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