Reviews
Messing About in Boats Review
a review by Bob Hicks, editor of:
Messing About in Boats
from: vol. 5, no. 9 9/15/87
I've tried before to feel good about one of the British sportier kayaks, like Nordkapp or Selkie or Huntsman, but my slow old reactions and inexperience have, until now, made each experience one of keeping upright rather than of going somewhere. Not the boat's fault, obviously, lots of people enjoy these boats without qualms.
Now, I have paddled one that felt good to me and my limited capabilities. It was the Islander, (designed) by Wye Kayaks in Great Britain, and exhibited at the (annual L. L. Bean Sea Kayak) Symposium by Ed Friedman of Dragonworks, Inc., over in Bowdoinham, ME (near Brunswick). When Ed first urged me to try the long lean layak with its beautiful finished slender hull (low deck), recessed deck tie-downs, built-in-compass, built-in-bilge pump, I was tempted but demurred with my usual disclaimer about not being into the balancing act this sort of boat seemed to require of me. "Oh, no, this one'll not be like that," Ed urged.
