Adventures at home and on the road with paddlesports rep Ethan and his family and friends:
Eddyline Kayaks
Pau Hana Surf Supply SUPs
Level Six
Northstar Canoes
AquaBound Paddles
Bending Branches Paddles
Suspenz Transportation and Storage
Danuu Covers
Lifetime and Emotion Kayaks
Check out our cultivated, favorite paddle gear at HappyPaddlin.com
Kayak reviews, Canoe reviews, SUP reviews, new gear, new equipment
Kayak repairs and canoe repairs, outfitting, rigging, customize
Kayak/canoe/sup instructions, training, tricks, life-hacks, pro-tips, industry news
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Thanks Ethan for showing us these lessons, of course you could do all that with many of the other Eddyline models. But it’s amazing to see how good the Sky 10 is for this maneuvering. Maybe I could order one in Teal, I don’t have a kayak in that color yet. Considering how well behaved the Eddylines are in flat water, it’s not surprising to see their capabilities in moving water as well.
What kind of water shoe is that?
Warmers Boot that you won’t find anymore as they are long gone as a brand. Check out the level six creek boot for a similar low profile boot.
so i have a 80 pound lab, i'm guesing the wenona would make the dog happier. i have a 16 foot penobscot and she really tries to hang off to the side and is always unsettled.
Ya gotta have a very comfy pad for your doggie that they know was their place! I like to solo with them fist keeping than right next to me. Then I can teach them the ways to chill out and reward them for this behavior.
Great video! The reason your videos are so good is because you explain everything so well whether someone is a beginner or a seasoned paddler. Even though we all know you prefer Northstar, your presentation is very diplomatic and complementary to both companies. I’ve owned a Wenonah Solo Plus (in Royalex), and now 1999 Bell Magic and a Northstar Northwind 17. Tons of solid information and I can’t recommend this video enough to friends who ask me the difference between the two. Thanks again very much for this video! See you on the water…
I have a sky 10 just like that and love it! I mainly do smaller lakes, but may try one of the rivers too. Thanks for the pointers!
Went over everything but the price. Very helpful
Love that G O Ottertail, I have two of them.
Another bunch of good suggestions I hope to try on the upper Mississippi if the flood waters ever go down
Hi, how do you compare the inlet with the lake model?
Both are very basic kayaks for shoreline and small lake river use. Seat is the biggest drawback of these. Not that comfy but like a portable guitar, these area substitute for having no boat so they can be great for those that can’t have a big boat. Both under 10’, both going nowhere fast so as long as you are just staying within their safe range they can be fun. I’m not a parts and pieces guy so these arent for me.
Sometimes I wish I'd picked up used Eddyline four years ago. Seems a very simple kayak.
Love it!
I just got a nw solo thanks to you! Now I need a paddle and want to support bending branches. I will probably do a mix of slow rivers and small lakes. No real canoe experience here. The beavertail and explorer plus keep popping up on my radar, would you suggest either one of these over the other? Thanks for all your knowledge
Explorer is a great choice as your first! If you can spend more then check out the Sunburst.
Get a used Necky or Ocean Kayak for a better kayak for half the price. Most Walmart yaks are made to accommodate plump individuals and are made so wide and flat (for stability and logistics) especially on the bottom that they have terrible tracking ( meaning they have a lot of side to side movement when paddling which means lots of wasted energy)
Buying used is a great option and lots of options out there these days. I have paddled the Tamarack Angler a bunch though and for a 10’ boat (not many Necky or Oceans in that range) it was a great time on the right type of waters. Vid on channel of that.
Thank you! Very helpful connections to using previously learned strokes
Hey Ethan, as professional or highly experienced kayaker. How high do you rank adjustable footrests on a kayak?
You absolutely have to have footbraces for power and back support. Adjustability for my touring boats is key for different footwear and conditions (tighter for rough, looser for cruising). These rec boats in the vid all have something which is better than nothing but most are trying to do it for as cheap as possible.
Thanks a lot for the presentation. Is it possible to use the 410 as a single 1 person kayak with the seat.? Is it possible to install the seat in the middle.? Thanks
I think the answer is yes to both. I ended up getting one so will review more.
@@HappyPaddlin thanks a lot for the quick answer
Did you ever compare it to the aqua marina tomahawk kayak line ?
@robs_gear_outdoor_reviews I haven’t done many inflatable reviews at all! Maybe more down the road!
Don’t waste your money on garbage go get a real kayak
Seen a lot of smiles in these boats over the years by folks on little lakes, ponds, etc. Just best if used properly in appropriate waters.
A couple questions. What trim would be the quietest when you set your fishing rod down on the gunnel? I don't want to spook the fish. Can you permanently mount a portaging yoke in these solo boats and still sit or kneel or do you need removable? Seems like that could get old if you had a lot of short portages between lakes
Wood Trim is quietest. Regarding yokes, you have to use removable. It takes about 15 seconds to put in place. Solo clamp on yoke w CVCA pads is what I prefer!
