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Triak-sailing kayak

Anyone own or ever sail a Triak? I have been googling their website years, but have never tried one as I live in the far northeast. I would love to hear from anyone who has sailed one.

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Permalink Reply by Joe Jeffery on July 9, 2012 at 6:48pm

New Triak owner here. Bought used-- mid '90's model with the wishbone type mast stepped on the deck. Has the hydrofoils. Yellow. I picked it up in Jersey and brought it back to our place near the Long Island Sound here in Connecticut yesterday. Today's job: clear out the bike workshop/garage, get the Tanzer 16' sailing dinghy out to the driveway for repairs and create some easily accessible storage space for the Triak.

I need a paddle, cart, and pfd before I can walk it down to the water and start learning how to sail it!

Joe in West Haven, CT

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Permalink Reply by Greg Loftus ( Cominco) on July 9, 2012 at 11:36pm

Joe any paddle maker site will have a version of how to choose a paddle length on it. In your case you want it long enough to work well but not interfer with the potoons. Contact John Alllsop he has a page here and has been working with triyaks for a number of years.ccheck my web site they're pictures of his folding kayaks with Pa action sails mounted. Cheers Greg

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Permalink Reply by Joe Jeffery on July 10, 2012 at 4:33am

Thanks, Greg-- one of the videos I've found had someone doing a very high angle stroke on it, which gave me the impression that I may need something rather specialized to get the best performance.

For now, I think I will simply get something inexpensive and learn the ropes. That way, I can have a spare or a paddle for another kayak down the line-- with two boys and the beach two blocks away, I bet I wind up with several!

I'll send a message directly to John. Thanks again!

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Permalink Reply by Greg Loftus ( Cominco) on July 10, 2012 at 5:38am

High angle paddling does not require a special paddle. itr is usually done with a shorter paddkle and allows for a faster stroke rate. It is popular with some sea kayakers mainly in weastern canada out west theybusually use longer paddles amnd a lower angle. In your case it must fit in between the potoons which could be why he was using a steepwer angle. I paddle with a greenlandic paddle and this is again different than the euro style(common) paddles greg

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Permalink Reply by john allsop on July 18, 2012 at 6:55am

Greg and Joe, We are now running into which is best a high angle paddle stroke or a stroke which is more shallow. I like the shallow one, thats why i suggest a paddle 200 CM long or about 80 inches which is the length of my Greenland and i like it. Of course getting them custom made is pricy so an off the shelf Euro is a good place to start. I think on the Triak web site their paddles are pretty near vertical because they are too long, they now sell a paddle for the new Triak which maybe ideal, without seeing the new boat and trying it i can,t say what i would like as regards length. Paddle length is a question which crops up quite often on the folding kayak forum and even without pontoons in the way there,s no definate length, some very experienced members say short is best, having tried short and long i like long, but the Triak maybe in a class on it,s own where short is the way to go to avoid hitting the pontoons. John

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Permalink Reply by Greg Loftus ( Cominco) on July 18, 2012 at 8:28am

Paddle length is a matter of comfort .There are a few things to consider in regards tothe boat mainly the beam and the height of the coaming above the water line. A vertical padddle stroke allows for a faster stroke rate and is more common in white water and racing. The lower angle allows for a easy continus pace and is popular on Canadas west coast among sea kayakers. Greenland paddles are usually shorter than a eurostyle paddle for the same person. My Nautiraid two came with exterely long paddles but irt is very wide and the coaming is high, you need the length to reach the water and the boat would be to beamy for a comfortable vertical stroke. Regardless if you stick with the sport you will end up with a collection of paddles.

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Permalink Reply by Joe Jeffery on July 18, 2012 at 2:35pm

I think my super long arms are going to force me to just find what works for me through trial and error. My first trip out had me thinking that a high angle works best for me.

I wish I were somewhere where Kayaking were more popular and it was easier to round up some different paddles to try out briefly before investing in one.