Seaward Chilco
Tony
I am looking very seriously into purchasing a Seaward Chilco for my
wife's birthday!! It appears to be the perfect kayak for her looking
at the description of it on the Seaward website but I still have some
reservations. My wife has paddled over the last two years off on and
in a plastic Cape Horn 14 or Tempest 165 and seems quite happy
paddling these kayaks. That being said she has little upper body
strength and tires easily. I am thinking that this Chilco will be a
much easier kayak for her to paddle giving her hopefully more stamina
paddling. My wife is 5'4" tall and weighs in at a big 110lbs. What are
all your thoughts on this purchase??
Tony
John Smeda
Hi Tony,
Has your wife tried the Chilco? It's 18.5' long 22.5" wide plus it has
hard chines. It's the type of boat I would expect an expedition leader
to be in. Likely a great boat for covering long straight line
distances fast.Because of the chine, it will likely have great
secondary stability with more modest primary stability. If so the lack
of primary stability may make it uncomfortable for your wife. It will
be more difficult to turn. Women in our club such as Brenda Galaway
have down sized from a Seaward Endevour (17.5') (which they considered
too long)to a Luna (16')and love the change. One of the fastest female
paddlers I have seen paddles a Mystic (about 15' long), she seems to
love a short fiberglass boat. Richard Alexander has or is getting rid
of his Quest for a shorter boat with more maneuverability.
Before you buy I would try. If you can't get into a Chilco, go to Dan
Millar and ask him if your wife can take a short spin in his
Ascente-same length and width as the Chilco but with softer chines
-try it. Then ask Brenda Galaway if your wife can try her Luna. Let
your wife decide. The above individuals will be at the kayak reatreat
with thier boats. By buying a Chilco because of hull speed you may be
trading off other qualities which in the long run may create a
miserable paddling experience for you wife. Be happy that you have a
wife that paddles (at any speed), better that than creating a
situation where she stops paddling because her boat is too difficult
to handle.
Good Luck John Smeda
Dan Miller
Hi Tony,
I paddle a Seaward Ascente which is very similar to the Chilco
but is soft chined rather than hard chined like the Chilco. I weigh
200lbs. and find my boat has very low initial stability (its really
tippy) when just day paddling. Stability increases dramatically when
I'm tripping with 80-100 lbs of gear in the boat. You wife won't
notice as much improvement in stability given her low initial weight.
Both the Chilco and the Ascente are long (18.5') boats with
little rocker and track very well with little weather cocking. The
downside to this is that this style of kayak is hard to turn unless
extreme edging is employed.
If you wife is not up on her braces and edging and is not
comfortable in a boat with low initial stability, she may find the
Chilco a bit to much to handle. The Cosmo or the Luna might be a
better boat for her given her size.
There is a review of the Cilco on the Sea Kayaker magazine
website at
Hi Tony,
I paddle a Seaward Ascente which is very similar to the Chilco
but is soft chined rather than hard chined like the Chilco. I weigh
200lbs. and find my boat has very low initial stability (its really
tippy) when just day paddling. Stability increases dramatically when
I'm tripping with 80-100 lbs of gear in the boat. You wife won't
notice as much improvement in stability given her low initial weight.
Both the Chilco and the Ascente are long (18.5') boats with
little rocker and track very well with little weather cocking. The
Ascente goes like the wind and is a joy to paddle. The downside to
this is that this style of kayak is hard to turn unless extreme edging
is employed.
If you wife is not up on her braces and edging and is not
comfortable in a boat with low initial stability, she may find the
Chilco a bit to much to handle. The Cosmo or the Luna might be a
better boat for her given her size.
There is a review of the Chilco on the Sea Kayaker magazine
website at:
http://www.seakayakermag.com/2002/02April/Chilco03.htm
Dan Miller
Dan Miller
Dan Miller
to handle for a 5'4" 110 lb. individual.
Dan
Tony
had some obvious doubts about buying this kayak. Well here is the big
question, What Seaward Kayak would you recommend to a reasonably
novice kayak that is her size( 5'4" 110lbs )with a weak upper body??
It is not speed that we are looking for in a boat we want a kayak that
is easy to paddle if there is such a thing. I simply want her to have
more fun and that will not happen if she is killing herself to paddle.
We are doing the Eskimo Roll clinic with Richard, Justin and Dan and
she was very impressed with the Luna that Richards wife has, well I
think it was a Luna. Maybe that is more the boat for her??
Tony
Dan Miller <danfr...@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<c2a5pn$m9c$1...@nntp-stjh-01-01.rogers.nf.net>...
Dan Miller
Tony,
Check out this kayak on the Seaward web site:
http://seawardkayaks.com/Product_Page3.asp?ProductName=Cosma
It is a hard chined boat similar in size to the LUNA and would have
better secondary stability. It would be a good match size wise for
your wife.
Dan
Tony
are now not buying the Chilco. We looked very much at the Luna and we
are now sold on the Cosma. Your advise as well as some others have
convinced me that the Cosma is the best fit for my wife. Again thanks
for the advise and I am sure I'll see you all on the water soon.
Tony
danfr...@hotmail.com (Dan Miller) wrote in message news:<840be5c2.04030...@posting.google.com>...
Paul Delaney
Maybe you should try a Seaknife like I have. It's 16' 6". Cockpit is
large but all that means is adapt it to her likings. It is a very fast
boat, which is meant to mean that you get a lot out of a paddle stroke
even if you're not that strong. It has incredible primary and
secondary stability. You can edge as much as you like and still feel
like you're on the land. Thus tracking and turning is acheived with
virtually no concern and no sense that you might tip over. You can
edge her and just paddle along comfortably in lumpy seas. It has no
rudder which might be a concern to some, but she doesn't weathercock.
In reasonable following, lumpy seas (all I've bothered to try) off
Witless Bay and Cape Bonavista, she tracked down the swells like a
train on the track. Very comfortable. But it's speed and ease to
paddle may be the biggest factor if you're worried about your wife's
paddling ability. But she will also be very comfortable with the
primary stability and I know the secondary is extreme. You are more
than welcome to take mine for a spin. It's also a good price. On his
website, www.seaknife.com, Lindy lists the price as $2000, but right
now you can get one for $1700.
trl...@hotmail.com (Tony) wrote in message news:<4c369604.0403...@posting.google.com>...
Tony
with the Seaward kayaks and we are in the process now of having a
Cosma shipped in. Thanks for your help.
Tony
pwde...@roadrunner.nf.net (Paul Delaney) wrote in message news:<1c38fe8a.04030...@posting.google.com>...
Tony
This is just an update for all interested. We ordered the Seaward
Cosma yesterday. It is leaving B.C. on the 24th of March so we are
hoping to have it mid April. Thanks again to all who helped us with
this kayak choice. Really appreciate all your knowledgeable advise. My
wife is very excited and i am as well.
Tony
trl...@hotmail.com (Tony) wrote in message news:<4c369604.04030...@posting.google.com>...