In today’s episode of first world problems: Brian whines about Tuilik choices! (A Tuilik is the traditional Greenlandic paddling jacket).
So here’s the deal, I’m not a big fan of Tuiliks because even though they’re great for rolling, around here a Tuilik plus a Drysuit is pretty much a recipe for instant overheating.
So how about leaving the dry suit behind? I’m actually OK with that with my skill set, but that leads me to my other big issue with Tuilks: Nobody makes one with a coaming attachment I trust.
Flashback to 15 years ago I was wearing a Brooks Tuilik in the surf when I got imploded by an especially thumpy little closeout. I rolled up about a third full of water, quickly reattached the spray deck just in time to lean hard into the foam pile from the following wave.
Because the kayak was partially flooded the entire wave force turned into rotational force and two of my ribs broke over the side of the combing as I hit my head so hard on the outside of the gunnel that I got a healthy lump. I rolled up again, paddled to shore, and had a hard time breathing in the morning for the next two months.
I wouldn’t touch a Tuilik for 10 years after that but then about 4 years ago I decided to order a custom sized Reed with “room for a drysuit”. that arrived way too tight over my dry suit and way too loose on the cockpit. I almost wonder if they didn’t see my custom sizing form because they contacted me for measurements that I had already submitted? It’s a nice piece of kit but it just didn’t fit so I barely used it.
So that brings me back to considering a Brooks Tuilik so I can really show off the capabilities of this new Greenland kayak this winter. I’m just having a hard time shelling out $400 for that super sketchy spray skirt attachment.
I actually like both the Reed and the Brooks for different reasons, and it could be that my Reed was sized wrong, but it seems crazy that I nobody makes a safe Tuilik for a type of boat that is by definition not self rescueable.
That’s my morning paddling rant.
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