Know Your Neighbours: Double the Romance?

June-July 2006

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
To download a pdf copy of the magazine click here: > DOWNLOAD

by Bryan Nichols

So you’ve been thinking about getting a double kayak. Sure it’s a big commitment, but doubles are romantic, right? They can only improve your love life, like bicycles built for two.

I’ve paddled plenty of doubles and I’ve seen numerous couples paddle them during my years of guiding. I’ve often thought couples in doubles would make a fascinating sociological study. Thus, in the social spirit of this issue, let’s try to decide if being joined at the hip to the one you love would be good or not-so-good, romantically speaking.

Sea kayaking is romantic, isn’t it? Sure it is. Sunsets on the beach. A cozy little tent in the wilderness. Bottles of fine wine extracted from the bow of your kayak. It’s possible to squeeze a wide assortment of romantic accoutrements into the big hatches of a double kayak. Some have huge center hatches that might accommodate a cooler full of deli treats, a favorite pet or even a love child, though you’ll want to stick to protected waters for the last two.

There are a lot of pros and cons to consider. For example, a lot of people don’t realize it, but doubles are usually faster than singles. I know, romantically speaking faster isn’t always better, but nearly everyone is more satisfied with a faster kayak. I’m talking about touring doubles here, ones with waterproof hatches large enough to store your tent and interlocking sleeping bags. There are plenty of pudgy recreational doubles that aren’t especially fast or even seaworthy, but let’s assume you want a kayak that can take you on overnight trips out to deserted beaches. That would be a touring double, and they’re usually longer and faster than singles.

In many ways, bigger is better with boats, so doubles aren’t just faster. The added length, width and height usually make doubles drier, more stable and more seaworthy. Some kayak touring companies avoid singles altogether—inexperienced paddlers are much less likely to tip and go swimming if they’re in a double. If the object of your affection is wary of sea kayaking, a safe, solid double could be just the thing to win him/her over.

How about comfort? Doubles often have bigger cockpits and more room for your butt and legs. There are some exceptions (depending on how the boat is configured), but plenty of people appreciate the extra space doubles usually offer. Those bigger cockpits make getting in and out easier as well, and because you’re always doing so at the same time, you’ll be able to help balance each other.

Finally, money can be an important issue. For couples, one double is typically less pricey than two singles of similar quality. Buying a double may be a way to get you both out on the water without breaking the bank, and finding one used double can be easier than tracking down two suitable secondhand singles. Believe me, paddling mismatched singles can cause all kinds of romantic problems.

Are you musing marriage? Do you have concerns about commitment? Buying a double kayak is like buying the cow, instead of just renting it. On second thought, cows and kayaks don’t mix, even in analogies. Let’s say that buying a double is saying you have so much faith in the relationship you’re willing to put it in fiberglass. Diamonds aren’t really forever and a nine meter double sea kayak is a much more substantial commitment to togetherness than a little hunk of carbon. You don’t share an engagement ring, but you are linked, literally, by the boat. Nothing says “I love you and want to spend happy recreational time with you for the lengthy life span of fiberglass” like a double.

A double kayak, after all, really is a commitment to togetherness. With most doubles you can’t go it alone because you won’t be able to lift it onto your vehicle. Even if you’re exceptionally strong, when paddled solo, most doubles don’t handle well in any kind of wind. Some of the smaller recreational doubles are exceptions to this, especially those that have open cockpits, but they aren’t as seaworthy and often don’t have enough dry storage to be suitable for touring. Are you optimistic? If the romantic thing works out, you won’t have to lift or paddle the boat alone anyway.

Alas—for better or worse, fiberglass kayaks outlast the average human relationship. As a result, there are more than a few used doubles for sale. If you’re not superstitious, you might find a great deal. Will your love life benefit from sea kayaking togetherness, even if someone else’s didn’t? Buying a double for you and the object of your affection is like saying “I think our relationship is so strong that the occasional application of gel coat to the scratches will keep it shiny and smooth forever.” If that sounds hopelessly romantic to you, the following list might help you decide whether to take the plunge. So how do things add up? If this list still leaves you wondering, try renting a double, or choosing a guided trip that uses them. You and your honey might find it’s just the thing—or maybe you’ll end whacking each other with paddles. Vive la romance!

Some Pros and Cons of Double Kayak Romance

In a double, the stronger paddler can’t get too far ahead, which can nip many a potential conflict in the bud. Also, the weaker paddler will never have to feel bad about keeping up. This pair of benefits is especially helpful for couples that include one impatient, aggressive paddler, and one ‘stop and fish or photograph’ sort of paddler.	But... that forced togetherness means you can never escape for some time alone. As you might have noticed, not every relationship benefits from the couple always being within paddle-whacking distance of each other. If you’re in a relationship where ‘time out’ is crucial to maintaining the peace, think carefully about a double.
Couples in doubles stay close enough to converse the entire trip. Communication is the key to a successful relationship, right? If you have a problem or see something cool, you don’t have to call the love of your life over to talk. They’re right there with you the whole time.	But... a lot of the time, the person in the back can’t really hear the person in the bow, who has to twist mightily to point their mouth in the right direction. This is especially true in any sort of wind. This can occasionally be a blessing, but most of the time it’s frustrating.
In a double your bodies are connected by the boat itself, the very thing that’s keeping you afloat and alive. This is a unique physical connection, and can help bring you together, especially if you’re both busy and rarely get to feel connected.	But... in many doubles you’re not actually close enough to touch each other. The solid deck between you creates an odd sort of barrier, especially as it points one person away from the other. In singles, one kayaker can pull up beside the other, lean over and smooch away. You’d need exceptional balance and contortionist skills to smooch in most doubles.
Doubles tend to have larger hatches and spaces for coolers, wine bottles, bulky double sleeping bags, etc. All that is good news for shorter, luxurious trips that lend themselves to romantic interludes.	But... two singles might end up having more overall storage room than one double, which is probably only important if you’re planning longer expeditions.
Working together to pilot your own vessel built-for-two across the mighty ocean brings you together in a way that dinner and a movie just can’t.	But... the person in the front usually has little control over where the kayak goes. This can trigger a frustrating feeling of helplessness and/or complaints about incompetent steering. If you’re a control freak, you’re probably not going to like the front of a double. Hey—you’re not dating a control freak are you?
When you’re paddling in synch, your rhythmic strokes look and feel very ‘together’. It’s great to physically experience what it’s like to be a coordinated, connected couple.	But... when you’re not paddling in synch, you keep bashing your paddles together, a jarring reminder of… well, you decide the appropriate symbolism for your relationship here.

© Biologist Bryan Nichols has owned at least four singles over the years but is seriously considering a folding double, all the better to mix romance and travel.