The Sea Wind
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The Sea Wind is the ultimate solo canoe for long distance tripping.
The Sea Wind is unique in form and function. It is the ultimate product of over 100,000 miles of personal experience and the offspring of the 48 designs and experiments that preceded its conception. The Sea Wind is the third generation stemming from modifications and improvements made to the Loon and Monarch - boats that have proven themselves so well.
"I paddled the Loon on the Ultimate Canoe Challenge, an amazing 28,000 miles on every conceivable type of waterway and ocean that North America has to offer. Over 9,000 miles of that was on three of the world's four oceans. The Ultimate Canoe Challenge included a lot of big and turbulent waters and some of the meanest, roughest portages that could ever be imagined. My original boat is scratched and worn but still in solid condition -- good to go another 28,000 miles!'' VK
"Time and distance showed the rest of the world that Verlen had done his homework thoroughly. The design as well as the construction method he devised withstood an incredible test."
-- CANOE MAGAZINE, October, 1984.
The Sea Wind has been improved even in those areas that the Loon & Monarch were so outstanding. No effort or expense has been spared to produce the most comfortable, most efficient and toughest solo canoe possible.
It is built to go 28,000 miles and beyond.
"My canoes already hold more long distance records than any other canoe design in history. But more importantly, the Sea Wind is a vehicle with a wide range of multi-purpose uses. It is capable of going wherever you may want to go and able to perform your favorite canoe activity. Whether exploring to find out where a wandering stream comes from, riding a wilderness river to its mouth, navigating an awesome ocean, lazily enjoying a placid pond or on a 28,000 mile journey of discovery. Wherever the sea breezes blow, the Sea Wind is right at home.
It has been said that no boat can do everything -- but the Sea Wind comes close! Here is a canoe that invites and inspires you to reach out beyond yourself. The Sea Wind can handle it.
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A Sea Wind Catamaran
Moreno, Argentina at the foot of |
There is irresistible magic to the smooth shape and efficient functional look of a well designed canoe. It is a thing of beauty and movement that delights the eye and fires the imagination. A solo canoe is about as independent and free as a paddler can get. In a solo canoe you are the captain of your ship. You are the total crew. Every move the canoe makes is made by you. You are its source of energy and you are the canoe's source of life.
The Sea Wind is the ultimate solo tripping canoe. The combination of all the Sea Wind's unique features make it as comfortable, convenient, efficient and seaworthy as any one person canoe that ever parted the waters.
Seaworthiness
The Sea Wind gives a whole new meaning to the word seaworthiness. The Sea Wind's initial stability is excellent, and the final stability is superb. It handles very calmly and predictably in wild turbulent water, rip tides, cross currents, whirlpools, boils and big water. With the Sea Wind's rounded hull shape and full ends there is nothing for turbulent water to work on so the Sea Wind doesn't get yanked or tossed around as a finer lined or shorter canoe would. "There is no other canoe hull I would have wanted to go UP the Grand Canyon with!" VK
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Paddling upstream in the |
The Sea Wind is more stable and dryer than its predecessors. It has up to 50% more volume in the aft 1/3 of its length than the Loon. It is wider across the deck all the way which gives the hull more flare, throwing the splash away and increasing lift for final stability. The Sea Wind is up to 2" wider behind the rear of the cockpit and 2" deeper in the hull besides being fuller toward the ends than the Loon.
The Sea Wind tends to ride with the waves instead of diving into them. When the Loon was fully loaded, the rear gunnel would be flush with the water. When the Loon tipped down, it went under water losing rather than gaining stability as the Sea Wind is designed to do because of the deeper hull. How I wish I had had the Sea Wind that time off the Oregon coast at Cape Blanco -- common sense and seaworthiness is the greater part of safety.
There is enough foam flotation poured into the ends of the Sea Wind to keep the canoe afloat in case of capsize.
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Verlen powers through the surf |
Comfort
When traveling with a companion, two Sea Winds can be connected to form a very stable catamaran for sailing, fishing, hunting, sleeping, or cooking. Two Sea Winds or Dreamcatchers can be catamaraned together quick and easy, no tools, in rough water, in one minute. This greatly expands comfort, safety, and various uses of a canoe.
