This is potentially a great thread. I am keeping a copy of everyone's post who responds to the "what do you paddle" request. I will compile a summary of all these responses and publish it back to the list for everyone. So far, though, there have only been 16 responses. There must be more than 16 subscribers out there with boats. Come on you Guillemot and Laughing Loon owners, come on you rotomold owners, and Coaster owners. Let's hear it. Even if you rent only, post an email describing which boat(s) you like the most. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net ***************************************************************************
You asked for it: Dagger Predator K-1 composite slalom racing boat: I spent 90% of my time in this. Very high performance; incredibly fast in a straight line and carves turns at high speed. Dagger Crossfire K-1: I use this for some river running and for playing around at surf spots and whatnot. Dagger Cascade C-1: I bought this last fall in order to try to learn how to paddle C-1 a little better. Sold my glass Wide Ride C-1 to a friend and bought this plastic boat instead because my skills (or lack thereof) make it a better choice. Nomad Extra K-1 slalom boat: It's about to get turned into a slalom C-1, more or less. This is a 10+ year old slalom boat that's seen better days, but ought to be enough to get me through at least one season as a fledgling C-1 padddler. Nittany Valley Gemini C-2: Another 10+ year old boat built by John Sweet (yes, *that* John Sweet) that's been a lot of fun to race, but which will probably get supplanted by a much newer design this year; maybe a Savage Grok or a Whup-a-Tar. and Hydra Mustang K-1: I'm trying to sell this; it's an old whitewater boat suitable for large beginners. It was my first boat and I'll miss it, but somebody else will get good use out of it. ---Rsk *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net ***************************************************************************
HI Keith, First: I have a Finnish-built Sea-Lady tandem (or do you say double?), which is 6 meters long and abot 56 centimeters wide. Very low middle profile, to avoid scratching your hands or the paddles (if the kayak is too wide for you or if the deck is too high). Beautiful as one can get - a real lady. Worth of trustworthy even in harder winds: last summer we paddled at a little bit more than three-metre waves (not breaking waves, fortunately). Yes. Secondly: a Nordkapp, which is new. Never tested it during a long trip (Canadian Ballast Rocks...), but it is little bit unstable. Not very much packing volume. The reasons for my choices: I am quite smallish (175 centimetres and some 68 kilos - that depends :-)) It is easier to handle a more "lively" kayak than a large titanic.. My motto is: good kayakers are also good in samba! I might undersign that statement with a note that it is your ability to move and especially move in rescue situations than trust to equipment blindly. Yours Ari "1000 islands and I am familiar to only 5% of them" *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net ***************************************************************************
I have three boats, and for the longest time, all three were in my closet, but now I leave one or two assembled in various places around New York City. None are difficult to assemble or knock down; it actually takes more time to go to a storage place, get the boat out, tie it on my car roof etc. than it takes to make any of them. But it is an awful lot to carry one up three flights of stairs at the end of the day to my apartment. Besides, how will people in other cars on the highway know I am a tough seakayaker unless I have one strapped on the roof of my car. :-). Here are my boats: A Klepper Aerius II double, Classic skin. (35 inch beam, 17 feet long, 75 lb weight) This one I have had for 10 years and will never give up (and probably won't have to since I am certain it will outlast me!). It has seen me through paddling situations in which by all rights I should have not been able to stay upright. Such as a real dumb launch through mounting surf in which I went totally broadside to the breaking waves and should have windowshaded, but somehow the boat on its own saw me through. It is nice to have beneath you a kayak you know has crossed the Atlantic and is used by military forces the world over; hell, if it can do all that it certainly is up to anything I am up to. An extremely tough boat with a stellar record of seaworthiness. And the quickest boat to assemble of any folding one. I have done it in 7 minutes with my wife (even before getting heavily involved with folding kayaks) and it has been done in 4 minutes by a factory team. I will probably be buried