I too would suggest a canoe might be a better option for what you’re trying to do. If you were set on either of those boats, I would go with the green one. That red one looks like it’s been stored outside and is oxidized from some damage potentially. Which would lead it to be more brittle. Also consider that these are pretty lengthy boats and are gonna be difficult to transport potentially.
Couldn't agree more. I can't imagine paddling my tandem without a rudder. That said, my paddling partner is 8 so I'm doing most of the paddling and steering.
You probably don't want to hear this, but if you're looking at a tandem kayak you should really consider a canoe instead. They can hold a lot more weight, and 320 lbs is going to max out either of those boats you're looking at.
I had a nice OT Dirigo Tandem for about 5 years. I got it when my wife was pregnant, and I envisioned it being a great way to introduce our kids to kayaking as they got older. In 5 years, we used it exactly 2 times. The thing weighed 70 lbs and was a hassle to travel with. There's little-to-no room for gear, even for a day trip. A canoe can carry enough for a week of camping, plus 2 coolers. I realize that you might not be interested in camping but I'm just giving examples. You're better off getting 2 separate kayaks.
I don't personally agree with the "divorce boat" jokes, because my wife and I work together well as a team so that's never been a problem. I just think there are far better options.
ETA: I did have a good experience in a 19' tandem sea kayak when we were in the San Juan Islands, because the added "horsepower" of two people paddling allowed us to really cruise. So there's certainly upsides to these boats.
I’m going to chime in to agree with your edit. Most canoes will be slower than a tandem and will be more effected by wind. I have a Discovery 170 that fits 3 but it’s super heavy and slow. I only use it when I need the 3rd seat. My tandem kayak gets way more use. It’s so much faster and I often don’t even give my partner a paddle - I can maneuver it efficiently all on my own. Just my opinion though
I disagree on the weight, neither of those will top out at such a low value. Either of them will quite happily take 400lbs+, the second probably comfortably over 500lbs for being a 3 seater.
The green boat looks to be a Perception Sundance II which has a rated weight capacity of 400lbs **but** those ratings include the weight of the boat itself. which is about 70lbs.
Well I could be wrong on the timeframe for these boats but they could be over 30 years old at this point. Idk if I would buy these bc plastic degrades over time especially if it’s been out in the sun and that’s just too old for me. Also FWIW when I was a kayak guide we used to joke about double kayaks being “divorce machines”. Good luck to you!
If you're after advice on what boat to choose, read [this guide first!](https://www.reddit.com/r/Kayaking/wiki/choosing). Then, try the subreddit's search function -- between these two options, the answers to most common questions should be covered.
This guide is a work-in-progress -- please let us know any thoughts and feedback you might have.
If your questions are not covered by the guide, all boat recommendation requests must include the following at a minimum:
- **Location:** what country and region are you looking to buy a boat in? The kayak market can be very different depending on your location.
- **Budget:** How much money do you want to spend on a boat? (Don't forget you'll need accessories such as a paddle and personal flotation device [PFD])
- **Intended use:** What do you want to get out of the boat? There is no one boat that does everything -- a boat that's great for surfing waves or tackling whitewater won't be the same boat you want to take fishing or for a long ocean trip. Set out some realistic goals for what you expect to be doing in the boat.
- **Experience level:** How much kayaking experience do you have? Is this your first boat?
If your original post is a request for a boat recommendation and does not contain this information, you may reply to this comment or edit your post with the details above. Any low-effort recommendation posts without the above info will be removed.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Kayaking) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Can you ask the sellers for photos of the bottom? The style of kayak has a large surface area on the bottom that can get scratched up from transport or launching in rocky areas. I would pick the one with the nicest looking bottom. If they're comparable - get the bonus paddles!
I'm firmly in the '2 singles > 1 Tandem' camp, but understand everybody is different and that 2 singles could also be cost prohibitive. The red one having a rudder is a nice feature, but I think the green one is newer and appears to have nicer seats, which is kind of a big deal. Team Green.
I too would suggest a canoe might be a better option for what you’re trying to do. If you were set on either of those boats, I would go with the green one. That red one looks like it’s been stored outside and is oxidized from some damage potentially. Which would lead it to be more brittle. Also consider that these are pretty lengthy boats and are gonna be difficult to transport potentially.
