[Paddlewise] Plastic boats

	My first kayak was a rotomolded Chinook made by Perception/Aquaterra. I 
bought it  from Campmor at an end-of-season bargain price. When I paddled 
the boat, it seemed to want to turn to the right, even in smooth, windless 
water. The people at Campmor assured me that the problem was really my lack 
of experience and would disappear as I gained paddling skill. I turned the 
boat over and, with the help of a friend, snapped a chalk line down the 
length of the keel. The blue chalk line held with the keel until it reached 
the end of the cockpit then the keel veered out of true to a point at the 
stern where it was 1.5 inch out of line. From the top of a ladder, I took 
some photographs and sent them to Campmor.They had a new boat shipped up 
from Aquaterra within 10 days in exchange for the bent one. I sold that 
boat and bought a fiberglass kayak.
	I suppose if you abuse your boat in a regular, intentional way, like 
driving it up hard on a rocky or shell covered beach, plastic is probably 
the way to go. But it's not difficult to get in and out of the kayak in 6 
inches or so of water. Chota makes a knee length neoprene boot that will 
keep your feet dry and warm and save your boat a lot of scratches.
John

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