Re: [Paddlewise] Re ballast

I have been following this ballast discussion with great interest.  It
makes me feel pretty dumb.  I keep asking myself why anyone would want
to add 30 pounds or more of dead weight to their boat that needs to be
hefted with every launching or takeout as well as propelled through the
water with every paddle stroke.  Wouldn't it be better to get a boat
that is sufficiently stable by design for your paddling skills and you
individual sense of comfort regarding touchiness and stability of the
boat?  If one can't handle paddling a certain boat comfortably and
within one's skills then adding weight seems a weird approach.  I can
see it if you bought the boat, find it too tippy and then rather than
buy another boat pasting in some lead, tying down water bags, whatever.

There is a tendency for many paddlers to feel they have to get into
elite boats, which usually means longer, skinnier, Greenland style
boats, while not having the skills, experience, etc. to make the most of
what those boats offer.  You don't see a person adding ballast to an
Arluk IV.  It strikes me as weird getting an Arluk 1.8 and then, when
finding it too much boat to handle, pasting in lead.  Get the Arluk IV
or whatever the equivalent is today; I don't keep up much on the
zillions of hardshell models out there any more but I do see it with the
Feathercraft Khatsalano.

People who should not be in the Khats buy it on the belief it will make
them faster or make them feel they will become a better paddler.  But
often, some of those people might be better off, if they want to stay in
the Feathercraft family, to go with a K-1 or even, for many of them, the
K-Light.  I know of one fellow who has a Khats but paddles it only in
the summer and in fairer conditions because he has been know to tip over
in the Khats and doesn't want to do it in rough conditions or cold
water.  More power to him, it seems to make him happy, but I find it a
bit strange.

I guess an analogy might be running shoes.  There are some sleek, real
light weight models meant for fast running and racing.  But would you
buy a pair if you are a plodding, overpronating jogger and heavy on your
feet?  Sensibly not, I would hope!!!  Of course, there is an argument in
boats that goes like this "I want to buy a boat I can grow into rather
than one that I will outgrow in skills."  I guess a jogger could argue
the same to convince himself (I am being gender specific; women tend to
be smarter on this) to start with a lightweight racing pair of running
shoes.

Paddle wise & pick wise in the first place when choosing a boat 

ralph diaz    

-- 
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Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com
"Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
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