Re: [Paddlewise] kevlar skid plates and canoe handling

Rich Dempsey wrote:
> 
> Last winter I bought a set of Kevlar skid pads for my Old Town Discovery
> 17.4, which I have not yet installed. I was wondering how that would affect
> the handling of the canoe if I do go ahead and put them on.  I do know that
> they will add an additional  3 lbs to the total weight of the boat. Since my
> experience is currently limited to the Disco, obviously I am not
> super-sensitive to the finer points of "handling" anyway.
> 
> My original thought was that they would add some protection to the bow and
> stern in hauling the boat  onto rocky beaches, and in very shallow flat
> water (especially with swells.)  This trip we will be on a large windy lake,
> heavily laden. Only the last 30 miles will involve  short rapids, which we
> will probably line, rather than run.
> 
> Any opinions on the plus or minuses of skid plates?
> 
> Rich Dempsey
> ridem_at_msn.com
> 
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I have had two Royalex canoes, one of which I equipped with kevlar skid
plates.  The Mad River Explorer has held up much better with the plates
than did my Mohawk without.  The latter has had the vinyl gouged down
into the ABS layer.  The skid plates work very well, especially if you
hit a sumerged rock in muddy water in the rapids.  I still don't drag
the boat around- the skid plates only protect a short area on the bow
and stern.  I think the protection is well worth the increase in weight
for a white water canoe. Try to really feather the edges smoothly.  The
kevlar is nearly impossible to sand after its on!

Walt Chudleigh
]Park City, UT
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