Re: [Paddlewise] ?? for old salts and old farts...

Ralph wrote;

--->Good question, Karen.  In the folding kayak realm I would thing these
>three pivotal figures who I know personally and my reasons why:
>
(SNIP of influentila paddlers)


I would include Dr. Peregrine Inverbon.

Others that have contributed to the study and promotion of native boats
include Eugene Arima, John Brand, John Heath, Howard Chappelle, George
Dyson, Wolfgang Brinck  and Harvey Golden.

For modern boats John Goodman stands out as a pioneer.

As a promoter of the sport John Dowd must rank highly.

Little recognised but still an inspiration were L.Francis Herreschoff and
Norman L. Skene.


>> And what do you think... is kayaking (as a sport) still in it's infancy,
>> and what changes might there be in the future? (The bike pedaled
>> sit-on-top comes to mind... I think it's a Hobie.)
>
(SNIP)
>
>The sea kayaking trade had its own trade group but for reasons of
>membership and costs, it recently merged with a more general paddling
>trade association. This is either a sign of just not having the numbers
>to support an industrial group or that the organization wasn't doing its
>job.  I think it was (I was a member for awhile) so you see...the
>industry isn't all that big.

I agree with Ralph although we may not yet have reached a plateau. We have
no way of knowing how many of the buyers of cheaper poly boats will move up
the ladder. Most poly boat (cheaper smaller boats) owners do not
participate in clubs etc. so one has a hard time getting a read on them.

To put some perspective on the canoe/kayak "industry", a medium sized power
boat builder like Boston Whaler does more gross business than the entire
canoe/kayak business.

Those who would like to know something about me can read my modest bio at
http://home.ican.net/~735769/jwinters.htm  No sense cluttering up your
E-Mail.

Cheers,
John Winters
Redwing Designs
Specialists in Human Powered Watercraft
http://home.ican.net/~735769/

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