Would like to thank everyone who responded to my previous message (ie Subject: Need you advise, help, suggestion on how to proceed regarding the problems,concerns, where to find, when looking to purchase a fiberglass kayak.) Reading through all your replies and from my own research, has made me rethink my decision that a polyethylene kayack would not meet my needs. I consider my present skill level as advanced beginner. The type of paddling I would like to do is: In the ocean, not in rough water or waves, but just off of beach area In tidal creeks, channels Rivers, creeks,lakes which could have submerged logs, trees etc. Since most of my previous research had been focusing on fiberglass kayaks I am now going to begin researching the models of polyethylen kayaks available and would like to have your opions, suggestions on: Are there any kayack models that are considered more top-of-the-line vs other model. Is any one manufacture's kayak considered more superior than all the others? What model to you recommended to consider. Thanks for your help. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> > Are there any kayack models that are considered more top-of-the-line vs other > model. > > Is any one manufacture's kayak considered more superior than all the others? > What model to you recommended to consider. > I put together a list of what I considered top of the line plastic boats awhile back. Here's what I had on it: Plastic Boats Vendor Model Length Width Weight Rudder Price ===================================================================== Aquaterra Sea Lion 17'2" 22.5" 67.5lbs opt. $1199 Aquaterra Shadow 16'8" 22" 62.5lbs opt. $1199 Aquaterra Eclipse 17'2" 22.5" 64.5lbs opt. $1199 Current Designs Storm 17' 24" 64lbs opt. ????? Current Designs Squall 16'6" 22" 61lbs opt. ????? Dagger Magellen 16'6" 22.5" 62lbs opt. $999 Dagger Atlantis 17'2" 23.5" 69lbs opt. ????? Necky Looksha IV 17' 22" 53lbs opt. $1188 Northwest kayak Pursuit RM 16'10" 22" 65lbs opt. $1095 Old Town Millennium 174 17'4" 22.5" 60lbs opt. $???? P&H Capella 16'5" 22" 58.6lbs skeg ????? Prijon Seayak 16'1" 24" 56lbs opt. $999 Wilderness Sys. Epic 17' 22" 59lbs opt. $1149 Wilderness Sys. Sealution II 16'6" 22" 57lbs opt. $1149 Wilderness Sys. Sealution II/XL 17' 23" 60lbs opt. $1199 Valley (VCP) Skerray RM 17' 23" 56lbs skeg $1355 You can narrow this list down quickly based on your physical attributes. If you're a larger person you would choose the Eclipse over the Shadow, the Storm over the Squall, and the Sealution II/XL over the Sealution II. The Epic is probably the straightest tracking boat and one of the fastest (but doesn't turn as easily as others). The Seayak probably has the best plastic. The Capella and Skerray RM are both fast and manouverable but cost a bit more. All of the boats on that list would meet your criteria. You'll have to try out as many as possible to decide which is the best for you. Storm, and Looksha IV are -- John Fereira jaf30_at_cornell.edu *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Jeff, I never saw anything on how big you are. That will make some difference. If going far, fast isn't a big deal I'd go with a shorter boat with some rocker so that you can in the tighter places without a lot of backwards paddling to get out. My boat is perfect for me for that. It is sometimes a challenge to get out of the tightest places but I still have enough boat to manage some good sized waves and surf. I have a Current Designs, Breeze, 13'6" x 23", round hull with a flair, high deck, rear bulkhead, good initial and secondary stability. It can come with a rudder but I don't want one. It tracks well enough in most conditions, though there have been moments when I questioned the wisdom of that decision ;-) Good luck. There are so many boats that can fill your need. This boat comes in both plastic and glass. I have a plastic boat but I have heard really good things about the glass ones. Be smart and paddle anything before you buy. You should paddle as many boats as you can. Go as far away as you have to unless you have money to burn because every new boat will give you new things to think about. The first boat is only a start but if you want to go on it has to be a good start that will give you impetus to go on and learn. Pleasure in paddling means having the right boat. Being safe means having the right boat. Joan *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com wrote: > Just one other difference that I would like to add. The coamings on > poly boats are not as sharp as those on laminated kayaks. Therefore > they don't hold a sprayskirt as well. > There are spray skirts designed just for plastic boats that would be ripped up by a fiberglass coaming. The Perception skirt for my Pirouette holds tight as a drum - better than the one for my fg sea kayak. The WW skirt has a heavy rubber rand around the edge and a thick wedge-shaped rubber rim on the bottom that fits the plastic coaming snugly. It is true that if you use a regular neoprene-to-the-edge style skirt on the plastic boat it will tend to slip off. I use the SK skirt on my Pirouette in the pool (since it's beat up and I don't worry about the effects of the chlorine*) and it slips and leaks somewhat more than I like. It works fine on the SK, however. So choose the skirt to match the boat. Mike *actually - it's a way of getting to buy a spiffy new SK skirt... not working though :-( *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I had a plastic Puffin with a slippy coaming. I sanded it with rough paper and the sprayskirt stayed on. Barbara At 09:00 PM 6/22/99 -0400, Michael Daly wrote: >rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com wrote: > >> Just one other difference that I would like to add. The coamings on >> poly boats are not as sharp as those on laminated kayaks. Therefore >> they don't hold a sprayskirt as well. >> > >There are spray skirts designed just for plastic boats that would be ripped >up by a fiberglass coaming. The Perception skirt for my Pirouette holds >tight as a drum - better than the one for my fg sea kayak. The WW skirt >has a heavy rubber rand around the edge and a thick wedge-shaped >rubber rim on the bottom that fits the plastic coaming snugly. > >It is true that if you use a regular neoprene-to-the-edge style skirt on the >plastic boat it will tend to slip off. I use the SK skirt on my Pirouette in >the pool (since it's beat up and I don't worry about the effects of the >chlorine*) and it slips and leaks somewhat more than I like. It works >fine on the SK, however. So choose the skirt to match the boat. > >Mike > >*actually - it's a way of getting to buy a spiffy new SK skirt... not >working though :-( > > > >*************************************************************************** >PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List >Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net >Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net >Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ >*************************************************************************** > > Sea Kayak Italy http://www.seakayakitaly.com tel. 650-728-8720 fax 650-728-8753 bkossy_at_igc.org *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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