Well, a person can efficiently operate a two-person kayak without help. However, gently rowing a kayak alone isn’t the most excellent option, and it’s filled with many challenges.
Choosing a longer than usual paddle, deploying a rudder, and paddling in open water while avoiding barrow streams and fast waterways are all necessary while paddling a two-person kayak alone.
Pros of One Person Paddling a Two-Person Kayak
There are multiple reasons why people would opt for one-person kayaking. So, before we go on, let’s spotlight the cons of doing so.
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More Storage Space
A two-person kayak’s storage space is significantly raised when the vessel’s seat is placed in the middle. Hence, multi-day kayakers may intentionally opt for a two-person vessel for overnight trips.
However, a major con to this perk is that you’ve to get creative on where to mount your additional weight since the space is designated for a human rider.
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Added Stability
Every kayak has an extreme load limit, determined by its producer. However, kayakers are often told to refrain from exceeding 80 percent of the producer’s stated load volume.
Although the vessel may not sink in several minutes if you exceed its load limit, it’s quite possible to take in water, making steering challenges. In addition to this, it will move more slowly and have a reduced response to your strokes with the paddle.
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More Legroom
Taller paddlers will have trouble positioning themselves into the vessel. Persons taller than 6’5″ will find it difficult to paddle a tandem kayak without scrunching their legs on the other person’s seats or fitting inside the sit-inside kayak’s cockpit.
A two-person kayak, which can be converted to solo usage, is a great option for taller people. And when it comes to comfort, the maximum legroom is provided by sit-on-top models.
Cons of Paddling a Two-Person Kayak all alone
Paddling a two-person kayak alone has its benefits and disadvantages, just like any other venture. Here are several downsides that need to be briefly discussed before moving on.
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Less Maneuverability
First, paddling a little too large a vessel for you will make it more difficult to control. As a result, rapid rotations and little modifications will be pretty challenging, depending on the situation.
This won’t be a problem if you spend most of your paddling time on still lakes or slowly flowing rivers. However, the lack of suppleness will be a severe concern for people who want to paddle on flowing water or fish in smaller streams.
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Difficult to Maintain Speed
As a solo kayaker, you’ll have difficulty keeping up with the rest of the group if you’re the only one in the two-person vessel. These vessels are made to be paddled by two people at specific angles.
And this is because solo kayaking usually demands that you sit in the widest part of the kayak rather than the smaller locations you would occupy if you had a paddling partner.
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Heavier to Transport
The biggest problem of rowing a bigger kayak alone is that it’s more cumbersome to lift. Kayak storage isn’t a problem if you have a seaside home where you can keep it.
Many of you potentially rely on others to get the kayak from the car to the side of the water body. Moving a kayak is challenging unless you’re lucky enough to own one of the finest kayak trolleys or wheels.
The setup of your kayak determines the level of difficulty. Inflatable vessels are usually the lightest alternatives.
It also depends on how you strap the kayak onto the car to take it to the launching site. Moving heftier kayaks is easily carried out using a trailer rather than having to take them up and down the roof rack.
How a Single Paddler Can Navigate a Tandem Kayak with Ease
Is there anything you can do to ensure your solo trip in a two-person kayak is good?
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The Seat should be Moved Closer to the Centre if Feasible.
You’re greatly lucky if you bought a two-person kayak with movable seats, which is a great idea. With a simple click, you can fix most of your issues.
To the furthest extent, try sliding the back seat up to where you’ll be sitting. Because of the more even weight distribution, your two-person kayak will no longer seem like a long, narrow speedboat with an uneven trim.
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Put Some Extra Weight in the Kayak’s Bow
There’s a chance that you acquired a two-person vessel with a tough outer shell, or it doesn’t let you modify the seating arrangement. If you did, there is still an opening for recovering the situation.
However, you have a weight distribution problem, which has to be addressed to reinstate harmony in the numbers. The best way to achieve this is by putting some weight on the front.
For proper weight distribution, you should use more than 50+ pounds. There’re several materials with a packed weight that you can deploy, including water bottles.
Position the load close to the bow’s tip as possible. If you paddle a sit-in kayak, properly mount the load in the kayak’s extreme reaches.
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Install a Skeg or Rudder
A rudder refers to the blade that you mount on the kayak’s stern, and it has two purposes, namely:
- Assists you in maintaining the vessel on course in tumultuous weather.
- Aids you turn the kayak.
It is very challenging for tandem kayakers to paddle through tumultuous weather. And this is partly attributed to the large surface area of usual kayaks. If the load distribution is off, the vessel’s front end may sit far out of the water, increasing the area exposed to the crosswinds and making it difficult to handle.
Rudders may let one person steer a two-person kayak in strong gusts while exerting less effort.
On the other hand, a skeg refers to a blade stowed in the kayak’s bottom. And it can be deployed at any time to protect the vessel’s rear end from sliding whenever a crosswind strikes.
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Get a Longer Paddle
Longer paddles will let you modify to taking shallower strokes devoid of reaching for the water and making the kayak imbalanced. Also, the longer paddle will let you vertically maintain your strokes.
Wrapping Up
Everyone can enjoy kayaking, irrespective of their age or physical ability. And depending on your two-person kayak’s model and make, you can paddle alone or with a partner.
And you should keep the above recommendations in mind if you wish to paddle a two-person kayak by yourself. Adhering to the proposals above will maximize your kayaking time while ensuring your safety.
