I came across my kayak on that website where so many dreams are made true–Craigslist.

I bought my Current Designs Squamish 158 from Todd, a great guy (seriously, he aired up my tires before I left) who lives in Elkhart, Indiana on January 3, 2014.  It was 13 degrees at midday when I tied it on to the roof of my car and took me about 11 hours total driving time to get it, but I got a good kayak at a good price.  And that was what I wanted.

Here are some pictures of it that first day:

I’ve been happy with the pick so far.  What I got is something light, cheap, and durable.   I’m going to adapt my strategy around the strengths of the kayak.  Only wanting to bring about 50-55 pounds of gear with me in the hatches.  I weigh 160, so am probably about as large as one could comfortably be in a craft with a 250lb weight limit.  If I pack this thing up with gear, the front half of my kayak is going to be underwater 50 percent of the time.

So my strategy then is to pack light on supplies (a yet to be determined amount of days)–and resupply more often in towns.  I plan to sprint and rest.  Sprint and rest. Sprint and rest.

Here is a video of me showing you all the incredibly interesting things there are to know about this kayak.  Please, if you have other priorities in your life, then drop them immediately and put this video on repeat and watch it for hours.  It’s that interesting.

Also, I have some notes here from the designer that explains the thinking that went into the design of my kayak:

The Squamish was designed for small to medium-sized paddlers who are after a smaller sea kayak with manageable performance. This boat was designed for day tripping or weekending, although it can go on longer trips with careful packing. Our goal was to create a sporty and fun touring kayak that beginners or experts will enjoy paddling. Additional design goals were to give the Squamish good handling, beautiful lines, a playful personality and a classy feel. We chose polyethylene as the material for this boat but have kept the weight around 50 pounds. The Squamish is also very affordable and extremely durable. The Squamish tracks beautifully in calm water but comes alive in the rough stuff. The paddler has a great deal of control from the cockpit of the Squamish. Our seat, thigh braces and backrest are designed so that the paddler can control the boat easily in all conditions and even do advanced maneuvers. Rolling is a breeze with the very low stern deck design. We are delighted with the finished product and feel that a small to mediumsized paddler who is looking for something special should consider paddling a Squamish.

-Brian Henry, Current Designs

Here is also a good review by a man who describes it as a great kayak for women.