[Paddlewise] Boat Opinions & Analysis, was "request opinion off list"

Doug wrote
>>>highly skilled paddler in a Sirius, with a skeg, in a quartering sea with
a
>>>30 knot gale. The man never paddled the kayak again after that trip (he
had
>>>done previous trips in it too) and now paddles a Gulfstream. The straight
>>>tracking former kayak would run off the wave, and too much effort was
>>>required to bring it back on course. The Gulfstream type of hull allows
for
>>>easy leaning and fast course correction, though his newer boat is a bit
>>>slower.
>I would say that I prefer the Sirius, from the times I've tried it. The
>wider Gulfstream, in comparison, just doesn't put you "in touch" with the
>water conditions as much.

Why would you prefer the Sirius if it requires too much effort to bring back
on course?  If the Gulfstream hull is easy leaning and fast course
correcting, why are you more in touch with the water in the Sirius?

 >This is unusual in that people
>who buy Brit type boats, once having made their purchase, generally are
>very satisfied.

Because of a flaw in human nature most people are very satisfied with
whatever they have just bought.  Did you ever have a new owner of a boat or
car tell you it was a foolish purchase?  (I certainly don't mean that buying
a Brit boat is foolish.)

>I do know that there are still some hold-outs around here who still paddle
>the deep "V" hulled Baidarka of yesteryear from P&H, precisely because they
>do track so well for point to point exposed coast cruising. They don't seem
>to need a rudder, and with the up-turned ends, are great at backing up
>through kelp beds in a choppy sea -- but, they are very tippy.

Does this straight tracking boat run off the wave and require much effort to
get back, as you describe the Sirius?  Is it "straight trackingness" that
makes it run off?  I consider my GTS straight tracking but it doesn't run
off at 20 to 25 knots following conditions.

The wider
>Orion is a popular boat with extreme paddlers, as it offers stability for
>tall paddlers, tracks well with a bit of edging/leaning, and with its
>higher gunwales, once leaned over, rides like its on a rail -- something I
>can't do as well in my low decked Nordkapp.

Shouldn't a boat carve a turn when it is leaned over, rather than riding
like it is on a rail?  Is the fact that you can't do this as well much of an
issue?  Why choose a Nordkapp when the other boats you mention do do this
well?

>The Romany performs well in
>that kind of situation too, as do some of the Arluk series. However, I
>always go further in a wind storm, faster, and usually beat my bigger meat
>head friends that try to beat me through 5 knot currents going up hill in
>their other boats.

How do you account for this increased uphill efficiency of the Nordkapp?
Later on you say that various North American boats are more efficient than
Brittish ones.

>the CD GTS, as I may have mentioned
>to you in a previous e-mail, is one of the better all-around kayaks I know
>of, and I'm not saying that because they are made here in Victoria, BC.
>Their predictability is something that, while subjective, probably accounts
>for its high sales. In quartering seas, there are no sudden turn-turtle
>surprises.

For me, competent but less than expert, this predictability is of prime
importance.  Especially for solo excursions in rough water.  My Mariner
Express is similarly predictable, though totally different from my GTS.

> my experience suggests most GTS users deploy rudders at that
>point. (20knots) Bear in mind that up until that approximate sea-state
induced by
>those kind of winds, >

This raises a technique question:  When conditions start to exceed 20 knots,
in quartering conditions, and I lower my rudder, I lean less and use less
paddle strokes for correction.  I end up relying on the rudder because it is
so much easier than all the corrections I was doing moments before.  I just
use my energy to go straight.  Experimenting, I might raise the rudder
again, and find I am OK, having more fun perhaps, but expending way more
energy.  Do you generally employ your Nordkapp rudder at some level of wind
speed?

>Reflective micro-management does come with time, practice, and
>a person's natural predilection, if they have it, to work with their boat.
>Not everybody does, and this is why Matt doesn't sell everybody in the
>world his designs.
>

I would be most interested in your report of a rough water comparison
between the Mariner II and your Nordkapp.

>Without a
>rudder (or skeg) and a disadvantage of not being able to edge/lean
>significantly due to reduced gunwale buoyancy, I find I used to flounder
>and run off course. I developed huge muscles in my earlier youth, storm
>paddling (before my rudder installation) from the sweep strokes required.
>I've landed on the beach with my arm muscles actually quivering from the
>over-use. I've ran into a number of Norkapp owners who have paddled around
>Vancouver Island, only paddling on one side, as they put it.
>

This makes the Nordkapp sound terrible.  Why put up with this when there are
so many boats with gunwale boyancy that don't require one sided paddling?
What is it that makes the Nordkapp such a great rough water boat as its
reputations says?

>If you are looking for the perfect boat, forget it. You may find a perfect
>Violin if you have the money, but not a perfect kayak. Don't fall into the
>trap my friend who is selling his Sirius and who bought the Gulfstream did.
>I think he may very well, be looking for the perfect boat forever.

I am looking for the perfect boat.  But it is the journey not the goal that
counts.  Plus it is great fun trading boats every year or two.

>
>I can't find my notes I was keeping on some other kayak designs. Anyway, I
keep
>a record of paddler's comments about their kayaks in a binder, and I'll try
>and find it ASAP.

Sound extremely interesting.

>Until then, I better keep my little cake-hole shut!>

Don't do this.  Great post!  Lots of food for thought.

Thanks
Jerry

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