@@HappyPaddlin I'm a wood guy anyway thank you! Oh that's not bad then.
Really enjoyed that. Nicely done!
An unbelievable day and thank you Ethan for letting us be a part of this great capture!
Picked up a Pelican Motion 100 for 150 from Walmart a couple of days ago. It's missing a few of the perks other ones have, but i figured I could probably get my money back at that price. I can't wait to take it out!
Have fun out there! Welcome to the adventure!
Great video Ethan, I really enjoyed your paddle. Almost like I was there. Question for you, what is the PFD you are wearing in this video? In the market.
Thanks, got tired of hearing myself so just thought this would be a nice change. It’s a Stohlquist Rocker ‘24 model and I have some further vid of it in a next vid I’m working on. Tried to wear others, from other brands as well. The Rocker is the one and only for me! Descent is the rescue version though a QR belt can be added to the rocker nicely which is more than enough for most. I have a red one on in most other vids. Had to match the boat ;) in this one.
@@HappyPaddlin Thanks Ethan. I will try one out. I like the way it seems small and open for the arms and shoulders. I live here in Florida, and with the hot weather, looking for a PFD that doesn't cover too much of the body.
For the sit-on-tops, isn't a hatch that "gives access to the entire boat" a swamping hazard, to say nothing of gear being able to slide to an inaccessible spot? Does it really work that way?
Even high end sit on tops feature this but likely have better hatches that are more trustworthy. At the end of the vid I recommend all these as “shoreline kayaks”. However, one can add floatation bladders to help. Hardcore sea kayakers will carry extra floatation bladders in the event of rock damage to a compartment. @headwaterskayak had a scenario where those bags helped him get back to the beach after a bad rock garden crash. Open cold water is a place that going “over the top” isn’t ever going to be a bad thing!
I feel like Lifetime hit a home run with that hull design, and price point. I feel like they use the same or similar hull design for the 10’ sit in as well.
Perfecto...
Watching from Texas. I want a canoe for my neaby lakes. Thanks for sharing
I'm 5'9", 160. Intermediate experience. Big flat water rivers and lakes. Mostly been paddling a borrowed Old Town 13' Castine and am leaning toward a Sitka. Kinda don't want a boat longer than 14' but wondering if an ST would be too tight for me?
Should fit you. I’m about 6 165 pounds and there’s a video of me paddling that boat in the Sound on the channel. Won’t be a big gear hauler for you though..
@@HappyPaddlin Thanks for your reply. I'm. kinda leaning toward the LT for gear hauling but, man, there's an ST on sale at REI for about $700 less than the LT. And they'd deliver it to my nearest store at no charge. Tempting. I'm near Omaha, Nebraska and the nearest LT I can find is in Rockford, IL I'll check out your video again. Thanks again!
An ST would be a boat that if you packed like a thru hiker you could camp. Super light. kzread.info/dash/bejne/gJuFp8qSibbKfZs.htmlsi=zXbk4cBLgrKM4QCo Is one vid
@@HappyPaddlin I do some backpacking and have reduced the weight of my pack significantly over the years. Not quite thru-hiker light but getting close. My biggest concern with the ST, again, is my size.5-9, 160, slight paunch but skinny everywhere else. Short legs. I do want to "wear" my next boat, though. Just not too tight. If you think I'd fit well in the ST, I might just pull the trigger on it. Thanks again for all your help. Love your videos.
@jimbeaver4638 if ya have slender hips and thighs then you’ll fit! REI has a killer price for only a day or so more! You have a year to return too (I think that’s their policy, might be wrong as things have changed there often).
I have the Boost, and wife has a Lifetime Spitfire which is the same boat as the Tahoma. The spitfire paddles easier, and Boost is more stable. But tahoma, tamarack, and spitfire are a better boat.
Enjoyed here in MN
Those Northstar's are so gorgeous! You should do another deep dive on the Polaris!
This video is very helpful! Thanks!
💕Canoeing is good for the soul! 💕
This was so great! Make more of these. Those shots you setup attaining and playing on the eddy lines were cool. More Canoe please.
Loved what you wrote as well my friend....
So awesome! Looked like a great day on the river with our friend JM. It's not possible to have "enough talk about canoes!" Thanks for posting Ethan!
Thanks for all your friendship Brad!
AAAaaaahhhhh.... needed that. Thanks, Ethan
dear fishing kayakers, do you enjoy being barely bigger than the fish you're trying to catch? or is the waterskiing part of the fun?
Haven’t tried it huh? Pretty fun and easy to get out there in spots that boats can’t get! I had 20 miles of non motorized river access yesterday to myself!
Dose the hull warp in heat ?
Older poly will and areas on these racks where a boat has weight on it can too. Newer boats pop back but over time this can happen. Sit on tops more supported by shape, sit insides more chance of denting.
That was extremely helpful! Thank you. I just purchased a Sitka St and was trying to determine if it was too small for an average sized adult. This video has clarified that.
