Old Town Twin Otter

Old Town are known the world over for their extensive range of Canadian Canoes. Old Town have been making Canoes for a long time and refined two construction materials known as Triple Layer (sometimes called Polylink) and Royalex. The Triple Layer boats use a sandwich of Polyethylene and with a central foam core for strength and built-in buoyancy. Royalex uses more layers in a similar sandwich technique. This use of multiple layers is the best way to build Canadian Canoes because the hull is light (for their size), strong and inherently buoyant.

Get to the point.....

The Old Town Twin Otter is an open cockpit tandem kayak constructed using the Triple Layer method. For those not paying attention this means they are strong and lightweight!

There are a few good reasons why Old Town go to the trouble of using Triple Layer when it would be simpler to construct the boat using a single layer roto-moulded plastic technique.

Reason #1: Weight, or the lack of it

The Twin Otter is lighter than any other open cockpit tandem kayak. The weight saving is around 25-30%, which you will appreciate when you are car-topping the kayak orportaging around a lock gate. 30% lighter when moving from car park to the water's edge means we get 30% less moans and groans from the Ladies during this relocation process.

Reason #2: It always floats

Triple Layer boat hulls are made from a tough linear polyethylene inner and outer layer with a closed cell central foam core. This core provides permanent buoyancy through the boat's construction. The Triple Layer system is a bit like plastic plywood: it is tough, yet flexible and will absorb the knocks and bumps of launching and recovery with ease. Triple Layer also has better "memory" than single layer plastic kayaks, which helps it retain it's original shape.

Triple Layer construction is used extensively in Canadian Canoes and in high-end roto-moulded Sea Kayaks, as it is the most effecitve method for these boats. But it is rarely used for recreational craft. Our guess is that most manufacturers have yet to realise that there are plenty of recreational paddlers our there who want a quality product.

Reason #3, 4, 5........

The seats are excellent and both can be easily moved to set the trim of the kayak and give each paddler sufficient space in the cockpit. The seat backs are robust and comfortable (they are not designed for lounging - see my rant on paddling posture!). The paddler sat in the front also has a set of adjustable footrests.

The Twin Otter can also be paddled solo, or with a small child in front along for the ride (effectively paddling solo with balast in the front...). Here again the lightweight construction is appreciated. Car topping on your own with the aid of a roofbar extender and transporting from car to water on a trolley is quite straightforward.

How does it perform?

The hull is an efficient design and slightly more streamlined than some of it's competitors. This enables you to achieve good forwad speed and straight-line tracking with less effort.

Open cockpit kayaks are less tippy and catch less wind than a Canadian Canoe. They are usually paddled with twin-blade kayak paddles, but you can just as easily cruise along using single-blade canoe paddles. Your derrière is at water level so the stability and scurity you fell whilst paddling is very reassuring. Canal lock gate portage is made easier with a Twin Otter because the boats is so much lighter - many paddlers will be able to manage without the need for a portage trolley.

Old Town go out of their way to make the on water experience very good. The simple lines of the Twin Otter just look right. Loads of kit can be stored in the bow and stern, and there is no real need for a rear storage space sealed by a bulkhead (remember, this kayak always floats. If you fill it with water it will be below the surface, but it won't sink to the bottom).

Twin Otter Statistics

Length:		4.3m / 14'
Width:		78.7cm / 31"
Weight:		30kg / 68lbs *
Max Capacity:		230kg / 500lbs

* in comparison, similar open cockpit tandem kayaks weigh 41kg / 90lbs

The Verdict

Paddlers of the Old Town Twin Otter are often those looking for a tandem kayak that does not result in a hernia after car-topping. They generally use very nice paddles with either fibreglass or carbon shafts - after all, you've gone to the effort of choosing a lightweight kayak, you wouldn't want to be using heavy paddles would you?

Twin Otter paddlers are not necessarily looking for the rough and tumble associated with fast moving water; they will often be seen absorbing the scenery, bird watching, fly fishing, drifting and dozing on calm peaceful waters - and why not?!

A simple but classic design in triple layer.

Old Town Twin Otter Photo Gallery

Old Town Twin Otter Review by Duffer, Codger &The Ladies
for Canoe Shops Group (March)