Okay I'm taking a beating on this topic but I'll keep trying ;-) Ralph Diaz wrote: >A beginner in an advanced boat is a beginner. >An advanced paddler in a beginner\start up boat is an advanced paddler. Lets assume someone is already an advanced/expert paddler. Someone comfortable in tidal rips, irregular chop, shore break, strong winds, self rescues, towing others to safety, etc.. <snip> > 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. So what are the characteristics of this advanced boat doing wonderful things in the hands of the skilled paddler? I'm out for a week starting May 12 so I might as well try my current wishes for sea kayak.. I'm contemplating a round bottom/V hull kayak without much rocker, more in the bow than the stern, smooth curved gunwales so that it carves nice turns when on edge, a front deck that sheds waves prior to them hitting me in the chest, neutral handling in a crosswind, a boat that stays level when I sprint it, easily rides following seas, and a very comfy seat where my legs never think about going to sleep... And good characteristics in waves, no piercing waves and submarining, or riding way over the top and slamming down on the other side. kirk *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
>Lets assume someone is already an advanced/expert paddler. Someone >comfortable in tidal rips, irregular chop, shore break, strong winds, self >rescues, towing others to safety, etc.. > ><snip> > >So what are the characteristics of this advanced boat doing wonderful >things in the hands of the skilled paddler? There are no perfect answers to this question that apply across the board. The bottom line is that we all want lightweight, stable yet nimble, comfortable, straight tracking, turn on a dime, expedition cargo carriers that are fast, stylish and functional but just the right size for day trips too. You really have to settle into what kind of kayaking you want to do, or better yet, what you realistically do the most, whether it is flatwater touring, coastal kayaking or rough water. Do you meander or do you paddle aggressively or sometimes both? This and your skill level will determine the hull / handling characteristics that will best suit your style and ability. I bought my boat (Romany Explorer), for it's overall performance. When I'm in a playful mood, in nice surf, I long for a shorter performance boat, a bit more sensiteve than the Explorer. When I'm paddling with Scott Williams and/or Nigel Foster on a 20+ mile day into a 15-20 knot wind and 2 knot current all day, I wish it were longer and faster........a lot faster! Too many people focus on the equipment first instead of paddling skills and proper instruction from qualified professional instructors. Not just a symposium class or weekend workshop, but long term continued education/instruction. One guy I know has three nice fiberglass boats and is looking for another one, plus he has an assortment of paddles. In his mind the boats are inadequate...yet they are all three great boats. The real issue is his paddling skills. He paddles every weekend, considers himself an "experienced paddler" but he really isn't. He just paddles poorly over and over again and never improves. I talked him into one private lesson with a highly regarded BCU instructor, but he doesn't practice the new strokes and techniques. He just continues to blame the boats. If I had it to do all over again, I would still start with $1200 mid-range boats and still invest my money into professional instruction. Once Jeanne and I outgrew our Sea Lion and Looksha....through better skills, we knew the boats were holding us back at that point. Our learning curve slowed and we then knew better what to look for and feel before buying higher performance boats. She ended up in a Valley Pintail. Just no clear answers CU! Robert ________________________________________________________ Robert Starling Member ASMP / PPA Starling Productions, Inc. Orlando, Florida Phone 800 361-0041 Fax 407 521-0031 http://www.starling.com NetGuide Magazine Internet Site Of The Day *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
At 03:31 PM 5/8/98 -0400, Kirk Olsen wrote: > >Okay I'm taking a beating on this topic but I'll keep trying ;-) > >I'm out for a week starting May 12 so I might as well try my current >wishes for sea kayak.. > >I'm contemplating a round bottom/V hull kayak without much rocker, >more in the bow than the stern, smooth curved gunwales so that it carves >nice turns when on edge, a front deck that sheds waves prior to them >hitting me in the chest, neutral handling in a crosswind, >a boat that stays level when I sprint it, easily rides following seas, >and a very comfy seat where my legs never think about going to sleep... > >And good characteristics in waves, no piercing waves and submarining, >or riding way over the top and slamming down on the other side. > >kirk KIRK Every body has been looking for that kayak for years and are no closer to finding it. You can take a advanced paddler and he or she can make that kayak dance where a unskilled might fight to stay upright. Some kayaks have better performance than others but the ability of the paddler has to match the kayak for that. You can always grown into one , that is if you don't tire of wet exits , reentrys, and not being comfortable or upright in the kayak. Dana *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I have a Pygmy 17'6" Expedition with a 23 1/2 beam. The boat has a fair amount of rocker, a very dry deck and will carve turns. It swallows everything, including the kitchen sink, that I need for 5 days out. While this is a kit boat, I never see any postings about it, it has been a great boat for me and has seen some seas that at best could be called "not nice", but it handles everything that has come my way and been very comfortable, I'm 6'1", old so legs don't like bending all that much and like to be able to move around after paddling for hours, might be a boat of interest to you....Mike *************************************************************************** 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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