With regard to comments on boat fit, and even more importantly, on boat control, here is an excerpt from something I published elsewhere: In order to paddle efficiently and maintain good boat control, you have to be one with the boat. This means you have good firm contact at the hips, thighs, feet, and lower back (your upper back needs to be free to rotate). This is achieved by gluing in foam pads at these contact points (except your feet which are supported with footbraces), then shaping them to fit your body. In other words the boat will only fit you or someone your size. Rental boats and class boats won't fit like this, unfortunately. This is yet another reason to have your own kayak. To get an idea of how it should fit, picture someone lifting you up under the armpits while you sit in your kayak. The boat should lift right off the floor with you and there should be no movement between you and the boat. You have to find the fine line between being jammed in and being too loose. This is just as important for sea kayaks as it is for river kayaks. I've noticed that many sea kayakers do not outfit their boats. If they had any idea how much energy they were wasting sloshing around in the boat, they would immediately take care of the problem. Also keep in mind seats can be changed or modified to suit the individual. One common problem is seat backs that are too high; cut 'em down or replace with a backband. Every now and then I try out a new kayak that has not been outfitted. I'm always amazed at how much more difficult it is to control and paddle a loosely-fitting boat; it is also very uncomfortable. Paddling a kayak without outfitting is exactly like hiking in loosely-laced boots that are two sizes too large for you. John Lull *************************************************************************** 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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