After returning home from the CT Reunion: I can't continue this blog post without explaining a kayakers obsession with buying kayaks. It puzzles many, so I will do my best to help you understand. During the past two years, I managed buy & sell a few kayaks. At one time I had five.' My husband thought I was obsessed every time I came home with a Humane Society expression "Look what I found!" and assuring him it was a good deal. But as I hung out with other kayakers, I soon learned that I was not the only one doing this. Kayakers typically own three or more kayaks. To justify my 'obsession' I explained it like this, to my husband who is an avid golfer..."You need a different club for different situations on the golf course, right?" The same hold true when kayaking. You need a driver for long-distances. A putter for the short game. A seven iron for in-between. And finally that favorite club you pull out when you just want to have fun with your friends! Kapeesh? For the record...I currently own four :) 1. Eddyline Rio: 11' 9" My 1st 'real' kayak. She goes with me on mostly local rivers and springs (putter/short game equivalent). 2. Current Design Solstice GTS: 17'7" Touring kayak. This is my "driver" and is the one taking me on all my CT adventures. I initially named her "Good Karma" after buying her from someone I met at the CT Reunion (Steve Cournoyer) who successfully completed the CT, using her for half of his journey. She's a workhorse and gets the job done! Lately, I've been calling her "Big Blue" for some reason. 3. NDK Romany: I adopted this 16' classic from a guy in Apopka, FL. He bought it at a garage sale for $50. I bought it for $300. New they sell for $3000. Poor girl has been sitting in someones back yard, neglected, gelcoat faded, hatch covers missing, deck lines need replaced....but she is sound!! After some TLC, she will be my primary training kayak...Equivalent of the favorite club you pull out when you just want to have fun with your friends!...and maybe learn how to do a Greenland roll this year! 4. Old Town Loon 106: The 1st kayak I bought after moving to Florida. I quickly outgrew this kayak and now she is used for out of town guests who want to kayak with me. Very stable/hard to tip over...golf club equivalent: Old faithful? Hopefully you now understand a kayakers obsession with buying kayaks....and I can move forward telling you about my other obsession...Training.
2 Comments
Pete
4/20/2020 11:02:59 pm
Dorsey, seems like to managed to either convince Scott to golf with a single club or for him to realize you are a pro also and need your tools to make you kayaking experience as good for you as it is for Scotts experience golfing. Lol
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Gus
4/26/2020 04:05:51 pm
Nice fleet of yaks. Your dead on about owning multiple kayaks. I’m down to only four after recently selling two.
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AuthorDorsey DeMaster embraced kayaking after retiring from 38 years in aviation. She lives near Crystal River, Florida. Archives
August 2021
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