Re: [Paddlewise] ROMANY Explorer

Wait a minute - didn't this start out as a request for info on the
Explorer?  Now a couple of people have brought up the Romany 16.  Well, I
haven't paddled the Explorer, but the Romany 16 is GREAT.  Mine and Bob's
don't have skegs -  which easily eliminates any potential for leaking -
and they do just fine without them.  

As for weight, I would guess it to be mid to high 50s - even with the
electric pumps in them, I don't think they're quite 60 pounds.  I do
admit, though, that they are considerably heavier than most of the other
kayaks we hang out with.

And as for Bob Brown's comment - I think it's an incredibly stable boat. 


Chuck - I have a question (on another topic, really) - which collapsible
chair do you have?  We've been carrying Crazy Creeks, but the collapsible
chairs really are more comfortable, especially on long trips, but we
weren't sure if they would fit in the Romany hatches.  A number of the
ones that I've seen fold up narrow enough, but seem to be pretty long to
get into the hatch.

On Tue, 28 Dec 1999 10:03:01 -0600 Chuck Holst <CHUCK_at_multitech.com>
writes:
> My wife and I both love our Romanys. Linda has been known to shout it 
> to
> the world in rough water; I'm a little quieter. We have no problem
> packing for a nine-day camping trip (the longest we have tried), but 
> on
> the Great Lakes we don't need to carry fresh water. If I needed more
> room, I would leave the collapsible chair behind. :-)
> 
> >>
> Very sturdy but very heavy.  Book says about sixty pounds but it's
> easily 75
> pounds. Very hard to put on car alone.
> >>
> 
> I haven't weighed mine, but it feels more like the low sixties. And 
> that
> includes a skeg and foot pump.
> 
> >>
> Great layout for storing and access.  The day hatch is very useable, 
> the
> life lines are perfect for self-rescues. Lot's of storage room.  
> Very
> large
> boat.
> >> 
> 
> Agree. Nigel very intelligently specified a VCP hatch cover, which 
> can
> be removed and replaced with one hand, for the day hatch, and 
> Kajaksport
> hatch covers for the main hatches. (Dagger's day hatch cover 
> requires
> two hands to remove.) Also, the bungies on the foredeck are placed 
> just
> right for carrying a Greenland storm paddle.
> 
> >>
> Tracks great and can handle big water.  Very large cockpit.  I'm 6 
> foot,
> 190
> pounds and had to glue foam to hold my butt in place.  I have [not]
> found any
> water conditions beyond the boat's capabilities. Wonderful in big 
> water.
> >>
> 
> Agree, but though the thigh braces are just right for me, they can 
> be
> too snug for people with large thighs. Try before you buy.
> 
> >>
> Now the bad:
> Skeg leaks like crazy.
> >>
> 
> My wife's Romany 16 had this problem, which was caused by pinholes 
> in
> the layup. I located them by filling the rear compartment with water 
> and
> green food coloring. Repair was easy: I just painted the suspect 
> area
> inside the compartment with West System epoxy resin. It has been
> watertight ever since.
> 
> >>
> Very hard to turn.
> >>
> 
> Just lean it; it has a very predictable lean, and, unlike some 
> kayaks,
> it can fairly easily be held on edge with the gunwale under water. 
> It is
> also very easy to roll. I taught myself to roll in a 1990 model
> Sealution, and the first time I rolled my Romany it felt like all I 
> had
> to do was lift my knee! Also, the cockpit coaming does not interfere
> with layback rolls.
> 
> Speaking of rolling, Bob Brown, a canoe designer, thinks a kayak 
> that is
> easy to roll is necessarily also easy to capsize (Bob does not 
> paddle in
> big waves). I disagree. Comments?
> 
> Chuck Holst
> 
> 
>
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