Re: [Paddlewise] Ballast

You are right in that improving your skills and getting used
to rough conditions should compesate for stability, but there is
a difference between sea kayaking and white water. 

In the river, if you get tired, you just pull out wherever is
convenient. At sea, getting to a place to take a brake may take
you more than half and hour, with the agravant that you have
to deal with the surf zone when you are at the limit of exhaustion.

For that reason, people who do transoceanic trips carry a good load
of ballast. You need to be able to stay upright when your arms
and torso refuse to move anymore and you are thinking "why did I do this?".

Also ballast cures other problems, like excesive weathercocking.

- Julio


> 
> Can somebody please remind why there is so much interest in ballast?
> 
> If this is for improving stability, then I consider adding ballast an
> inferior approach. The best possible way to improve stability in your boat
> is to improve your technique and your fit in the boat. For the latter,
> there is a great article in the recent Feb issue of Sea Kayaker, for the
> former, I can recommend several ways to improve your balance and edging
> skills, from simple exercises to do while paddling, to a full-blown river
> kayaking course.
> 
> I really hope that nobody is considering ballast as a substitute for
> paddling skill. There is no better stability aid in a kayak than your own
> body!!!!! (except sponsons of course, which are obviously not subject to
> the law of gravity.)
> 
> Kevin
> 
> /--------------------------------------------\ /---------------------------\
> |Something there is that doesn't love a wall  |       Kevin Whilden        |
> |That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it  | kwhilden_at_u.washington.edu  |
> |And spills the upper boulders in the sun     | Dept. of Geologic Science  |
> |And makes gaps that even two can pass abreast| University of Washington   |
> |			-- Robert Frost	      |(206)543-1975(w) 632-5140(h)|
> \--------------------------------------------/ \---------------------------/
> 
> 
> 
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