[Paddlewise] Gulfstream and Slipstream

Well, nobody has responded yet to the query about the Gulfstream and the
Slipstream.I paddle a Gulfstream, just to keep what I say in perspective.

I'm 6' 1", 210lbs. with size 11 feet.  The Gulfstream fits like a glove-no
need for hip padding and my heals are just touching each other. The boat is
16'10"  by 23.25" wide. With careful packing I can go for maybe two weeks.
I had a foot pump installed which meant a new forward bulkhead moved
towards the cockpit. This gives  more space in the forward hatch along with
the removal of the bulkhead between the day hatch and the aft hatch. This
is not a fast boat but very stable in rough water and quite manuverable.
With its' Swede form and medium chine leaned turns are a thing of beauty.
Before I got this boat, a friend I paddle with has one and I thought he was
a better paddle than I, but now I know. Weathercocking? Nothing to really
speak of that the skeg doesn't counter. I haven't  really used it much. One
nice thing about a skeg is the fact you do not have to let go of the paddle
to deploy it, as you must with most rudder systems. She seems to surf well.
The seat and backband are very comfortable. But I found it took alot of
paddling to find just the right setting.

The Slipstream is the smaller version of the Gulfstream. 16' by 22" wide.
Hull shape the same and the depth the same, also has a skeg. This is for
lighter people. Was on the water with a fellow who was 175lbs. and his
leaned turns failed to get the stern portion of the hull out of the water,
so the turns were not as good as a smaller person could get. Mind you, the
narrower hull (less pronounced bulge in the middle) might not lend itself
to as dramatic leaned turns. This boat is reasonably fast, but I have not
paddled it.  This boat is not designed for someone my size.

Good luck

Terry


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