Re: [Paddlewise] Express

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.
>
>You paddle a Caribou, don't you?  Nice boat.
>
>Good Guess.  The boat I was describing was a Caribou, but the boat I
>ended up buying is a Mariner Express.
>
>I'm considering getting the Mariner Express paddling in rough seas.  What's
your
opinion of the boat?  What's it best suited for?
When I visited the Broze brother's shop in Seattle last weekend, I also
demoed the Elan.  For my 6'2" 165 lb. frame, it was a bit tight, but
perhaps doable for short few hour jaunts.  The
nice feature of the Elan is it's recessed combing and lower back deck.
Seems in the Express some need to raise the seat (and resultant center
of gravity) and fiddle with the seat back in
order to lean back to complete a roll.

>Nick Lyle
>


Nick,
I paddle an Express with sliding seat.  (Also a Solstice GTS)  The sliding
seat can be tuned such that there is absolutely no weathercocking in any
wind.  The Express is an exceptionally good boat in rough seas, very
predictable, no twitchiness, surfs great and you can lean it way over and
still have positive stability.  If you broach on a wave it straightens
itself out after the wave plays out.

I think you are too big for the Elan.

I have the same problem with the Mariner sliding seat.  The back is way too
high, and I cut it way down and put in foam.  It is satisfactory now but not
great.  I bought the fiberglass sliding bracket from Mariner and have been
looking for another seat to attach to it.  So far unsuccessfully.  I would
like to get a Mariner II also but have not done so because of the seat
issue.

I also demo'd the Caribou in very strong (>>20knot) winds and found it to
weathercock uncontrollably.  I thought it was a dangerous boat and said so
on paddlewise.  I was thoroughly flamed by passionate Caribou fans.  Go
figure!

Good luck with your Express.
Jerry


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