Re: [Paddlewise] high performance sea kayaks

On Tue, 6 Oct 1998, K. Whilden wrote:

> First, the kind that already exists, with characteristics in order of
> importance.
>  1. Does not weathercock
>  2. High secondary stability, low initial stability
>  3. turns easily when edged
>  4. tracks well when not edged
>  5. Carves turns when edged without any input from paddle strokes
>  6. Easily controllable on a wave (most sea kayaks are not good at this,
> so it is a low priority relatively
>  7. Solid footbracing and thigh bracing.
>  8. Holds bulky items easily such as my dutch oven and Djembe.
>  9. no rudder or skeg required for the above, because these items can
> break or get jammed, can take up room in the holds (e.g. skegs).

To your long sea kayak list I would add 
  10.  Well behaved in quartering seas.  The stern on my wife's Nordkapp 
       HM really gets pushed around by following quartering seas.
  11.  Light weight and reasonably durable.  I like sub 40 pound boats and
       am willing to baby them some to get a lighter boat.

How does this hypothetical boat handle oncoming waves?  Does it punch 
through them or ride up over the top.

> Now the kind of sea kayak that doesn't exist, at least to my knowledge:
> 1. Does not weathercock
> 2. Surfs like a surf kayak (the most important performance aspect)
> 3. Holds enough gear for 2-3 days of minimalist camping
> 4. Tracking is irrelavant
> 5. Turning is very very easy
> 6. The "usual no's" (no rudder, no skeg, no bulkhead)

I would link one of the bigger whitewater boats might fit these 
requirements, using drybags instead of hatches.

kirk olsen
somewhere in new england
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