Re: [Paddlewise] pedal power kayak

I watched the Hobie Mirage version of the pedal powered SOT kayak go by, and commented that I'd like to try it.  The guy was kicking butt, going about 6 Kt, I guess.  The other kayakers in earshot snorted or guffawed at my favorable comment toward such a non-traditional craft.

Do you suppose that first Inuit who picked up a broad stick and moved it through the water faced the same reaction from traditionalists -- "Look at that dork, moving his bijdarka through the water with a stick!  Real kayakers paddle with their hands!  Pinewood isn't even native to this region!"

jerry.


At 08:08 AM 11/24/1999 -0800, Dave Uebele wrote:
>I was at REI yesterday, and saw an interesting idea for
>a kayak.  It was powered by a bicycle crank turning a propeller.
>Seemed like it had higher freeboard, hatches front and rear,
>and an open cockpit, sculpted to pedal recumbent style.
>very large gear on the pedal crank, very small gear on the propeller shaft.
>
>Steering was by a essentially vertical handle sticking up
>on both sides of the cockpit, tilt either handle side to side
>moved a rudder.
>
>The stern and transom was flat across the rear, and the bottom of the
>hull extended out past the transom to provide a shelf
>over the rudder and propeller.
>
>At $2800 US dollars and all fiber glass, not for me, but if
>it could be adapted to stitch and glue, it might be interesting.
>The sales clerk claimed that it was a very fast boat,  which sort of
>makes sense, since you are using leg muscles rather than
>arm muscles to power it.
>
>dave
>-- 
>Dave Uebele (daveu_at_sptddog.com)	Spotted Dog Systems
>http://sptddog.com/daveu.html
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