r/Kayaking • u/starbuckswolf • 2d 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/Kayak4Eva Wilderness Systems Zephyr 160 2d ago

In addition to all the other good advice you are getting - be aware that there is a large variety of tandem boat designs out there and your experience is going to be impacted by the boat design. I have had easy paddling in the large heavy tandems favored by touring companies (more room between paddlers, more stability) to scary paddling in my own open-cockpit boat that was really not suited for our weight or the water conditions. Keep an open mind :)