Was buying a tandem kayak a good idea?

[maverick]

Have you owned/do you own a tandem kayak?

[sawtell]

I think they are grouse if you have a second kayak to use by your self.

[cheaterparts]

Back when I joined vyak I use to fish from an open canoe with the wife - that was no problem till the weather started to cool
thats when I bought the Kingfisher and the canoe has parked in the back yaed since
I think a tandem yak would be the same

now we are a 2 kayak famerly I think she will come out for a fish from time to time -- when it warms up again

[CabinetMaker]

I had the Hobie Oasis and then sold it to get the Outback. I have mixed feeling about the Oasis.
Cut my teeth in it and had great fun fishing with my older daughter ( she usually out fished me.....but that's nothing unusual ), my brother and a mate. Lots of laughs. My brother and mate liked kayaking so much they bought the Revo 13 and Outback themselves.
Trying to get the daughter out of bed early during Snapper season was tough and a lot of times ended up going myself with a weight belt up front to hold the nose down. Its a lot harder when using a tandem with one person and a few times later on didn't bother going at all.
When I realised this was as good as it got I sold it and got the single seat Outback.
Lots more manageable and a joy to use as a fishing vessel but I do miss the comradery and banter on the tandem. Being 50 meters away at anchor just isn't the same?
Feel like a bit of a heel introducing the kids to such a great sport and then taking it away, by not being able to take them out for a run on the single seater.
When they get a bit older and I am confident in their ability to stay safe on a single seater I may get another Outback.............or upgrade to a PA 14
Just my 2 cents worth

[Seasherpa]

I ended up with a hybrid tandem which made it liveable when I ended up solo 90% of the time. I reckon if finances/storage allows go for two singles.

[shane]

Pete, Sorry to do this to you but none of the options really suit me. I bought a tandem (ebay) that really isn't up to choppy bay conditions and now only rarely gets used on the odd family holiday where the kids are willing to get it out. So another option could be "I bought a tandem but now very rarely use it, preferring single kayaks".

[maverick]

Can I make note of your request Shane and amend the poll later perhaps. Otherwise (as I have just discovered) all the votes have to be re-submitted.

The idea is that if anyone wants to ask questions about tandems they can, but they also have a poll to refer to and any comments posted in the replies, such as yours.

[stevebrown]

Yes... it was a great idea to buy a Tandem Island. Why?
great family activity (three boys, added tramps, seats on AKA's);
ultra-stable (but thesafety rule is: don't go on the bay in >15 knots as conditions can change quickly);
great for a sail when the fishing is slow;
great for sailing to or from the fishing spots;
a relatively dry ride (important for most of the year)
Can fish, snorkle, tow kids on body boards or other kayak;
no motor maintenance, rego or boat ramp issues;
enables longer solo offshore expeditions;
Great craft for water adventures on weekends, long summer daylight saving hours and holidays.

[Jenko]

We bought the Hobie Outfitter and liked it very much, then got the Oasis and loved it, in fact as Cabinetmaker said, you miss having the other person there to talk to, hang S#!^ on, throw the weed off your hook at and generally having a laugh. I bought myself a PA and a Outback for Sally mainly because I wanted a single to fish out of while Sally is at work. "IF" I was to go back to a tandem, I would have no hesitations in buying another Oasis, but we are looking at getting rid of the PA and buying a tinny for when we both go out here / Mallacoota and I will use the outback for single trips.
Also, the tandem gave Sally a chance to build confidence in her yakking before we got the singles.
So, not sure where we fit in the survey

[Munroe]

Acquired the oasis just over a year now,, used it roughly half a dozen times. Having it at hand allowed us boys on the water instead of being restricted to land based sessions and of course, the good wife as been out a few times