Kayaking Lake Pend Oreille in Spring

Spring is my favorite time to kayak on our local lake.  It's a great lake, fairly large if not one of the Great Lakes. Having finished up ski season, I am ready and quite enthusiastic about getting in my kayak. The lake is drawn down for winter, typically by 10 feet. It refills during the April 1 until mid June time slot. Early in that time period, it is hard for the power boat folks to find a suitable launch site and the lake remains relatively uncrowded until Memorial Day. Hence, I am typically alone on the lake with only an occasional fisherman in a small boat.

Of course, the water is very cold in April. The lake does not freeze entirely over, but the lake temperature does start in April from freezing. Early on, I dress for immersion, pick calm days, and stay close to shore.

One of the main attractions, other than water uncluttered by large craft and jet lice, is the spring migration of waterfowl. I typically see osprey, eagles, buffleheads, geese, mergansers, mallards, coots, etc. Later there are cormorants and goslings. One of my favorites is the flock of Western Grebes, who settle in for a short time before resuming their journey. I rarely take photos, but have downloaded a few from the Internet:

Western Grebe - dives when approached by kayak

 

Bufflehead (male) - flies away when approached by kayak

Common Merganser (female) - quite different from the male

I recently encountered a group of 5 merganser hens, clustered on shore. Because of their wild hairdo, they are more interesting than the male. Their disheveled look suggests that they also have more fun.

Review of the Current Designs Slipstream

It has been a cool spring here in North Idaho, perhaps record setting. On Easter (April 17) there was new snow on the valley floor. The next day, the supposed average lake temperature was 39° F. A year ago the lake temperature was 45° F, a significant difference for a large body of water, even if at the surface. This was not encouraging to us kayakers, even those of us with drysuits. Further, it was unusually windy most days. So, I waited. So did the kayak, on the cartop. Note: In the photo below, there is no tail rope - I am only driving less than a mile under 25 mph.

 

Specifications:

• Length: 16'
• Max Width: 22"
• Depth: 13.25"
• Weight Fiberglass: 49 lbs
• Cockpit: 29.25" X 16"
• Rear Hatch: 11" X 16 1/2"
• Front Hatch: 9 1/2" Diameter
• Total Volume: 60 U.S. Gals.
• Hull Design: Swede Form, Shallow "V", Medium Chine 

 

Test #1

 

Now it is April 22, and conditions look feasible for a first test with

• light winds
• water temperature at 40° F
• air temperature at 44° F

I'll wear my new Chillcheater dry suit and stay relatively close to shore ...

 

So here is what I could determine upon this first test:

• The overall fit is acceptable, but I need to avoid scraping my shins getting in the cockpit! My flexibility is the issue. Although this is a small person's kayak, the deck in front of the coaming is high. Many don't like this, but I definitely do because I have largish water shoes and need space to move them about.
  
• The water was quite calm at the start, then with a slight breeze later. No leaks were observed, but rougher water will tell more in a subsequent test.
  
• In the slight breeze (5 mph?) very mild weathercocking was observed, but easily tuned out with the skeg.
• The speed seems fine, but more testing will tell. I didn't hurry and had an average speed of 2.5 knots.
  
• The foot pegs were too far forward and the trip too short, so I wasn't quite comfortable with a posture not erect enough. However, nothing yet negative about the backband showed up at this point, so that is good.
  

Test #2

OK, now it's April 25, just a few days later. This time I wore my wet suit and a splash jacket. Next I moved the foot pegs closer resulting in a more erect posture. After 2 1/2 hours I found that my back was happy. This was a big deal and a surprise! I'll not need to reconfigure the backband ... hooray!

Note that I could get into and out of the kayak without scraping my shins. Merely paying closer attention was the key; no real surprise here.

Lastly, I am semi-convinced that the Slipstream's speed is comparable to that in the Étaín. Again, I did not hurry and maintained an average speed of 2.6 knots.

Conditions were quite calm, with a water temperature of 40° F. This is colder than I prefer for rolling, unless necessary. Hence, there are no conclusions on leakage yet, other than perhaps a little from the hatch cover areas on the stern and day hatches. The bow hatch remains dry.

Further Testing

I have now spent enough day trips in this kayak to decide that it might be my preferred kayak. If so, the Valley 17.3 Étaín will become our extra kayak for guests. On my longer trips I found the backband to still be comfortable.

It will be some weeks before I attempt rolling. I'll wait until the water temperature is more reasonable. At this point the water is still at 43° F. At that later time, I'll either update this article or write another. If leakage then becomes an issue, I'll then deal with it.