u/Wild-Mountain-8474

Hello everyone,

I've been researching tandem kayaks for my wife and me, and I'm hoping to get some advice from people with real-world experience.

We're both on the heavier side.I'm 350 lbs and she's 250 lbs, so we're at 600 lbs combined before adding any gear.

I've been seriously considering the Brooklyn Kayak Company TK122 (13' Pro Tandem) because it's advertised with an 800 lb capacity. I've watched quite a few videos, but I haven't found anyone actually paddling one with anywhere near our combined weight.

While reading reviews and comments, I came across several people saying the published capacity is overly optimistic and that performance starts to suffer around 500 lbs. That made me a little hesitant.

I emailed BKC directly, and they told me we should be fine at our weight and shouldn't have any issues. Still, I'd like to hear from actual owners rather than rely solely on the manufacturer's answer.

I've also seen very mixed reviews about Brooklyn Kayak Company in general—some people love them, while others have had poor experiences with quality or customer service.

At this point, I'm trying to decide between:

Buying the BKC TK122 as a tandem.

Spending more money on two Crescent Crew kayaks and paddling separately.

Our primary use will be:

Rivers

Canals

Mangrove trails

Protected bays and nearshore coastal paddling (not offshore)

If you've paddled a TK122 loaded anywhere close to 600 lbs, I'd really appreciate hearing how it performed. Did it still track well? Was it sluggish? How much freeboard did you have?

I'm also open to recommendations for other tandem kayaks (or two singles) that can comfortably handle our combined weight.

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,

I recently picked up a used Crescent Splash for a great price, but I didn't realize until after the purchase that it's made from Aquatuf® cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) rather than standard rotomolded HDPE.

It has some hull damage (photos attached), and after researching XLPE, I'm finding mixed information on repair options.

I was initially thinking about trying West System G/flex 655, possibly with reinforcement, but I'm not sure if anyone has had long-term success with it on Aquatuf® resin.

Has anyone here:

• Successfully repaired an XLPE kayak?
• Used G/flex 655 on cross-linked polyethylene?
• Found a repair that has actually held up over time?
• Reinforced the repair mechanically, or is replacement really the only reliable option?

I know it wasn't an expensive kayak, so I'm treating this as a learning project as much as anything else. If there's a repair that's reasonably durable, I'd love to give it a try.

I'd appreciate any advice or photos of repairs you've done. Thanks!