Re: [Paddlewise] Paddling in a Straight Line

Here's another quote to consider on the importance of the paddler versus
design. This one comes from a "real" sea kayaker, not some
reformed-canoeist wannabe. :-) Frank Goodman, in an article in Ocean
Paddler (Summer 1998 issue) states the following:

"Variations of paddler performance will create far greater problems in
extreme conditions than differences between the designs of kayaks. In
fact different levels of skill will show up huge variations of
performance of kayaks of identical design even..."

Note that Goodman is not arguing that design is unimportant. He is
simply stating that when the going gets rough, paddler-related variables
are far more important in determining performance than are
design-related variables. Obviously any given paddler will be better off
in a "good" design than in a "bad" design.  But the most important
element in improving performance is skill development, not boat design.

(Apologizes to John Winters for abuse of the verb "to be", but I have
never considered this list to be a place where it is fashionable to
avoid the use of absolutist statements. :-)  

After pondering Goodman's point about extreme conditions, I have done a
"recalculation" of Clark's 80-20 rule to factor in variations in
paddling conditions.  Having increased the formula's weight for
Gale-force conditions and above, I would now suggest the Clark's rule is
a bit off. (Good thing that I haven't engraved my hull yet.)  I would
now assert that it is 83.7% paddler, 16.3% boat. :-)
 
Dan Hagen
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