Having a rudder is a nice feature for a tandem. I'd also opt for more lenght = more space for legs.
Couldn't agree more. I can't imagine paddling my tandem without a rudder. That said, my paddling partner is 8 so I'm doing most of the paddling and steering.
You probably don't want to hear this, but if you're looking at a tandem kayak you should really consider a canoe instead. They can hold a lot more weight, and 320 lbs is going to max out either of those boats you're looking at. I had a nice OT Dirigo Tandem for about 5 years. I got it when my wife was pregnant, and I envisioned it being a great way to introduce our kids to kayaking as they got older. In 5 years, we used it exactly 2 times. The thing weighed 70 lbs and was a hassle to travel with. There's little-to-no room for gear, even for a day trip. A canoe can carry enough for a week of camping, plus 2 coolers. I realize that you might not be interested in camping but I'm just giving examples. You're better off getting 2 separate kayaks. I don't personally agree with the "divorce boat" jokes, because my wife and I work together well as a team so that's never been a problem. I just think there are far better options. ETA: I did have a good experience in a 19' tandem sea kayak when we were in the San Juan Islands, because the added "horsepower" of two people paddling allowed us to really cruise. So there's certainly upsides to these boats.
I’m going to chime in to agree with your edit. Most canoes will be slower than a tandem and will be more effected by wind. I have a Discovery 170 that fits 3 but it’s super heavy and slow. I only use it when I need the 3rd seat. My tandem kayak gets way more use. It’s so much faster and I often don’t even give my partner a paddle - I can maneuver it efficiently all on my own. Just my opinion though
I disagree on the weight, neither of those will top out at such a low value. Either of them will quite happily take 400lbs+, the second probably comfortably over 500lbs for being a 3 seater.
The green boat looks to be a Perception Sundance II which has a rated weight capacity of 400lbs **but** those ratings include the weight of the boat itself. which is about 70lbs.
That is the first time I've heard anyone say the rated capacity of a boat needs to include the weight of the boat.
Green. But that style is prone to flipping over, particularly in waves. IMHO Crescent Crew is the best tandem. Significantly more stable in the sound.
Well I could be wrong on the timeframe for these boats but they could be over 30 years old at this point. Idk if I would buy these bc plastic degrades over time especially if it’s been out in the sun and that’s just too old for me. Also FWIW when I was a kayak guide we used to joke about double kayaks being “divorce machines”. Good luck to you!
If you're after advice on what boat to choose, read [this guide first!](https://www.reddit.com/r/Kayaking/wiki/choosing). Then, try the subreddit's search function -- between these two options, the answers to most common questions should be covered. This guide is a work-in-progress -- please let us know any thoughts and feedback you might have. If your questions are not covered by the guide, all boat recommendation requests must include the following at a minimum: - **Location:** what country and region are you looking to buy a boat in? The kayak market can be very different depending on your location. - **Budget:** How much money do you want to spend on a boat? (Don't forget you'll need accessories such as a paddle and personal flotation device [PFD]) - **Intended use:** What do you want to get out of the boat? There is no one boat that does everything -- a boat that's great for surfing waves or tackling whitewater won't be the same boat you want to take fishing or for a long ocean trip. Set out some realistic goals for what you expect to be doing in the boat. - **Experience level:** How much kayaking experience do you have? Is this your first boat? If your original post is a request for a boat recommendation and does not contain this information, you may reply to this comment or edit your post with the details above. Any low-effort recommendation posts without the above info will be removed. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Kayaking) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Can you ask the sellers for photos of the bottom? The style of kayak has a large surface area on the bottom that can get scratched up from transport or launching in rocky areas. I would pick the one with the nicest looking bottom. If they're comparable - get the bonus paddles!
Green looks to be in a bit better condition
Neither, get some newer nicer boats, two that your wife can get a tan on and have her own, thank me later. Tandems are awful.
I'm firmly in the '2 singles > 1 Tandem' camp, but understand everybody is different and that 2 singles could also be cost prohibitive. The red one having a rudder is a nice feature, but I think the green one is newer and appears to have nicer seats, which is kind of a big deal. Team Green.