> Date: Wed, 28 Jan 1998 16:06:28 -0500 > From: dldecker_at_mediaone.net > Subject: [Paddlewise] [Paddlewise ?] > > At 03:14 PM 1/28/98 -0800, rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com wrote: > > To liven up the list I have a question that I really want answered and not > be thrown off the list for,( No I am not Tim Sp*ns*n ) Has any one really > had any experience with sponsons? In real life. I would not buy them > because of tim but can see that they could be good for some circumstance > but not for others. Most of the post on that other list were about tim or > scientific but I have learned that real use will tell the truth.( > Scientific - Bumble bees can't fly) I do not know any one that has used > them or owns them that will admit to it, so all I have is a negative feeling. Actually, the Feathercraft Khatsalano (not -S) used to be distributed with a set of Tim's SeaWings external sponsons. (I don't know if they still are.) Anyway, as I said in my last message, that boat is awfully tippy for me. On my last paddle with the Khatsalano, I decided to try out the sponsons since I was spending a lot of my energy just trying to stay upright. Ugh. I hated those things. It made my skinny little boat paddle like a barge. Sure, it was probably safer, but they *really* slowed the boat down, at least subjectively. I felt like I was plowing through the water. I gave up, went back to shore, and added more California Ballast Rocks (tm). With inflated floatbags to keep the rocks in place, I found ballast to be a much superior method of increasing stability. -- Bob Myers InteleNet Communications, Inc. Email: bob_at_InteleNet.net 18101 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 550 Phone: 714-851-8250 x227 Irvine, CA 92612 Fax: 714-851-1088 http://www.intelenet.net/ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net ***************************************************************************
Bob Myers wrote; > I gave up, went back to shore, and added more California > Ballast Rocks (tm). With inflated floatbags to keep the rocks in > place, I found ballast to be a much superior method of increasing > stability. If Bob had used the New Zealand Floating Pumice Ballast Rocks he wouldn't have needed the floatbags. Ballast rock technology is the most exciting field in sea kayaking and is drawing the best minds to R&D labs around the world. There are rumors that Intel is developing a ballast chip. Much smaller than rocks and your boat will be faster, sound better, and remember the way home. The Russians are supposedly developing a ballast system based on contaminated rocks from the Chernobyl site. When mounted under your seat you get free sterilization after four weeks of paddling. Onward and upward. Cheers John Winters Redwing Designs Specialists in Human Powered Watercraft http://home.ican.net/~735769/ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net ***************************************************************************
The Khatsalano is 18 feet long and 22 inches wide, that is a lot of volume. I think that the main problem that the Khatsalano has is that it needs to be loaded in order to have some stability, and I know that it is not the only kayak that has that problem. Had the Khatsalano been shorter or narrower it would probably be a very nice kayak. - Julio > > Actually, the Feathercraft Khatsalano (not -S) used to be distributed > with a set of Tim's SeaWings external sponsons. (I don't know if they > still are.) Anyway, as I said in my last message, that boat is awfully > tippy for me. On my last paddle with the Khatsalano, I decided to try > out the sponsons since I was spending a lot of my energy just trying to > stay upright. > > -- > Bob Myers InteleNet Communications, Inc. > *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net ***************************************************************************
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