Robert, I would not buy a boat that I had only tried once. You need to paddle the boat when there is some wind and a bit of wave action. I once paddled a boat that seemed to be perfect in every way on a calm day, but when I took this boat out on a windy day I discovered that it weathercocked badly enough for me to reject the design without hesitation. The following year the manufacturer of the boat added a drop-down skeg to this model. If you are an experienced paddler you may be able to decide whether you like the boat or not fairly promptly (assuming you try it in strong wind at least once), but if you are relatively inexperienced you probably won't be sure about the boat until you have paddled it for months. I have only talked to one Seward Kayak owner; he had just purchased the boat and when I asked him how he liked it he said he wasn't sure yet. He seemed to have no trouble rolling it, and we paddled in fairly strong winds (15 knots) that day as well. He seemed to be getting around fine. The seaward boat seemed like it might be on the tender side, even in company with a bunch of Brittish boats. I don't remember which model it was. I would ask myself why the retailer is so eager to get rid of these boats ($650 is a big discount) but unwilling to let you try them. Sure, the dealer doesn't want them scratched up, but it is absurd to expect you to choose one without letting you paddle both of them at least twice. If you really must have a seaward then drive to the place that is three states away and try some boats. What other boats does this retailer carry? What else is available in your area? What do your freinds paddle? Call Sea Kayaker magasine and see if you can get a back issue with a review of one of the Seaward boats. Nick *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On the other hand, I bought a Feathercraft K-Light without paddling it at all. I have not been sorry. (OK turn on the Kayaking for Dummies flame) I based it on reviews, Ralph Diaz comments, sitting in boat in dealers showroom, and talking to one of the owners (Southwind Kayaks in Irvine CA, Jo Anne Turner, a remarkable person) "So you pays your money and takes your choice," according to an old saying. Good luck. ----- Original Message ----- From: Whitesavage & Lyle <nickjean_at_speakeasy.org> To: paddlewise <paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net> Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 1999 1:58 AM Subject: [Paddlewise] Seaward > Robert, > > I would not buy a boat that I had only tried once. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Mel Lammers wrote: > > On the other hand, I bought a Feathercraft K-Light without paddling it at > all. I have not been sorry. (OK turn on the Kayaking for Dummies flame) I > based it on reviews, Ralph Diaz comments, sitting in boat in dealers > showroom, and talking to one of the owners (Southwind Kayaks in Irvine CA, > Jo Anne Turner, a remarkable person) > > "So you pays your money and takes your choice," according to an old saying. > Good luck. I bought my first boat, a double Klepper without paddling it and only having sat in one in a showroom and reading the literature. Judging by its effect on my life, I can see that that certainly was a mistake! :-) Yes, indeed Joanne Turner is remarkable _and_ savvy. She has some of the best advice I have ever heard about leading trips; I am not sure if her pointers have been written up anywhere; I heard them at a symposium a half dozen years ago. ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Mel Lammers wrote: > > On the other hand, I bought a Feathercraft K-Light without paddling it at > all. I have not been sorry. (OK turn on the Kayaking for Dummies flame) I > based it on reviews, Ralph Diaz comments, sitting in boat in dealers > showroom, and talking to one of the owners (Southwind Kayaks in Irvine CA, > Jo Anne Turner, a remarkable person) > I also bought a Feathercraft K-Light without paddling it at all. I based it on reviews. Ralph Diaz wrote: > >I bought my first boat, a double Klepper without paddling it and only >having sat in one in a showroom and reading the literature. Judging by >its effect on my life, I can see that that certainly was a mistake! :-) > I also bought a double Klepper without paddling it and having only read about it. I had also read Lindemann's book. Also, I bought a Feathercraft K-1 from Joanne Turner having only sat in it in the showroom floor and read about it. All of these boats were previously used, and sold at a significant discount from their cost new. I thought that if I found that I had made a mistake I should be able to sell them for about what I had paid. So far I am happy with all of them. If in the future my needs and tastes change I'll sell them. Tony Niilus Upland, CA *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Mel Lammers wrote: > >Tony, I am considering getting a K-1 from Joanne and co. in April. I sat in >the K-1 at Irvine store and feel it is a great boat. Have you taken it >somewhere by yourself and did you have any trouble assembling and moving it >on land? > Mel, I almost always use a boat cart to move the Feathercraft K-1 on land. It weighs about 55 lbs. and I just don't like to carry it for any distance by myself. The cart breaks down and fits inside the boat behind the seat back. You probably looked at the current version of the K-1 which I believe came out last year, I have the previous version. The current version is much improved with a different bow shape, longer, redesigned frame assembly and a different non-shrink deck material. I understand that this version is much easier and faster to assemble. I find my version of the K-1 such a lengthy hassle to assemble and disassemble so that I keep it assembled with the flotation bags in place and partially filled. I car top it locally. I took it to Baja for a week this spring in the bag. It's fine to assemble it, use it for a week, and then put it back in the bag for transportation. Tony Niilus Upland, CA *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Thanks, Tony. That matches with my expectations. My plan was to use the K-Light for frequent travel paddling and the K-1 for home paddling or when I have a long term job where I could leave the K-1 assembled. =^..^= --Mel-- Mel Lammers mslammers_at_earthlink.net ----- Original Message ----- From: <Niilus_at_aol.com> To: Mel Lammers <mslammers_at_earthlink.net> Cc: paddlewise <paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net> Sent: Wednesday, September 01, 1999 1:39 AM Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Seaward > Mel Lammers wrote: > > > >Tony, I am considering getting a K-1 from Joanne and co. in April. I sat in > >the K-1 at Irvine store and feel it is a great boat. Have you taken it > >somewhere by yourself and did you have any trouble assembling and moving it > >on land? > > > > Mel, > > I almost always use a boat cart to move the Feathercraft K-1 on land. It > weighs about 55 lbs. and I just don't like to carry it for any distance by > myself. The cart breaks down and fits inside the boat behind the seat back. > > You probably looked at the current version of the K-1 which I believe came > out last year, I have the previous version. The current version is much > improved with a different bow shape, longer, redesigned frame assembly and a > different non-shrink deck material. I understand that this version is much > easier and faster to assemble. > > I find my version of the K-1 such a lengthy hassle to assemble and > disassemble so that I keep it assembled with the flotation bags in place and > partially filled. I car top it locally. I took it to Baja for a week this > spring in the bag. It's fine to assemble it, use it for a week, and then put > it back in the bag for transportation. > > Tony Niilus > Upland, CA > *************************************************************************** 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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