Here is the bottom line for those of you who are b...

Here is the bottom line for those of you who are busy or know what you want and it isn't a story of how and why:

1) I have and will continue to recommend Maine Island Kayak to all my friends. If you are in the market for a new or used kayak or if you have a great boat but are not as happy as you could be with fit, or are just seeking information and options CALL THEM NOW. Seriously, go see them. It will be worth your time. Besides, it's in a beautiful location just off Portland,ME and it's easy to talk others into riding along with you.

2) NDK (Nigel Dennis Kayak) Echo. Great sea kayak and play boat for smaller people. Excellent body contact made even better by customized fitting out by Tom Berg MIKc. resulting in easy control of boat.
Keyhole cockpit, 3 hatches, 16' 7". Handles like a dream. Puts fun into kayaking. Fast. Never tippy. Turns and edges smoothly. Carbon Kevlar makes it light. Handles waves and swells nicely.

Now the story...

I don't think it is much of an exaggeration to say that I was a reluctant paddler. I loved walking around lakes or standing on shore staring out to sea, but getting into a boat and paddling out from shore had never been my idea of a good time. My husband grew up in and around water and loves kayaking and really, really wanted me to try it. Friends were helpful. Everyone had a kayak to lend. I tried a few. It was just so much work, I didn't get how anyone could think it was fun. Then I started watching people who seemed to do well - and didn't appear to be struggling the way I was. They had boats that fit their body type. Their boats weren't forcing them to over reach because the boat was too wide for their arm length. They weren't sitting too low or too high...they weren't slushing around in their boats. I started doing my homework. I read specs, I went to stores, I tried some very nice boats, none of which fit. The disappointing part was I couldn't get anyone to listen to what I was trying to tell them. Finally, I came across NDK. They had a new boat out which replaced earlier attempts at cutting down a low volume boat for smaller paddlers. I contacted Maine Island Kayak because they had a demo model. What convinced me to make the trip to Maine from Vermont was Tom Bergh. He listened.

When we arrived, Tom had ready an assortment of boats in different sizes and volumes layed out on the beach for me to try. Tom asked me to get in each, even the ones that looked obviously too large, just to get an in person feel for the differences in length, width, volume, cockpit opening style, etc. Then I took each out into the bay. It was the best demonstration of how "fit" impacts paddling and ultimately increases or decreases the "fun" factor. Everything came together. It was that simple.

I have had my Echo nearly a year. It is obvious to me that the boat can do many things that I can't yet do, but I am learning. It's a joy to paddle and it makes me want to develop into a far better paddler.

The NDK Echo sits low in the water. It makes turning fun. I can play now on the water ... swinging it around in a near full circle with two strokes. My husband says that I can make this boat dance. But I know the truth. The Echo makes me look good. It's light and easy to move. It goes through waves and in and out of rock gardens without struggle. It's fast. It's perfectly balanced and it's beautiful. I love this boat and, surprise, surprise, I now enjoy kayaking.