To: >internet:paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Jerry wrote: >> The Nordkapp is reputed to be a wonderful rough water boat. I have never paddled one. Can it be true that it is "easier to get knocked over" than in a more stable (but not too stable) boat? What do other Nordkappers think? In the 1980s here in Sitka, Alaska a well known British kayak school instructor brought over his Nordkapp, using it several summers and storing it here for the winter. One summer his protege, a young chap who had been instructing for several years, came over to use the Nordkapp on a two-month expedition. His goal was to "bag" the eight largest islands in Southeast Alaska (by circumnavigating each) and end up at Glacier Bay. He had years of experience on the exposed coastline of Great Britain. He departed southward down the outer coast of Baranof Island from Sitka. Surprisingly, he was back in my shop three days later and his next stop was the airport, on his way home. He had made it 40 miles to the south to Whale Bay, just beyond where there are smaller protective outer islands. He got knocked over three times in the space of less than a half hour, and felt he only barely managed to survive the ordeal. Two weeks later word came from the boat's owner in England, "Sell the boat." The moral of the story is, I think, some questions. How much margin of safety, when chosing a kayak, is enough? What kind of kayak is best when you are fatigued by a long day or difficult weather? Even if you have a solid roll in a kayak which is more likely to need to be rolled, can you roll it many times in adverse conditions even if some gear happens to shift or if you get water in the boat? Etc. Sure, it's fun to have a kayak that will let you cover lots of miles in a day, but for most folks I recommend kayaks that have a wider margin of safety than those like the Nordkapp. (Of course this also depends on the size, torso length and shoulder mass of the person -- skinny kayaks can be quite stable for smaller people.) -- Larry Edwards *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
>Jerry wrote: > >>> The Nordkapp is reputed to be a wonderful rough water boat. I > have never paddled one. Can it be true that it is "easier to > get knocked over" than in a more stable (but not too stable) > boat? What do other Nordkappers think? > > In the 1980s here in Sitka, Alaska a well known British >kayak school instructor brought over his Nordkapp, using it several >summers and storing it here for the winter. One summer his >protege, a young chap who had been instructing for several years, >came over to use the Nordkapp on a two-month expedition. His goal >was to "bag" the eight largest islands in Southeast Alaska (by >circumnavigating each) and end up at Glacier Bay. He had years of >experience on the exposed coastline of Great Britain. > > He departed southward down the outer coast of Baranof Island >from Sitka. Surprisingly, he was back in my shop three days later >and his next stop was the airport, on his way home. > > He had made it 40 miles to the south to Whale Bay, just beyond >where there are smaller protective outer islands. He got knocked >over three times in the space of less than a half hour, and >felt he only barely managed to survive the ordeal. Two weeks later >word came from the boat's owner in England, "Sell the boat." > > The moral of the story is, I think, some questions. How >much margin of safety, when chosing a kayak, is enough? What kind >of kayak is best when you are fatigued by a long day or difficult >weather? Even if you have a solid roll in a kayak which is more >likely to need to be rolled, can you roll it many times in adverse >conditions even if some gear happens to shift or if you get water >in the boat? Etc. > > Sure, it's fun to have a kayak that will let you cover lots of >miles in a day, but for most folks I recommend kayaks that have a >wider margin of safety than those like the Nordkapp. (Of >course this also depends on the size, torso length and shoulder >mass of the person -- skinny kayaks can be quite stable for smaller >people.) > >-- Larry Edwards I have heard several stories like this. A paddler once told me that he loved his Arluk 1.8 and that it was the best rough water boat he had paddled. But he also said that he had been knocked over in it several times. Personally, I have trouble feeling comfortable in a twitchy boat like the Arluk or, I presume, the Nordkapp. Similarly dimensioned boats like the Mariner II or Solstice GTS or Arctic Hawk feel much safer to me in high wind and rough water. There are fewer surprises and I need to brace much less often. Perhaps I am not skilled enough to handle the twitchiness but in the other boats I can easily handle quite rough water without fear. I have been told that you get used to the instability. But why bother? Jerry *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
My other boat is a Seda Impulse...much more stable then the Nordkapp, but when she goes over, it's quick and without warning. I prefer the Seda for flat water and the Nordkapp for intercoastal and ocean. > > I have heard several stories like this. A paddler once told me that he > loved his Arluk 1.8 and that it was the best rough water boat he had > paddled. But he also said that he had been knocked over in it several > times. > > Personally, I have trouble feeling comfortable in a twitchy boat like the > Arluk or, I presume, the Nordkapp. Similarly dimensioned boats like the > Mariner II or Solstice GTS or Arctic Hawk feel much safer to me in high wind > and rough water. There are fewer surprises and I need to brace much less > often. Perhaps I am not skilled enough to handle the twitchiness but in the > other boats I can easily handle quite rough water without fear. I have been > told that you get used to the instability. But why bother? > > Jerry Bob Denton President Gulf Stream International Sink the Stink - The Water Sports Deodorizer That Works! Boynton Beach, FL http://www.flinet.com/gulfstream/scuba.html *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Larry Edwards wrote: > ...SNIP... > Sure, it's fun to have a kayak that will let you cover lots of > miles in a day, but for most folks I recommend kayaks that have a > wider margin of safety than those like the Nordkapp. (Of > course this also depends on the size, torso length and shoulder > mass of the person -- skinny kayaks can be quite stable for smaller > people.) If a boat has too much stability is is difficult to heel and feels awkward in steep waves. If a boat has too little stability it is difficult to keep upright in breaking waves or chaotic seas. The optimal degree of stability lies somewhere in between. The case for moderation in stability is put forward quite eloquently in the most recent issue of Kanawa (in an article written by John Winters). Dan Hagen *************************************************************************** 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 issue here may have been lack of experience in that particular boat. My first day in my Nordkapp, I was afraid to paddle through boat wakes...this past weekend, a month or so later, the rougher (confused seas) , the better. There are still some conditions that I am not comfortable with but that's due to lack of experience. cya Bob Denton President Gulf Stream International Sink the Stink - The Water Sports Deodorizer That Works! Boynton Beach, FL http://www.flinet.com/gulfstream/scuba.html *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
To: >internet:paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Bob Denton wrote, re: Nordkapp trip aborted after capsize ... >> The issue here may have been lack of experience in that particular boat. My first day in my Nordkapp I was afraid to paddle through boat wakes ... He was quite experienced in the Nordkapp. I believe fatigue and confused seas were a primary factor. Not having seen the kayak on departure or arrival, I also wonder whether it may have been loaded down enough that final stability was compromised to a degree (i.e. due to reduced freeboard). -- Larry Edwards Baidarka Boats http://execpc.com/~bboats *************************************************************************** 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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