> ---------- > From: Geo. Bergeron, Oswego Heritage Council > Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 1998 9:09 PM > To: wavelength_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subject: Wave~Length: [Paddlewise] touring boats > > The GT HV (High Volume) capacity is 120 US Gals. > > The GT capacity is 106 US Gals. > > The GTS HV (High Volume) is 102 US Gals. > > The GTS capacity is 90 US Gals. > > Beam on the GT models is 24.25" while the beam on both GTS > versions > is 22". So I'm dying to know what you mean by a "nimble" boat. A > turner? I > went for the GTS because it's a tracker. Few things are more annoying > to me > then having a fix on a bearing point and a hefty pace going only to > have to > correct direction for every wisp of wind, current and paddle error. So > if > barges are synonymous with tracking, then I'll agree with you about > the GTS > being "barge like." Speed will vary a great deal according to how the > boat > is loaded and the lipo-displacement of the "engine." > > Yeah. . . take less stuff. > > Geo. > > George - By "nimble", I mean I found that the GTS was a lot easier to turn than the GT or even the GTSHV. Like the other Solstice boats, the GTS tracks real well (a definite asset when the afternoon winds arrive on the central California coast) so it requires a good leaned turn. I've been practicing leaned turns for about 6 months and its becoming something I do automatically with all boats. With the GT and, to a lesser extent, the GTSHV, I find that the lean is less "comfortable" for me. I think it has something to do with how high these boats ride above the water. With the GTS, I'm closer to the water and my lean feels more "natural". Pretty subjective... I also dislike the high volume of the GT and GTSHV because I'm not able to get a snug fit with my hips and knees (these are rental boats, so they weren't modified to fit smaller paddlers). For camping, I have a friend who swears by the Current Designs Expedition (he likes to take along a six pack or two). For speed, the fastest boats I've paddled are the Arluk II and a Futura surf ski. Almost anything I try feels faster than the plastic Sea Lion that I usually rent. I've been agonizing for months over which boat to buy - do I give up gear volume for manuverability, or tracking for responsiveness, etc? I think the GTS, with its lower volume, narrower beam and good tracking, is closer to what I want to day paddle off the coast. But it still isn't everything I need - I also want a boat for playing around in rock gardens (Looksha Sport?). I started out thinking I need 2 boats, now I'm up to 3 or 4 (expedition, touring, rock garden, surf). My wife keeps shaking her head everytime I talk about the boats we "need". Ted *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net ***************************************************************************
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