The seat is installed in the Kevlar hanger at a height of 4", 6", or 8" depending on your comfort and the water conditions. You can remove the seat to allow sleeping in the boat.
You sit on a comfortable bucket seat in the middle of your own world, surrounded by all that you need. Everything is within reach for your convenience and control.
The foam padded form fitting yoke is strongly riveted to the under side of the seat. To use it, flip the seat/yoke assembly over, quick and easy. It is held securely in place by shock cords. The canoe balances perfectly whether on the water or your shoulders. This combination of seat/yoke makes the Sea Wind one of the most comfortable canoe you'll ever portage.
Capacity
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▲Sea Wind Catamaran with Sun & Rain Canopy Sail and Spray Skirt.
The Sea Wind is an extra high capacity, high performance, one-person canoe designed to handle a big load in big waters on big trips. The Sea Wind easily handles a 200 pound paddler and 300 pounds of gear. I have traveled many miles with up to 350 pounds of food, water and gear.
The Sea Wind is large enough to sleep in quite comfortably, simply remove most of the gear from the bow or push it forward, remove the seat, put down your sleeping pad and crawl into your sleeping bag.
In an emergency, the Sea Wind is large enough for two people.
The Sea Wind paddles easily and handles exceptionally well fully loaded (it was designed around a load), yet when empty, it is as much fun as any play boat. Contrary to what some may believe, a larger, longer boat paddles easier, safer, and with better handling characteristics than many smaller less stable craft. For all its size and stability the Sea Wind is as fast as some of the marathon racing C-1's.
Construction
The outer layer of fabric is expensive S-glass with three full layers of DuPont Kevlar 49 bonded together with a special high impact vinyl ester resin with exceptional adhesion and crack resistant properties called Derakane by Dow Chemical Company. Additional layers of Kevlar are applied in a complex pattern according to high stress or abrasion requirements. The full length of the bottom has no less than 10 layers of Kevlar.
A rope of Kevlar strands is glassed into the curve and rise of both the bow and stern -- making the ends of the canoe log-jumping, rock-splitting tough!
The deck and rim are molded in one piece. Then the hull and deck are strongly bonded together with three layers of Kevlar for a total weight of 61 pounds.
Cockpit
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Cockpit detail. Aluminum hoops |
The factors of comfort, convenience and efficiency have gone into the design of the Sea Wind cockpit. The inside measurements of 20" by 7'3" are extra large. This opening allows for quick and easy access to all gear storage areas. There is lots of room to stretch out -- lean back on your pack when you want to relax. There are no thwarts. It is roomy enough to take your dog along, hunting, hauling a deer back to camp, fishing, ice chest, photo equipment. The Kevlar seat hangers permanently bond together the cockpit rim to the bottom of the canoe. This serves the multiple purpose of making a very strong seat support, a rigid cockpit rim, and helps hold the shape of the canoe.
A cockpit has many unique advantages. The main one is being able to make the gunwale line lower and narrower so the paddler can reach the water better. At the same time a cockpit makes the rim of the boat higher and therefore the boat is dryer. The rim is reinforced and strong enough to walk on or to car-top upside down.
A cockpit is the strongest, easy, and driest way to install a spray cover. A shock cord fits under the rim and the addition of a few snaps under the lip of the rim effectively seals the boat from splashes. The spray cover will repel wave pounding.
The Sea Wind cockpit has a high wave cutting shape. The rim is the widest in the front where it is most needed.
Rudder
The Sea Wind rudder is constructed of heavy gauge tempered
aluminum alloy and stainless steel for extra rugged use. The rudder is sturdy
enough and shaped to slide over a log without slowing down or hanging up. The
fin flips up and down automatically but can also be controlled by a line from
the seat. Heretofore, the potential benefits of a rudder have never been fully
utilized. Don't be surprised if you see more rudders in the future."
- Verlen Kruger
Accessories (See prices in Order Form)
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Rear Catamaran Sleeve
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Spray Cover -- Heavy duty, custom made with two extra heavy non-locking zippers, heavy shock cord fits snuggly under the rim, and an elastic waist band installed with aluminum hoops and snaps.
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HD Catamaran pole
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Canopy -- Rain and sun shade, 37" high, 50" x 50" waterproof fabric over a 37" x 37" frame, installation hardware and carrying bag
