Kayak Tri

Kayak Tri "Three Amigos"

This was my solution for a light air/car topable cruiser for the summer winds in my area. I have a single and ketch rigged kayak but wanted more performance. I thought about building a hull and amas due to the more complicated spacing of hatches, masts, akas, and cockpits, but arthritic hands and the snails pace I painstakingly work at convinced me to find a finished boat. It's an 18' Seda hybrid double kayak I fitted with Balogh sails and 10 foot inflatable amas made up by a river rafting co. The 3 sails toal 106 sq.ft. It has 2 leeboards, and also has a 75 sq.ft Sailrite spinnaker I made but haven't finished rigging for this boat. The rudder, tiller, and it's connection parts I made as well as some other fittings.

Speeds are pretty good. 6-9 in 5-10+ MPH winds reaching, and it hit a max speed of 13.9 MPH on a broad reach in 15+ gusty conditions. I took a video showing the locations of all the control lines while sailing it (might post it on YouTube).
When the wind dies, I paddle 3mph with it fully rigged.

As kayaks go, storage is very good due to a large front cockpit/hatch and with it's volume provides a comparatively dry ride.

The boat is kevlar and weighs 55 lbs. Rigged it weighs 125. The cart I made has 16" Rolleez balloon wheels and I roll it fully rigged and loaded to the water.

This is probably more than you wanted to know but who doesn't like to talk about their own unique set-up!

I just wish there was a small boat Raid type event here in the NorthEast as I think my boat would be well suited for the adventure.

Hard to beat the beauty and conditions you have for the Texas 200. Makes me want to move South.

Brad