I'm wondering if someone could offer a place in the United States or Canada where one might be able to try out a boat in more than a duck pond. That is, with wind and waves, but nothing too serious. A symposium would be ok, too, but again, I don't want to be in a flat lake. I can't tell a darned thing there about whether I will be crying in the wind. I am interested in narrow, small in cockpit volume boats with relatively low fordeck, and flat rear decks, designed for small people. If I could find these boats (and any others you might suggest) it would be primo (the more in one place the better): P&H Sirius Romany 16 Falcon 16 sparrow hawk slipstream ?? If you know of any used ones ... well, let me know. Thanks, Jennifer (Austin, TX) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I went to a local paddle shop's open house. They had all the boats they sell and the manufacturers reps there. We were able to spend hours trying each one. The good thing is in the northeast there is rarely a calm day. During the day the wind kicked up along with the wwaves. It was an ideal day for testing under real conditions. You may have to travel a bit to get away from the lakes of TX. Tom *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
>so how was it? > >are you buying the romany? :) > >jen I was pleased with the paddle area at Sweetwater Kayaks. Wow! I was there over the weekend...I never saw so many powerboats in my life (I wasn't too fond of that part!). It was like a freeway getting out of the harbor! And yes... the location at Sweetwater is an excellent place to try out boats. The put in is just behind the store in protected water. It is only a short paddle to the Gulf so you can transition from protected harbor...to an open area that catches a little swell...then to the open Gulf. What more could you want? Eddies...standing waves maybe? My lessons with Scott Williams went great. I was a little disappointed that I didn't get the BCU assessment in. From reading the 4 star qualifications, I had thought that I was closer to that. We went through the 3 star class which is done in flat water when I had actually hoped to do more "rough water" work. That will come next. BCU standards are pretty demanding and the basic strokes need to be demonstrated with more finess and control that I had at the time. I've committed to getting more BCU instruction and working towards the awards. I went away with lots of stuff to work on and I plan to go back to take the 3 Star assessment and begin working towards the 4 Star award. I'd like to hear from anyone who has attended the Anglesey School, or other kayaking schools in the UK. I would think that would be an interesting experience. Still lots to work on. I was quite impressed with Scott's teaching skills as well as his knowledge and experience. I enjoyed being with him... and the entire crew at Sweetwater Kayaks. I had an hour or so of instruction with Lawson Mitchell a couple of weeks before and he too was an excellent instructor...thus, his epithet: "Awsome Lawson." Among other things, we worked on my roll and I increased my competence with bracing...Scott taught me the sweeping brace from total commitment in the water...also a fully committed brace (like the C to C with no setup or sweep) from a knockdown. Cool! I tried the fully committed brace in the Jubilee and I rapped my knuckels on the Skeg Slider. (Wonder if one can get the slider aft of the cockpit?) And yes...I bought a Romany Explorer. I considered the Jubilee but decided on the Romany. It's built like a tank! I am now waiting on delivery. There were a lot of things I liked about the Romany, maneuverability being one of the more important aspects about it. It was more comfortable than the Jubilee and the stern was lower. Guess I'll be selling my Falcon 18... (The Falcon incidentally has a great seat. It has been the most comfortable boat for me to sit in.) I plan on modifying the seat back in the Romany to add more support. Daggar I understand has a seat back that fits. Any other suggestions? Robert *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Hi Robert, If it is rough water training you want you should go to Anglesey. You can paddle rough water in the tidal races with no wind around and the sun shining seals popping their heads up a few meters from your kayak, I've had a baby seal play with my front toggle a few years ago. A lot of sea caves that you can paddle through. The staff at Nigel's centre are great, there is a bar on site for the recap on the days exiting paddling. The best time of the year to go is May, there is a big kayak meet beginning of May organised by the Nordkapp Trust I wish I could go this year. (sniff, sniff) Groetjes, Len -----Original Message----- From: Robert C. Cline [SMTP:rcline_at_onramp.net] Sent: 13 March 1999 15:23 To: Jennifer Joy; paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] best place to realistically try boats (N.Am) I'd like to hear from anyone who has attended the Anglesey School, or other kayaking schools in the UK. I would think that would be an interesting experience. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
"Robert C. Cline" wrote: > I tried the fully committed brace in the > Jubilee and I rapped my knuckels on the Skeg Slider. (Wonder if one can > get the slider aft of the cockpit?) This seems to be a common complaint of late. (Recent reviews of boats in Sea Kayaker had comments to this effect and the designers promised to rectify the problem). Perhaps we should put this into the text book for Kayak Design 101. Mike *************************************************************************** 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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