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The wind is howling here in the Dena today. Any thoughts I had of going out in my kayak ended when I saw the trees in my backyard bending near their breaking point at first light. So here I sit at the keyboard – even though there is much to do around the house. And I got to thinking about the recent Torqeedo thread here and I wondered how many true paddlers we have left on this forum.
When I first joined Snaggedline the term “going to the dark side” was frequently used to identify a paddler who bought a pedal kayak. That was deemed to be the quantum leap in kayak angling. Now we have electric motors entering the scene.
Whatever gets you on the water and keeps you there is good in my opinion.
I started on the “dark side”. My first kayak was a 2012 Hobie Revo, which I updated to a 2018 version. Revos are great boats. Mine is a missile on the water and light enough to transport easily on land. However, an odd thing is happening to my kayak angling. I started paddling. And guess what? I like to paddle. I use my paddle boats 4 to 5 times more frequently than my Revo, even taking my paddle kayaks to tidal sites where I formerly would only take my Revo. Indeed, my Revo has essentially become a backup kayak.
I think what appeals most to me about paddling is the simplicity of it. I need no mechanical intervention to propel my boat. No gears, no chains, no batteries, no motors, no mechanical device to carry to the launch – just a paddle that weighs about a pound and half.
Nor do I feel hindered by the reduced range of my paddle trips. If anything I find it more challenging and satisfying, a greater test of my skills to find fish in a limited area.
I liken a paddling trip as a nice drive on country roads. In my Revo, I’m tempted to venture far and fast, like driving on I-95. Definitely paddling is more relaxing for me.
So, just wondering: Do we have dedicated paddlers who will never go to the “dark side”. Do we have folks who have tested mechanical propulsion and come back to paddles? Do we have folks who will never again paddle? Is pedaling/electric propulsion just a natural evolution for kayak anglers?
When I first joined Snaggedline the term “going to the dark side” was frequently used to identify a paddler who bought a pedal kayak. That was deemed to be the quantum leap in kayak angling. Now we have electric motors entering the scene.
Whatever gets you on the water and keeps you there is good in my opinion.
I started on the “dark side”. My first kayak was a 2012 Hobie Revo, which I updated to a 2018 version. Revos are great boats. Mine is a missile on the water and light enough to transport easily on land. However, an odd thing is happening to my kayak angling. I started paddling. And guess what? I like to paddle. I use my paddle boats 4 to 5 times more frequently than my Revo, even taking my paddle kayaks to tidal sites where I formerly would only take my Revo. Indeed, my Revo has essentially become a backup kayak.
I think what appeals most to me about paddling is the simplicity of it. I need no mechanical intervention to propel my boat. No gears, no chains, no batteries, no motors, no mechanical device to carry to the launch – just a paddle that weighs about a pound and half.
Nor do I feel hindered by the reduced range of my paddle trips. If anything I find it more challenging and satisfying, a greater test of my skills to find fish in a limited area.
I liken a paddling trip as a nice drive on country roads. In my Revo, I’m tempted to venture far and fast, like driving on I-95. Definitely paddling is more relaxing for me.
So, just wondering: Do we have dedicated paddlers who will never go to the “dark side”. Do we have folks who have tested mechanical propulsion and come back to paddles? Do we have folks who will never again paddle? Is pedaling/electric propulsion just a natural evolution for kayak anglers?
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