Kayak question...Pungo

[detra]

I'm planning a weeklong paddling trip on the Maine island trail this summer. I will be taking my four-year old, my wife, and 14 year old brother. The plan is to rent a couple of doubles, me and the kid, wife and brother, respectively.

I'm a solid class 4 whitewater paddler, grew up on the ocean, etc. My wife and I have also been on numerous sea kayaking trips together. Will take vhf, gps, proper clothing etc. Also will take a couple of practice day trips for practicing rescues etc, to make sure everyone is up for it.

Having looked through this forum. I came across the pungo info. My question, is whether or not there is sufficient cockpit area in a 14' pungo to stick the kid in the same cockpit and still have room to paddle. Also, is there sufficient storage in a pungo for camping gear etc. Can a pungo be eskimo rolled? My thought was that rather than spend $200 for a rental, that I'd look for a used pungo.

thanks for any help that you can provide.

[Ray]

I'll try to address your questions,

1. Rolling a Pungo is nearly impossible. Shaun tried to roll mine last year (I stayed on the DRY dock). Couldn't do it, no bracing.

2. The cockpit on my P140 is something like 54 inches deep. You can probably get a child up there and paddle, but I think it would be rather difficult and uncomfortable for periods longer than say an hour.

3. There is plenty of storage room in the P140. I did add shock cord to the fore and aft decks of mine to increse storage.

There probably won't be very many used 14' Pungos out there since it was introduced last year.

Ray

[flynny]

I took my 4 year old nephew out for a quick spin last year on my pungo 140 and it was tough to paddle. There is ample room in the cockpit, but it is very awkward to paddle, and like Ray said, you wouldn't want to do it for very long.

[SamRiley]

Based on what I know of the Pungo, I'd have to agree with the comments so far. On a side note, if you can, post a trip report and some photos when you get back. There are some of us here who like to kayak camp and I'm sure your adventures would be appreciated.

Anyone else have some camping plans in the works for this season?

[ruge13]

Another thing you may want to consider. Depending on where you are going, and weather in the island trail there are some crossings that are not as protected. With storage gear, you may want to use a skirt. That large cockpit sucks up a lot of water over time in sloppy chop. You might not be able to do that with a child in the front, could be a wet ride.

I would go with the tandems. At least then you can use a skirt with 2 people but more importantly, your son will be out of the way of your paddling stroke. You aren't going to want to do any real distance trying to dodge his head with a high paddle stroke. Your arms will die. But I have never tried to do that, so I really don't know from practical experience. I just know in a sea kayak a deck bag drives me nuts with a paddle stroke so I imagine a kid would be worse.

As for rolling it.. The coming is very slim around the knees and the position is difficult. There are no knee braces. Not to mention the huge cockpit. Great for fishing but there isn't anything to keep you in the boat once you are upside down. I found that to be the most difficult part. I am no expert, but I couldn't do it. After a few tries I could at least stay in the boat upside down but as soon as I tried the sweep stroke I popped out. It takes a serious amount of jarring to roll it anyway.

[detra]

Thanks, I appreciate all the the info. Sounds like a double rental will be the way to go. I would like a boat for playing, as well as fishing, I think the pungo may be too stable for my purpose.

I think my winter project next year will be too build a pygmy arctic tern.

thanks again.