Viking style in that classic boat. A Feathercraft K_light. It is my take everywhere boat. Light as a feather (or well lots of feathers) at 33 pounds (13 feet long, 25-26 inch beam). And so easy to cart around in it backpack harnessed carrying bag. Easy to assemble, ease to paddle. It is a fun boat. I think everyone should have one in their closet, whether one paddles folding or rigid kayaks. The K-Light is the best selling folding kayak currently and with good reason. A Nautiraid Raid 1 (51 pounds, 15.5 ft long, 28-29 inch beam). I recently sold a Klepper Aerius I Expedition in order to buy this boat. I liked my Aerius single and it saw me through a lot, but its weight (62 pounds or more) was getting to me. I still am learning about my new Nautiraid. I feel it takes time to catch on to the nuances of any boat. I like everything I have discovered thusfar of the Raid 1. I like its small cockpit and taut skin and its relative speed. Like the Aerius I, the Nautiraid doesn't track well. Over time I learned to make the Aerius I go as straight as an arrow no matter what winds and seas were doing on my beam. The Raid 1 has its own way of reacting to side forces and I think I am just about now in command of it as I was of the Klepper single (I don't use rudders on single boats). As you may have guessed I have a Three Bears approach to kayak ownership, I need a Pappa, a Momma and a Baby Bear in my fleet. ralph -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net ***************************************************************************
I have three boats, and for the longest time, all three were in my closet, but now I leave one or two assembled in various places around New York City. None are difficult to assemble or knock down; it actually takes more time to go to a storage place, get the boat out, tie it on my car roof etc. than it takes to make any of them. But it is an awful lot to carry one up three flights of stairs at the end of the day to my apartment. Besides, how will people in other cars on the highway know I am a tough seakayaker unless I have one strapped on the roof of my car. :-). Here are my boats: A Klepper Aerius II double, Classic skin. (35 inch beam, 17 feet long, 75 lb weight) This one I have had for 10 years and will never give up (and probably won't have to since I am certain it will outlast me!). It has seen me through paddling situations in which by all rights I should have not been able to stay upright. Such as a real dumb launch through mounting surf in which I went totally broadside to the breaking waves and should have windowshaded, but somehow the boat on its own saw me through. It is nice to have beneath you a kayak you know has crossed the Atlantic and is used by military forces the world over; hell, if it can do all that it certainly is up to anything I am up to. An extremely tough boat with a stellar record of seaworthiness. And the quickest boat to assemble of any folding one. I have done it in 7 minutes with my wife (even before getting heavily involved with folding kayaks) and it has been done in 4 minutes by a factory team. I will probably be buried Viking style in that classic boat. A Feathercraft K_light. It is my take everywhere boat. Light as a feather (or well lots of feathers) at 33 pounds (13 feet long, 25-26 inch beam). And so easy to cart around in it backpack harnessed carrying bag. Easy to assemble, ease to paddle. It is a fun boat. I think everyone should have one in their closet, whether one paddles folding or rigid kayaks. The K-Light is the best selling folding kayak currently and with good reason. A Nautiraid Raid 1 (51 pounds, 15.5 ft long, 28-29 inch beam). I recently sold a Klepper Aerius I Expedition in order to buy this boat. I liked my Aerius single and it saw me through a lot, but its weight (62 pounds or more) was getting to me. I still am learning about my new Nautiraid. I feel it takes time to catch on to the nuances of any boat. I like everything I have discovered thusfar of the Raid 1. I like its small cockpit and taut skin and its relative speed. Like the Aerius I, the Nautiraid doesn't track well. Over time I learned to make the Aerius I go as straight as an arrow no matter what winds and seas were doing on my beam. The Raid 1 has its own way of reacting to side forces and I think I am just about now in command of it as I was of the Klepper single (I don't use rudders on single boats). As you may have guessed I have a Three Bears approach to kayak ownership, I need a Pappa, a Momma and a Baby Bear in my fleet. ralph -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net ***************************************************************************
