RE: [Paddlewise] Proud to Paddle Plastic

Duane,

I know what you mean.  I will always have at least one plastic sea kayak in
my fleet for use in abusive situations.

I remember once I needed to launch from a rugged jetty.  I just took my
plastic Sea Lion and pushed it off the edge.  The boat smashed its way down
the rocks and landed in the water at which point I climbed down and got in
the boat.  Fiber glass and kevlar boats are stiffer, prettier and maybe even
stronger --- but be honest folks, would any of you do that to your glass
boats?

Oh by the way, I checked my boat very carefully after the jetty launch.  I'm
sure it banged the boat up a bit, but I could find no evidence of the abuse.
Plastic flexes and really takes less damage than a glass boat in these
situations.

--Tim


> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Strosaker_at_aol.com [SMTP:Strosaker_at_aol.com]
> Sent:	Wednesday, July 07, 1999 8:50 PM
> To:	paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
> Subject:	[Paddlewise] Proud to Paddle Plastic
> 
> Kayakers,
> 
> Today, and occasionally in the past, I have read posts on Paddlewise from 
> kayakers who mention they paddle a plastic kayak and in one way or another
> 
> seem embarrassed about it.  Well, I am proud to paddle plastic!  I own 
> fiberglass, plywood stitch and glue, skin (nylon over wood frame), and 
> plastic sea kayaks, and plastic is by far my favorite.  What other
> material 
> can get thrashed in the surf, slammed into rocks, and dropped and dragged 
> with confidence?  Sure, fiberglass kayaks are stiffer, have finer lines
> and 
> are prettier, but I don't like treating my kayak like a baby, especially
> when 
> it is fully loaded on a trip.  I'll gladly handle the minor oil canning
> and a 
> little extra weight for a kayak that can take a beating.  So all you
> plastic 
> kayak owners out there, be proud, don't take crap from anyone, and enjoy 
> beating the hell out of your kayak while your friends in fiberglass cringe
> 
> every time they get a scratch in their gelcoat.
> 
> Duane Strosaker
> Proudly beating the hell out his plastic Necky Looksha IV in Southern 
> California
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