At 06:48 PM 3/24/98 -0500, you wrote: > Not to try to add to the gazillions of good comments you've already > seen on this question, Tee, you've already identified the most > important issue in selecting a kayak. Paddling it! Empirical studies > and surveys will get you a lot of good information, but the most > important component to your decision has to be how <you> feel about > the boat, and how the boat <feels>! It's really subjective. (Whack) You need to give some thought to features too: How the hatches work (one piece or neoprene seal and lid?), the design and function of the rudder. . . or if you want a rudder. The design and fit of the seat and cockpit in general, how and where deck-lines and bungies are attached (mine are counter sunk and don't snag on re-entries). . . There was talk the other day about the Sea Lion and how the "flared hull" makes it difficult to hip snap or brace on edge. This sort of feel for a boat is difficult to develop without a lot of time in and around them. I'd be suggesting that one buy a used plastic boat and do some paddling while the fine points of design come to the surface. I owned my Sea Lion for two months and then got a swell deal on a used Solstice GTS which is the boat that snaps my socks. . . The two months of paddling the Sea Lion (and paddled a lot!) cost me about $125.00 and taught me much more about boats than any $125 in lessons or books. Geo. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue Mar 24 1998 - 18:06:00 PST
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