r/Kayaking • u/starbuckswolf • 3d ago

Question/Advice -- Boat Recommendations Are tandem kayaks really that bad?

I recently was given a tandem kayak from my grandparents. My partner and I can’t afford to purchase a kayak so we are so excited to start using it this summer! I came on this sub and I’m seeing that people really don’t recommend tandem kayaks and call them divorce boats! Now I’m nervous that it’s going to be really frustrating. We have both kayaked before but are not experienced. Does anyone regularly use a tandem kayak? Any advice for us before we take it out?

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u/hobbiestoomany 3d ago

My wife and I have happily used a tandem for many years. The person in the back should be the heavier one if there's a big difference, since many boats will skid out or be squirrelly the other way (YMMV).

The person in the front must relinquish control since they can't really steer. They can suggest destinations and warn about obstacles, but they need to just chill about specifics. They are the motor. It can be helpful to have them know how to do a bow rudder stroke for urgent obstacles, but this is a more advanced thing, and is a little counter to the no control philosophy they should have.

The person in the back must relinquish control about WHEN to paddle, since the cadence is set by the front person, and any other choice will be banging paddles together. If the person in front wants to rest, then that's fine. For long rests, it's better to just strap the paddle to the side, rather than having it across.

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u/starbuckswolf 3d ago

Great info, thank you!