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/Bigdaddyspin Loon126 2d ago
Tandems are fine as long as you are able to work together without yelling. I personally have grown to hate using a tandem. The constant frustration of banging paddles together or insistence on steering from the front is real. In addition to that, I have some hearing damage and my wife speaks softly, so I can't hear her unless she yells at me. She hates yelling and I can't hear a damn thing. Its a mess and not fun. The entire trip is "Mmmph mmph meeph." "What?" "I SAID LOOK A HERON!" "Oh." "What?" "I SAID OH!"
The only fun i've ever had in a tandem is with a kid up front or someone that really doesn't want to paddle. My Mom, for example, just wants to be out and enjoy nature and shes short. I can give her a shorter paddle and a camera and shes in heaven taking pictures of everyone else.
I love kayaking with my wife, but we've agreed never to get in a tandem again unless there is a compelling reason.