...These boats are in the summer time fun category...they do not require a high level of skill to use, and it's easy to justify the price with only a few times out on the water... ...Also, spend a few extra dollars on a good PFD (aka. life jacket) that is comfortable enough to wear all day...
Nice, Ethan - that's what I'm striving for
I’d love to have a lightweight boat like these, if I had the money 😂
Deliver DoorDash one hour a day for 100-150 days and you can have any of them! Bootstraps!
I absolutely love my BB Black Pearl II paddles and sunburst! Thinkin bout a custom 48” beaver tail. 👍👍😁🇺🇸
That seems very short for a beaver tail so curious on how you intend to use that!
That’s a great video. I had both of the Ozark Trail boats, when they were made under the Sundolphin name. The sit on top was so unstable that it never got used but the sit inside wasn’t bad at all. It got me into kayak fishing.
Am I pushing the limit of this boat weighing 210? I know the capacity is 275, bit minus the weight of the boat and having some gear with me seems like I'm getting close to being too heavy. What's your opinion? Thanks!
What’s your height? After 6’2” you might find it tight on the footbraces. Also, depending on the type of waters you will mostly paddle. For bigger waters I’d go with the 14. Lakes and little rivers, the 12’ could work well. See Headwaters Kayak vids. He’s about your weight and reviews the C12.
@@HappyPaddlin thanks for the reply! I'm only about 5'10, so the height shouldn't be an issue. Just worried that at 210 with some gear I may be pushing the limits. Unfortunately I can't store the 14 footer...
See, that's the setup that I want! Nice!! I'm currently setting up my bike, where did you get your trailer?
Had for a long time so can’t remember where I got it but there are many designs out there, each with their +/- ‘s. This one is light but not that burly. Works for me but maybe not heavier loads.
@HappyPaddlin I want to ride and paddle the Erie Trail and Erie Canal. It's 385 miles long from my home to Lake Erie on the bike trail. I would like to take about a month and just bikepack, camp and do some paddling so taking a kayak along on a trailer behind the bike would be awesome. I see them on a few different websites.
I just went and looked at them a few days ago at my local Walmart. The models there are different from the ones in tbe video...2 are the same. I'm not a fisherman and won't want or need and angler kayak, because I'll never use all those fishing accessories, plus the weight is incredible at approximately 60lbs dry. Pelican has a 38lb. 10 footer RamX that I looked at. But really wanted a 120X 12' for tracking. I've paddled a bunch and have done some pretty long coastal treks in Florida and a bunch of inland waterway travels. My go-to is a 12'-13' boat. I weight about 190 and 5'10" so with camping gear and supplies the boat sits nicely on its lines...I mean the ones that I have personally owned. The thing is that I started looking around in my area for higher-line used kayaks and found that I could pick up a used but in really good shape touring kayak for roughly the same price as one of the Walmart kayaks...I found a bunch of Aquaterras 14' for $200-$500 with loads of extras, paddles, seats, bags, etc. And they're real touring designs. I'm a former sailboat builder and a cruiser. My current boat is a 1976 Balboa 26'SK (profile pic). So I'm sensitive to "ugly" designs and all these heavy, big box, blow moulded fishing yaks are UAF. I don't think that I would waste the money. There's actually hundreds of free or cheap kayak plans out there. I'm thinking I'm going to build myself a hybrid kayak/canoe like the TOTO on Duckworks, with actual watertight compartments and bulkheads...nothing over 40 lbs is my motto, making it easy to port and put up on the racks of my SUV. I know these entry level, budget boats have a place...I get it and everyone needs a starting point. But man, a little due diligence and research is worth 2 or 3 cheap purchases. Most people won't make it past the first couple of seasons if they're paddling their asses off and doing donuts on the water cause they can't get the boat to track, or if it weighs a ton and they avoid taking it to the water altogether. Just my thoughts.
Any insight on how the northwind compares to a swift keewaydin?
I haven’t paddled that model from Swift but for me, I am not thrilled with Epoxy boats like Swift and others. Two reasons...Don’t think it is a safe building situation over the long haul for workers and I don’t want to use or be exposed to epoxy to do my own repairs once damage happens. You can’t repair epoxy boats with vinyl ester resins. Swift boats do look like fun!
Note....I didn't realize there was outdoor vs. regular weldwood. What seemed like it worked fine,......I'm in Arkansas and it's hot here....came unglued and will be redoing with G-flex. I'm not sure if the outdoor wildwood would hold up to the high temps any better, but when riding on the roof of my truck and 95+ degrees....just didn't keep the "stick".
G flex is the bomber way to go. I’ve now switched from Weldwood to H66 per the recommendation of Northstar. Also, I now do two applications to both boat and patch (letting them cook off each time) and that really helps. I’ll have to do another version of this video on my next job coming soon.
I’m primarily a whitewater kayaker, but recently paddled my first whitewater canoe and had a blast with that. I would really love to see some ocoee content. I’m searching for an open boat now while I try to get more seat time in boats and save some cash.
There’s another Ocoee vid at happypaddlin.com More to follow soon! 😃🛶