
This item is currently sold out or unavailable online.
Or, may we suggest shopping for similar items:
This page is provided for reference to historical product information.
Made in USA.
Item 833733
| Specification |
| ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best use |
| ||||||||||||||
| Material(s) | |||||||||||||||
| Hull construction | |||||||||||||||
| Length | |||||||||||||||
| Width | |||||||||||||||
| Depth | |||||||||||||||
| Weight | |||||||||||||||
| Cockpit size | |||||||||||||||
| Seat type | |||||||||||||||
| Number of paddlers | |||||||||||||||
| Hatch capacity | |||||||||||||||
| Weight capacity (lbs) | |||||||||||||||
| Tracking system | |||||||||||||||
| Foldable |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviewsPros
Cons
Best Uses
Reviewed by 3 customers
Sort by
Displaying reviews 1-3
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Old Town Vashon Tandem Kayak with Rudder:
We have some single touring kayaks but wanted to get a tandem in order to start taking our two young girls along (age 2 and 4). The Vashon works well in this regard, with enough space in each cockpit for an additional small human. The rear saddle is useful for a child to sit on but can leave little space for the rear paddler's feet, depending on how tall he/she is. We added the optional Dirigo (similar boat from other retailers) saddle to the front cockpit as well, although the space for the front paddler's feet is even more limited. The saddles are pretty hard plastic. However, the main seats are great! They have adjustments for backrest height as well as seat bottom angle. When dialed in, I'm sure one could paddle for hours in comfort (our kids haven't allowed longer sessions yet). The boat is a great size (not too long/wide) for how much space it provides. Being 70+ lbs it's too much for one person to load, mostly since it's long without anywhere to grab in the center portion. It's pretty easy for my wife and I to load it onto the roof rack of an SUV (Thule Hull-a-port Pro works great). I feel like the rudder is almost a necessity on this long of a boat, and it really reduces tracking frustrations even if you're not coordinated in paddling with your partner. We haven't filled up the rear storage compartment yet, but the hatch seal looks like an easy to use design. It's a great boat to loan to folks visiting from out of town as well.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Old Town Vashon Tandem Kayak with Rudder:
My wife & I own 3 single sea kayaks but wanted a recreational tandem with easy in/out cockpits, rudder controls that would accommodate my 35" inseam legs, a dry storage compartment, enough separation between paddlers to minimize clashing paddles, more "sea worthy" than many low-end recreational kayaks seem to be, and a price to fit a modest budget. The Vashon fits the bill.
The deck between the cockpits didn't have quite the structural support we wanted (bow passengers are inclined to sit on it when entering/exiting)but I found 2 small floats to wedge between the hull & the underside of the deck--problem solved. Being plastic, the kayak is heavier (but cheaper) than a fiberglass tandem. All things considered, this was a good choice for our needs.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Old Town Vashon Tandem Kayak with Rudder:
My wife and I purchased this boat to get out on the water together - flatwater lakes and gently moving rivers. It was a great investment. This kayak is everything we hoped it would be. Comfortable, stable, and good looking - it is great for day trips, quick or long. The seats are very comfortable. We have paddled for six hours straight without wishing for something else to sit on. A lunch and an extra layer fits in the locking dry hatch with plenty of extra room to spare. It looks great and the rudder is a definite must - it improves tracking tremendously, allowing you to use your energy more efficiently. Loading and unloading from a roof rack with two people is not difficult - even a pregnant woman can do it and can also paddle for many hours comfortably!
Good points to know about which might be considered drawbacks are that a standard size Nalgene bottle will not fit in the cup holders or in the cutout in the middle of the seats but the smaller size, or a 20 oz bottle will. There is also only one 'ledge' cutout and it is the rear cockpit. Not sure why they didn't also put one in the front. The cup holders are also hard to reach if you have the seat all the way back in the cockpit, but would be perfect for a child to reach if sitting on the included saddle.
On that note, we have yet to try out this feature but it looks like it will work very well. With a larger child it might be a bit cramped depending on your foot block placement, as the shape of the hull might force the child to sit on the saddle AND your feet - but this could be adjusted.
All in all, it is a great boat. If you want to do overnights and need a two person craft, you should probably go with a canoe, but if you love to kayak and want to be in the same boat, I don't think you can go wrong with the Vashon. I highly recommend this boat!
Displaying reviews 1-3
How are we doing? Give us feedback on this page.