm paddles in this Targa, which worked just fine. 240 would also be good.
My wife and I rented a tandem kayak today and it was our first time. We are in our mid fifties, above average fitness for our age, and married 34 years. We paddled Navajo Lake in Utah and it was very windy. I don’t need to go into detail that it took all of our marital skills to traverse the two mile lake. It took us three hours and at times the wind was so strong we didn’t move while paddling. Now that we are done I am laughing so hard at the divorce boat comments. We were completely exhausted at the end and really cold from being wet from white cap waves at times. No doubt, tandem kayaking is not for the faint of heart or for those who struggle to work with their partner, similar to hooking up a truck and trailer or backing your trailer into an RV spot or loading a boat into a ramp. My stomach hurts from the adventure today, but even more so from laughing at the comments and article on the tandem kayak endeavor.
I once saw a couple paddling the Mercer Slough. The wife was sitting in the bow reading a book and the guy was sitting in the stern paddling.
Are we supposed to know what that is?
@@prestonphillips3375 Probably not. It's a popular kayaking spot on Lake Washington in Washington State, near Bellevue, across from Seattle.
My first kayak was a tandem, I have 5 young girls. It was the perfect boat! I can have as many as 3 girls with me. I can do all the work and they enjoy the experience!!Now we have plenty of single kayaks, we can spread out more now!
I'm with you! Tandem kayaks is how I shared the water with my daughter for the first 7 years, before she could really start paddling her own kayak. I would even run whitewater rivers with her in the Jackson Kayak Dynamic Duo. Awesome way to introduce kids to the water!
You made my day by saying you’re going to be doing the tandem more! I think it’s great to make connections with our partners and what a better way to share the beauty of the water together in a new fun way! I, myself, love to look down into the water, near the shorelines, to see the fish and other wildlife. It’s so relaxing and peaceful. Thanks for the video!!!
we were "canoodists" for 20 years before the kayak bug bit so we had plenty of experience but truthfully we enjoy spending time with each other on the water. through the years it has been in the Big Tuna, then the Kilroy DT and now in the Take Two. we put out a tandem tip video last year i believe that we hoped would help folks stop calling these "divorce boats" LOL even though we both run solo boats as well, some of the most memorable times on the water were just spent together in the tandem.
You came up with such great tips and tandem paddling demos. This was episode was fun to watch. Thanks!
I got a Jackson Big Tuna for grandkids. Love it! I can do all the padding with no problem . Love it solo too great yak.
I really much love kayak solo but next time i will try double with my friends.
The best outdoor activities to relax
Tnx man.
Cheers!
Love my Pungo!
Last year I bought my first kayak which was in fact a tandem kayak 😂
I was looking for something, my girlfriend and I could enjoy together as our interests sometimes differ a lot. She is more of the chill out type of person where I like to challenge myself and always go a little bit further exploring. And I heard the term "divorce boat" a lot when I did my research and feared that it would end up in a disaster.
But I must say I love kayaking our Prijon Poseidon and I just regret not buying a tandem kayak earlier. And the best is, she loves it too. When she gets exhausted on a trip, I can drive her around with no problem and I love it. We took it on so many trips over the last 2 years and every one of them was so much fun and we were making memories of places you could not see without a boat. Of course you have to talk about what your expectations are as you are literally sitting in the same boat 😅 But if you are considerate to your partner it is just so much fun. So don't be afraid to try it out 😂
Thanks for the video, Ken! 😊
I would really love to see more tandems reviewed or some Prijon boats as they are manufactured near my hometown and provide some good quality stuff, especially their HTP kayaks 😉
If you can pddle together, its a great date activity
My interest in tandem kayaks vs singles, has to do with looking out for each other. If my wife and I are in different kayaks, it would be very difficult for me to help her if she runs into problems (ex. gets tired due to windy conditions or current). In a tandem kayak, we can help each other. If one of us gets tired or is hurt, the other can help compensate. It would be great to have a tandem that also works well as a single.
Most tandems do work very well as singles, as long as you're sitting in the rear seat.
@@PaddleTV Ken, thank you for the reply, maybe consider having a video on how to paddle/use a tandem with a single rower (sorry if you had this and I missed it). Also consider a review on the lightest, most single rower-friendly tandem. Thanks again!!
Hey Ken, great video, thanks! I have a quick question ... what is the length of the paddles you guys were using in this video? I am just completing the build of plywood tandem kayak (Chesapeke Light Craft's Mill Creek 16.5) and it is about the same width as the boat in your video. I know I need longish paddles, but not sure how long. Your paddles seemed to work very well. Thanks!
One of the big differences between the boat you're building (which is super cool BTW) and the Targa, is that you sit much lower in your kayak (sit inside). This means you won't need as long a paddle to 'reach' the water. We used 250cm paddles in the Targa, but I would think that 230-240cm in your boat would be great. Aqua Bound has a new ferrule system for their 2-piece paddles (Versa-Lok) which lets you adjust the length of the paddle between 230 - 245cm. I would highly recommend going for something like that, so that you can play around and find what length you prefer on the water. Enjoy!
You forgot to mention before you go out with your wife, make sure you have made the bed in the spare room, so you have somewhere to sleep when your home. !
😂😂 lol thought we were the only ones fighting everytime we kayak together. 😅
That's why you go kayaking with the mistress
How do I (the bow paddler) not splash my husband (the stern paddler)?
You don't! You enjoy the opportunity to do so! :). Kidding... Biggest thing is to plant the paddle before pulling on it, so that you're minimizing splashes. If your paddle is too short, that sometimes causes more splashing as well, as you need to use a more vertical stroke. You should be using a 240 - 250cm paddle with this kayak.
I really find the difference of direction could be a thing in a tandem. As the person is pushing the wrong side instead of working with direction.
I did mention my ex wife?
Two canoe trips. I really know she thought she was thinking if you paddle on the same side of the turn... she got better as the end of the second canoe trip. I LOVED IT..... SO MUCH FUN! A friend of mine was standing on a sand bar.... we were having a conversation while I swimming in a pretty fair speed current and maybe 6 feet from one another....
It has been a while a while but I believe that was at "Two Bridges"? (Noeth white fork....at missouri/Arkansas.... or the Current both were fantastic)
The pre-tip - "Tailor the trip to both partners" - should be the first tip.
P.S. You might have spoken about this a number of times, but still: what would you say is the optimal length of a paddle?
Depends on the kayak you're using... but tandems are wider in general and so I would expect to use a 230 - 250cm. We used 230cm paddles in this Targa, which worked just fine. 240 would also be good.
@@PaddleTV, thank you for your reply - as prompt as always!
We went first time kayaking and ended up going zigzag almost the whole way. What we did wrong?😅
You bought 1 boat instead of 2 😂😂😂😂
After 40 years with my wife, I think it’s fairly safe to say that there’s no divorce on the horizon. 😄
You should be ready to any event ! 😁#joking
I'm so sorry to hear that. Thoughts and prayers
A tandem kayak is great. Tell your wife she can drive and have her sit in the front seat. Than you can sit behind and watch your wife paddle.
Take your FREE online ACA Paddlesports safety course here: americancanoe.org/paddlesports-online-course/
4 minutes in and no tips!
Just don't
1st tip don’t buy a tandem kayak
They are called divorce boats for a reason…