Re: [Paddlewise] advanced sea kayak

Robert Starling wrote:
> 
> >>A friend asked me what the difference was between an
> >>"advanced" sea kayak and a beginner/advanced beginner sea kayak.
> 
> To a large degree....its the paddler.
> 
> Robert Starling

I agree:

A beginner in an advanced boat is a beginner.

An advanced paddler in a beginner\start up boat is an advanced paddler.

I think we sometimes get caught up in the thought that gear maketh the
person.  Years ago, dozens of beginners were buying Nordkapps because
they were advanced boats and believing that they would become advanced
with the boats.  Indeed in the hands of the experts paddling and
demonstrating them, the boats did wonderful things.  But, it became
pretty evident then that the best way for an experienced person to buy a
Nordkapp was to buy one on the used market dumped there by some fearful
beginners scared out of their wits by the boat.

The advanced boats can do wonderful things in the hands of experienced
paddlers with superb skills.  But beginners and intermediate paddlers
are much better off in boats more suited for them.  They may never
develop the skills to take advantage of an advanced boat and may have
lots of hairy experiences they could avoid in a more suitable boat.

I recall many years ago the experience of two paddlers in horredous
conditions off the New Jersey coast.  One, an instructor with impeccable
rolling skills and in an easily leaned, responsive British boat.  The
other, a darn good paddler in a plastic Chinook who was too cheap to buy
a glass boat or still working out which one he really wanted.  The
instructor got hit with breaking waves in high seas.  Rolled up, got
dumped, rolled up, got dumped again, etc.  He just could never get
settled enough before being hit in an instant with another dumper. 
Finally he wet exited.  The guy in the Chinook managed to broach and go
into a brace on one of the waves and rode in with it and subsequent ones
for a half a mile.  He never dumped or had to roll (although he was a
good roller but not on the level of the other guy).  The guy in the
Chinook took advantage of the initial stability of the boat plus its
moderate lean capacity to get himself out of the predicament.  The
advanced paddler in the advanced boat, for all of his skills, couldn't
keep up with the situation.  This is a true story, not made up.  I
wasn't there but I talked to the two extensively as well as to a couple
in a double Klepper, who also dumped.  Both had minimal skills, one
having never been in a kayak but well experienced in canoeing.  She
admitted to leaning too far over with her paddle (usisng it like a canoe
paddle) and both throwing the boat off balance and getting it caught
slightly under the boat.

ralph 

-- 
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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."
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