On Wed, 24 Feb 1999 rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com wrote: > Hmmm, this thing regarding sit-on-tops is getting to be an interesting > conversation. > > Some comments to the naysayers: > > 1. **Regarding speed, designs, etc. of sit-on-tops** > We are not comparing Nordkapps and SOTs. We are comparing > run-of-the-mill medium wide, plastic sea kayaks with plastic SOTs. My grumble is the readily available SOTs are roughly the equivalent of a Keowee. > Besides, who is racing? Some of are, and we should be ignored because we are highly opinionated ;-) > 3. **Cold weather.** Sure a closed boat is better in the cold. But > what about the other months and months of paddling in warm to hot > weather that marks the waters that most paddlers on this listserver > probably ply? A SOT is fine for these, in fact, probably more > comfortable. If I had been shopping for a boat when I demoed the Heritage SOT (called Hop on Top when I demoed them), I would have seriously considered buying one. I paddle during the offseason so I like having a closed boat. For those people in a warmer climate, or warm weather paddlers, a good SOT may be a better choice than a closed boat. Sacrilege, but I'm a canoeist at heart ;-) > B. You can't have the fun of rolling, etc with a SOT. Well you could > if you wish, with thigh straps as was mentioned here which gives you > more control and contact with the SOT if that is important to you or > needed for rough conditions. But anyway, I thought the purpose of a sea > kayak was to go out and enjoy the sense of your body propelling you > through open expanses of water. Rolling is not the purpose of sea > kayaking. Kayaking is, i.e. going some place along a shoreline or > making some crossing to an island. Rolling is only if things go wrong. I mentioned that a well outfitted SOT could be rolled to show the level of control that I had. The thigh strap that I used were wonderful and resulted in a fit that was as good as my PinTail. I disagree that rolling is only if things go wrong. I like to roll. Hell, I joined the local whitewater club so that I could go to the rolling sessions during the winter. I think that an important part of paddling is knowing what you and your boat can and can not do. For me rolling is simply part of testing where the limits of a boat are. kirk *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Feb 24 1999 - 08:26:35 PST
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