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 *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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 > > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ > *************************************************************************** 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 *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Rich wrote; (SNIP about skid plates) >Any opinions on the plus or minuses of skid plates? You probably won't notice any the difference other than some additional gurgling at the bow and stern. That doesn't mean no difference exists - just that only the an extraordinarily sensitive paddler would notice. The scenery should keep your mind off a little added resistance. Cheers, John Winters Redwing Designs Specialists in Human Powered Watercraft http://home.ican.net/~735769/ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Hank- Walt- > Where do you paddle? Like you, I'm a canoeist (both of us on a primarily sea touring list!) <snip> I have paddled the lower Green (which you did) Desolation/Gray canyon on the Green (Class 3 in some sections), sections of the Colorado above Moab, the San Juan, Salmon, Payette, Weber, and Dolores. Deso and the San Juan require permits, which are getting harder to come by. That's one reason I have taken up SK- its nice to just go without all the hassle and having to win a lottery for a permit. The Dolores is a beautiful canyon run with no permit required but has a very limited season. The San Juan has fairly mellow rapids at the levels I have run - which can be portaged- and is in a canyon similar to the lower Green below Trin Alcoves. It ends up almost in Lake Powell and is a great trip. If you are interested I can give you sources for water flow info. and more details. The Idaho rivers are tougher, technically, but feature clear water- a real treat for us who are used to muddy desert rivers. I have only done them in my solo canoe or WW kayak. Let me know if I can be of further help. Walt Chudleigh Park City, UT *************************************************************************** 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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