Hi Keith, At 11:17 PM 2/17/98 -0800, Keith Kaste wrote: >This is potentially a great thread. I am keeping a copy of everyone's >post who responds to the "what do you paddle" request. I will compile a >summary of all these responses and publish it back to the list for >everyone. So far, though, there have only been 16 responses. There >must be more than 16 subscribers out there with boats. Come on you >Guillemot and Laughing Loon owners, come on you rotomold owners, and >Coaster owners. Let's hear it. Even if you rent only, post an email >describing which boat(s) you like the most. [mostly snipped from an earlier post I made concerning ballasting] FWIW, I *do* have different boats * Aquaterra Caspia-short/wide/lightweight, good to fish from when on SMALL rivers/streams, *Old Towne Loon-longer/wide/bit heavier, bigger cockpit allows the dog to come too! *Pirouette S <sp?> bought for rolling practice, surfing [I have yet to do that] and practicing carving turns... short, extremely sensitive [compared to my other boats] lightweight, it gave me an indication of what knee braces were for. A week later I ordered some for my Pursuit. *Old Towne Katahdin [canoe] F/G, 12ft with WIDE beam [42"???] flat bottom, 55lbs, can stand and fish on inland lakes in 20+knot wind with NO problem, usually equip it with either rowing bracket, or 36lb electric motor and home made motor bracket. Dog likes this one best I think... <G> *Northwest Kayaks Pursuit-the one I'm fondest of all, F/G, about 17ft long, 23in. beam, weighs about the same as the canoe +/- a bit... initial stability isn't what the Kyook is, and that is one of the reasons I purchased it. It will carve turns well when paddled with appropriate skill [that, is something I continue to work on...] I ordered a knee brace [evidently not a common request] and installed it which makes the cockpit a bit tighter to get in and out of but no more so that the w/w boat, suits me much better! *Necky Kyook Plus-bought in a snow storm when Iived in Michigan. Plastic, heavier than Pursuit, 25in beam I think, S.O. seems to like it... This is the one I used when I took the class with N. Foster soon after arriving out here in the Pacific N.W. Tom Kirkland, WA. Tom Weese Kirkland, Wa. Three left turns often make a right... <http://www.isomedia.com/homes/gadfly/> *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net ***************************************************************************
I have a couple of plastic Sea Lions, one of which, I have moved the seat and foot pegs and outfitted to suit me, the other I leave fairly standard for other folks. For whitewater I have a Dancer Pro, and I have an Old Town Discovery 174 for heavy wilderness tripping. My favorite boat to paddle was the long narrow Necky everyone was saying was too tippy but it seemed great to me and fast. But I didn't want to tear up such a nice boat and stuck with the plastic. I also like the composite Sea Lion S. It handles far far better than my plastic conventional Sea Lions, and seems faster though shorter (also a bit narrower). I don't believe you can have too many boats though and am shopping for a FG/Kevlar SK and a folder for trips. And then I'll want a new canoe and so it goes. But somehow, because of the trips together and perhaps a bit of sentimentality, I'll never let go of my rugged ole Sea Lion, or the Old Town. We have some stories. Like when my boys were younger and I gave each one a paddle and turned them loose in the Old town. I never saw a boat go in circles like that, a 17 1/2 foot canoe doing broadies, spinning like a top. Truly amazing. Alice *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net ***************************************************************************
1st boat was a Coleman Freighter canoe. Ugly, slow, heavy but it was from my previous life on the Canadian prairies. Someone told me about Keowee Kayaks. Tried one and loved it. Really comfy but death on water if further than 50' from shore. Its now outfitted with a Scotty rod holder and used for lake fishing. Discovered serious kayaking 3 years ago and now paddle a Current Designs Solstice GT. Best comfort of all boats I have tried. Keith Kaste wrote: > This is potentially a great thread. I am keeping a copy of everyone's > post who responds to the "what do you paddle" request. I will compile a > summary of all these responses and publish it back to the list for > everyone. So far, though, there have only been 16 responses. There > must be more than 16 subscribers out there with boats. Come on you > Guillemot and Laughing Loon owners, come on you rotomold owners, and > Coaster owners. Let's hear it. Even if you rent only, post an email > describing which boat(s) you like the most. > > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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