How common are tandem kayaks?
A recent comment said:
For kayak I’d say “usually 1-2 person” as tandem kayaks are very common. 3 person kayaks are rare but not unheard of, example Pamlico 160T has a third mini-seat for a child.
When I am traveling on the local bike trails and rivers I about see the same number of tandem bikes as I do tandem kayaks. Maybe a few more tandem kayaks, but not enough that I would say they are usual.
On the other hand in the same area, maybe half or 1/3 of the canoes I see are one person white water canoes, with the rest being 2 to 3 person canoes. I have never really counted any of these so maybe it is all personal perception.
How common are tandem kayaks?
1 answer
Tandem kayaks are extremely common. That said, some degree of qualification is needed.
Unlike "solo" and "tandem" canoeing, the terms "single" and "double" are used. (They can be abbreviated to S and D -- allowing the D-kayak to also mean "divorce-kayak".)
Double sea or touring kayaks are very popular, especially at kayak rental shops or kayak guiding outfitters. There are several reasons: It is easier to manage two people in one boat than in two boats. Double kayaks are slightly wider than single kayaks and are thus more stable – good for beginners. Double kayaks often have a center hatch where larger items, or a small child, can be kept. I'm a sea kayak guide and when I'm leading tours of inlets, most of our clients are in doubles.
K2 and K4 – the abbreviations for two-person and four-person kayak – are events in flatwater racing.
Double whitewater kayaks exist but, like your tandem bicycles, are not at all common.
This post was sourced from https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/a/20389. It is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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