C-Forum

Anyone have experience outfitting a solo boat as a tandem, can this work? Stephen thejaneschronicle@yahoo.com

It can work It depends on the paddlers weight, and what type of boat it is.
JK

I did a mohawk viper 12' as a tandem a few years ago. Interesting project, but ultimately not a keeper. Combined weight of the team wa s ~ 260lbs. and we found the boat a bit too wet. Though it was a bit more sporty than our caption.

Hi

I've outfitted an Outrage as a tandem. It was originally designed as a solo, although it's longer than some of the shorter tandems currently available (13.5'). Our combined weight is around 250lbs and it seems to work pretty well. I think a shorter boat would also work well if the team wasn't too heavy and the outfitting was done carefully. I think Esquif used to say that the Vertige (12'10") would make a good tandem for a light team.

Be very careful about saddle placements, as the trim will be very important and quite sensitive. I goofed the first time I put the saddles in and we ended up bow heavy, so I had to pull the saddles and move them back (actually only the front saddle, but now we're really close, since we weren't widely spaced to begin with). The only difficulty with this setup is that it requires a minimum weight difference between the two paddlers of around 50lbs. OK for my wife and I, but unfortunately not something I can use to introduce others to the sport - which I now regret.

I've also paddled a Mad River Flashback tandem (outfitted solo) briefly in a rescue situation and it worked well.

Good luck!

Matt

Hmmm..... I frequently paddle a tandem (MR Synergy) as a solo, and I'm one of the very few to have converted a C-1 to a kayak.