Re: [Paddlewise] Sea Lion stability: WAS: Newbie Questions

The dependence of stability on CG height is a good point. At 6' 1" and 180 lb I
found the Sea Lion an easy boat to keep on edge, even in a chop. I never needed
the rudder. My wife, 5'6" and 130 lb had to add thick knee braces to get the boat
to edge. The difference in CG height was considerable, as we are 7" different in
height, but both wear 30" inseam pants (waist measurements deleted <g>). Once you
are "over the rail", though, the boat capsizes fast. I nearly always wind up
rolling twice, once from the capsize, and once to bring it back from over-doing it
the first time. My experience with the Sea Lion is limited to the plastic version
over a two week intensive period in Belize. The new glass Sea Lion S is a delight
for those under 150 lb. My wife wants one bad, likes it even better than the
modified Yare (17' long, 27 lb., slightly fuller ends, set up with hatches fore
and aft, wins races but not very stable) I built for her (whimper).

Roger

Joy Hecht wrote:

> Geo. Bergeron 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!
> >
> >         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.
>
> You also can't base your assessments on how others say a boat handles.  I
> paddled a Sea Lion for a year and some and don't know what this issue is
> about the "flared hull".  On the other hand, I found it very stable, and
> very difficult to turn with my knees, almost impossible.  Someone else
> posted that he found the Sea Lion incredibly tippy.  I'm 5'3", he was 6'6".
>  That's an extreme variation - but the way a boat handles for you depends a
> lot on you as well as on the boat.
>
> >
> >         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.
> >
>
> I'll second that.  (Actually, I think I already did, in previous email.)
>
> Joy
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