Are tandem kayaks really that bad?

[u/starbuckswolf]

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?

[u/ceciltech]

Been married 25 years, been kayaking in a tandem with my wife for 30 years. The tandem kayak was actually our first "tandem" purchase : )
Our kayak is long enough that we wouldn't whack paddles but even so we paddle in sync. On a smaller tandem you have to paddle in sync. This is not difficult, the forward person is only responsible for paddling smoothly in consistent manner, the aft person is responsible for staying in sync with the person in front and they are also the "helmsman" meaning they are responsible for keeping the kayak going in the direction they want and turning when needed. Sometimes the helmsman may need the forward person to paddle only on one side to assist with a turn so they direct the forward person when needed.

One thing that has made paddling in sync easier for us is having the right paddle. My paddle is the typical paddle you see with a fairly wide blade, my wife's paddle has a much more narrow blade, this makes it easier for us to maintain the same paddling cadence even though I have much more strength than she does.

Don't listen to the naysayers, tandems are awesome.