> I've been looking for information on Open Water Cycling boats…
1. It looks like you've got lots of real world time with
the Cadence. I was wondering if you could give me some
advice/input on the boat as a user?
Sure, I'd be happy to.
2. Is the Cadence capable of extended trips and cruising?
(It isn't uncommon for me to do 10 miles a day in my
kayak on a lazy day, I often do that for multiple days
making 1-3 week trips on my boat)
Given my commitments and time available, the longest
trip I have taken in my Cadence on open water (Puget
Sound) was around 26.5 miles. No speed records were
attempted, no racing other boats, just cruising between
a couple of islands and the mainland. Actual pedaling
time was about 5 hours.
I have considered going on longer trips, carrying camping
gear, etc., but those trips seem to be put off each year
until the next year. :-(
3. Does the Cadence have a decent cruise speed (akin to a
sea kayak would be fine)?
There is no question that you would be faster in the
Cadence. Typical long term cruise speed in the Cadence is
5 to 6 mph.
4. Can the Cadence carry at least myself and another?
Carrying three is preferred.
This is not really recommended, though I have carried two
children by sitting one in each cargo compartment. I've
even done a race with an 8 year old in the rear hatch,
ending up with a fairly decent time, too.
5. Can the Cadence carry a backpack with gear?
If you can fit it in the hatch or lash it to the deck,
sure! Otherwise, the front hatch is large enough to pass
a 20+ lb. propane tank with room to spare, and both
cargo compartments have loads of space.
6. I was wondering what you could tell me about the boat,
cruising, wave handling, stability, etc...
The boat is a little heavier (at 80 pounds) than many
kayaks. Still, with the spade rudder and prop thrust it
is very maneuverable and can be handled with one hand on
the controls - or no handed.
It helps to have a bit of a sense of balance to keep
yourself sitting upright when the boat is rocked from
side to side. This is unlike a kayak where you use your
paddle against the water on the downhill side of the
boat to brace yourself.
Otherwise, it takes very little skill to handle.
Heading your bow into a big wave you may get some water
traveling over the deck and into the cockpit. The speed
bailer will quickly drain it out so long as your speed
exceeds 3 mph.
Hitting a non-breaking wave broadside is normally a dry
experience as you lean into the wave and the boat bobs up
along the surface.
If you have a great sense of balance, then you can even try
surfing. This can be done with the stern at 45 degrees (+/-)
to the direction of the wave and pedaling madly down its
front.
This is good for adrenaline rushes. :-)
7. How durable is the boat?
It is a fiberglass boat with a gel coat outer layer. It can
be scratched, gouged, etc., so you need to take the same
sort of care as you would with a fiberglass kayak.
It is good to wash off the salt water after a cruise on the
ocean. It is also good to lubricate the chain once in a
while.
8. What depth of water is required for the boat?
The depth required is about 10 to 12 inches.
9. What are your thoughts regarding the Cadence?
I am pretty happy with my Cadence.
Any other questions?
:-)
Ok, ok - I know pretty much the pluses and minuses about all
the pedal boats on the market, and have an opinion about
each.
The Cadence does a pretty good job of fulfilling most of my
performance boating requirements. I like to take photos, not
worry much about the weather or about getting wet, take along
extra stuff (cooler, stove, etc.) once in a while, be able to
use it as a swimming platform, and be very low in maintenance.
Ok, so this boat is a higher maintenance beast than the
Escapade and if you use it for a swim platform then you had
better make sure that everything in the cockpit is lashed
down in case you flip the boat. You can get wet much more
readily in the Cadence.
Still, this boat really moves on the water. It is easily
carried on a car top carrier, loaded, unloaded, launched and
beached just about anywhere that you could launch a sea
kayak.
I use a couple of foam pads on the seat, and they have proven
to be comfortable for excursions of many hours.
If you look at some of my stories about my Boating Cruises,
you might be able to get a picture of some of the things
I've done with my boat over the past several years.
10. I noticed on your site a photo of your Cadence's prop with
some nasty looking weeds. Do you find the weeds cause
problems with the prop frequently? I suppose that one could
avoid the weedy areas, but part of what I love about
boating is the freedom to go where you want to....
Weeds have not really been much of a problem, except in
*really* weedy areas. Mercer Slough is something of a water
garden, and I would not recommend having any propeller
driven craft travel down it. Still, I have done this in my
Cadence, reaching the head where the depth was merely 8
inches or so.
Generally the act of reversing the direction of the pedals
normally is enough to loosen and cut the weeds using the
weed cutter. If one cycle doesn't do it, then repeat as
needed.
Weeds generally just slow down the boat from very fast to
moderately fast - unless the prop becomes encased in a ball
of weeds. Regardless, with the weed cutter in place and
adjusted properly, it has removed all the weeds I have ever
encountered. It did a pretty good job against a plastic
grocery bag, too!
Last updated October 3, 2005 by webmaster
michael@lampi.org