RE: [Paddlewise] a pretty basic question

I wasn't going to weigh in, but I think I need to put a good word in for
plastic, high tonnage sea kayaks as great starter boats.

I bought a plastic Aquaterra Sea Lion as my first Kayak.  I fanatically took
to the sport and within a couple years purchased a Dancer XT white water
boat, a Seda Glider (kevlar and REAL  fast), and a frisky Feathercraft
Khatsalano.  I have kept my Sea Lion, though, and have no intention of ever
selling it. There are times I paddle in places where I intend to abuse my
boat.  I travel on shallow rivers where hitting rocks is routine.  I paddle
in the surf where I know the boat will get seriously munched.   Its
wonderful to have a boat that I can freely abuse!

The Sea Lion - partially due to its weight, mostly due to its design - is
also a very stable boat.  If I know I'm going to paddle a huge distance and
want to stay upright even when I'm getting a bit sloppy (like on my recent
Eugene to Salem paddle), its great to have a forgiving boat.

So I recommend that people new to this sport seriously consider starting out
with an inexpensive, forgiving  plastic boat.  You can always sell it when
your skills pass up what the boat can deliver, but you might find, as I did,
that it fills an important niche in your fleet.  

--Tim

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	R. Walker [SMTP:rww_at_mailbox.neosoft.com]
> Sent:	Wednesday, October 07, 1998 9:48 AM
> To:	paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
> Subject:	RE: [Paddlewise] a pretty basic question
> 
> > In Gabrials case, there was no mention of duck decoys or other uses
> other
> > then the pure enjoyment of paddling. This, added to the local dealer's
> > recent statement that he was unable to "give an Edisto away" prompted me
> to
> > suggest a higher performance boat.
> 
> I didn't pick up on what his purpose was for a kayak.  I pointed him 
> at the log file I keep for each trip out, and he enjoyed the read.  I 
> missed the giving an Edisto away comment.  If someone wants to 
> give one away, call me!  <grin>.   Only the Chinook really tempts 
> me in a different sort of way; though the Chinook is to big for some 
> of the spots I put the Edisto in.  Sometimes the Edisto is a little on 
> the big side; but usually manageable. [narrow bayous at high 
> current]
> 
> > Out-grow means that a sleek kayak which seems to offer everything a
> novice
> > may ever desire may soon become a plastic bathtub with a rudder. It's
> > imperative that any new Kayaker paddle as many boats as possible for as
> long
> > as possible before buying a boat.
> 
> Heres a thought for you though.  The Edisto (and similar style 
> boats) runs about $900 - $1100.   Used/undamaged, you shouldn't
> have to much difficulty unloading it for $500.  Thats a loss of $400 
> to $600; maybe even getting a year of beginner use out of it in the
> process.  Most if not all your gear is transferable between the 
> Edisto and the Nordkapp [cept the skirt probably].    If you start 
> with a less expensive boat, a necessary upgrade is less costly, 
> than if you buy the $2000 boat to start with, and determine that you 
> are going to smash it into oyster reefs a dozen times a year.
> 
> Another thing I've observed, but not talked alot about, is people 
> having these sexy boats, and then putt-putting along the shoreline 
> at 2kts most of the time.  Like buying the ferrari to drive at 20mph 
> back and forth to the grocery store.   If I get a ferrari, I'm paying for 
> track time, and I'm gonna find out how many tires I can burn in a 
> day.   Maybe if these folks had spent the difference on VHF, GPS, 
> charts, and epirb they'd actually get out more in the less expensive 
> boat.   Not sure about that of course, and you certainly can't 
> actually stop and ask folks a question like that without getting a 
> defensive answer....
> 
> The other thing that bothers my thinking is that while these folks 
> get a sleek fast boat, it seems most trip planners find a 20 mile
> day a bit over the top.  Yet I've been perfectly happy with the 
> lumpier Edisto on the two long solos I've done over the last year.  
> Routinely, someone will announce a trip, and the start location 
> sounds fun, then I find out the grand total mileage is all of 6 miles 
> or 8 miles.  Exactly what kind of trip is that?   Don't 
> misunderstand, I'm not trying to suggest folks shouldn't get the 
> sleek boats, but rather, that maybe they should think about what 
> they are going to do with/to it; before selecting the boat that simply 
> feels the best.  The ferrari [I happen to actually prefer celicas] feels 
> best to just about everyone; but few actually want to own one.
> 
> 
> Richard Walker
> Houston, TX
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