Re: [Paddlewise] Boat Opinions & Analysis

From: Alex Ferguson <a.ferguson_at_chem.canterbury.ac.nz>
Date: Wed, 13 Oct 1999 13:40:57 +1300
>Hey, if you like the sea, why not be closer to it? Actually, it is a very
>popular kayak in the UK, as is the replacement, "Nordkapp Jubilee". They
>have rough conditions over there. I think most of the recent Nordkapp's
>come with skegs these days. the one-sided paddlers had the older version
>with the fiberglass modified skegged hull, not the drop down type. To
>answer your question, I don't know. I do know that Chris Duff is heading
>for a New Zealand S Island circumnavigation, and he is leaving behind his
>trusty steade, his Nordkapp, and taking instead his new Romany - the
>disloyal bugger! One thing is for sure, my Norkapp has got me home from
>some terrible seas.

Of those kayaks that have circumnavigated the South Island of New Zealand,
Nordkapps - one with skeg, a "homemade, slip on affair" (Paul Caffyn),
rudder Bevan Walker. Also one Southern Aurora with rudder, Brian from
Colorado.

Bevan's rudder has black and white stripes (like a sea snake) to dissuade
sharks. It is unlikely that any NZ shark will know what a sea snake is but
he hasn't had any problems as far as we know.

All other attempts that I know of were in kayaks with rudders, the Japanese
paddlers tending to under-estimate condidtions.

Paul changed to using a rudder part way through his Australian
circunavigation after having problems with the skeg.

Alex
.
.
Alex (Sandy) Ferguson
Chemistry Department
University of Canterbury
New Zealand
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Received on Tue Oct 12 1999 - 17:42:42 PDT

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