Re: [Paddlewise] What I paddle

I am from Atlantic Canada, Saint John area and do most of paddling in St. 
Andrews on Passamaquoddy Bay.

My first sea kayak was a Valley Canoe Selkie purchased in 1986 in Maine. 
 It did not have the optional skeg that is commonly available now and but 
after I gained some experience it was a nice boat to paddle.  It was fully 
expedition equipped and had the 27 inch cockpit.

Trying to deal with kayaking with kids, I purchased a Folbot Folding double 
in 1988.  I went the whole nine yards and got a sail kit for sailing upwind 
but unless you had a willing partner it was a real pain to put together. 
The design of deck to hull at the bow exposed it to taking in water 
whenever the bow went under a wave.  It did the job though, by introducing 
the family to kayaking.

I was almost out of the sport when my younger brother decided he was going 
to buy a Valley Canoe Nordkapp in 1993.
At the time we were able to buy from Britain thru a local dealer which 
avoided the $US dollars, double duty and the middleman so I decided that my 
dream boat would be the Skerray. It had the skeg I wished I had on Selkie 
plus with the larger back hatch and more comfortable seat I was back in 
sport and then some. It has chimp pump, compass and deck lines and I 
basically paid less than I did in 1986 for the Selkie, go figure.

  In 1996, I finally unloaded the Folbot to guy that actually wanted it.  I 
bought my 9 year daughter  a plastic Wilderness Systems Piccolo on a day 
trip to Maine because I was too impatient to wait for Canadian dealer to 
get me a boat.  It was the perfect boat with is narrow beam (20 inch) and 
low depth (10.5).   A month later, on impulse I purchased a plastic Necky 
Amaruk locally,  to enable me to take my 5 year old son as well.  I spent 
most of that year paddling the double.
I found it surprisingly quick, stable beyond belief and comfortable.  Just 
to cap things off, I swapped my 86 Selkie for a new plastic Capella from P 
& H plus a couple hundred dollars.  This was meant to be a kayak for my 
wife or whoever was interested.  She has paddled it a couple times.

Last year, spent most weekends in St. Andrews, where an hour paddle before 
breakfast was common.

Boats I would like to have;  Nigel Foster's boats intrigue me for a single. 
 (Legend/ Vyneck)
                                            Like to swap plastic Capella 
for fiberglass Capella or Sirus
                                            Like to  swap plastic Necky 
Amaruk for kelvar Nootka




***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/
***************************************************************************