Re: [Paddlewise] Rocker: too many sea kayaks

Putting weight forward will tend to aggravate the most common difficult
handling situations. It may help some in headwinds but that is not a
condition people generally have difficulty with. Be sure to try the dive
belt in the stern though, it should reduce weatherhelm and broaching
tendencies..
Matt Broze
http://www.marinerkayaks.com

-----Original Message-----
From: dmccarty_at_us.ibm.com <dmccarty_at_us.ibm.com>



>|If the foregoing is true, why would anyone choose say a Seawards Vision
>|over a Seawards Navigator for sea kayaking?  These boats are identical
>|except for rocker.  Similarly, why do many people like the Looksha IV?
>|Without its rudder, it is hard to paddle in strong wind.
>
>What is "strong wind?"  I have paddled my Looksha IV in 30+mph winds.  Not
that
>I wanted to but that is what happened. I think that is a strong wind.  The
>normal wind I paddle in is 10-15 mph.
>
>I don't have a problem paddling the Looksha in wind at all.  What is a
problem
>are following or stern quartering seas.  Then a rudder helps control
broaching.
>
>At first I thought I was going to get an Arluk III.  But after paddling the
>Arluk, Looksha and a bunch of other boats at a symposium, I got the IV.
Its
>ability to turn is outstanding and I have used it in very tight turning
channels
>in marshes and rivers.
>
>Most of my paddling is done on large local lakes where wind is an issue.
If the
>wind is effecting the course I want, I can easily lean the Looksha and away
we
>go. Shortening up on the paddle so that your paddle stroke is shorter on
the
>upwind side of the boat also helps.
>
>After I had the Looksha for a few months I had the opportunity to paddle an
>Arluk III again in 5-10 mph winds.  I really disliked the Arluk because I
was so
>used to paddling the Looksha that keeping on course was so much easier in
the IV
>than the III.  Just a movement of my fanny would keep the course I wanted.
>
>I very seldom use my rudder.
>
>A thread running a few weeks ago was talking about tracking, loading of the
>boat, etc.  A new person to the thread said something that reminded me to
try to
>put more wieght in the forward part of the yak.  I finally remembered that
I had
>a dive belt and I'm going to start using it to see what effect it has on
putting
>some weight forward.
>
>
>Hope this helps...
>Dan McCarty
>
>
>
>
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