Doug Lloyd wrote: > I like heavy, stiff, strong kayaks I understand why someone would choose a heavier boat which is supposed to be significantly stronger than a lighter weight boat. (I tend to do this myself too, but then I carry this burden completely on my own.) But what is the advantage of heavy that you 'like'? >When I'm in the CD retail connected store, watching customers get qualified >for a possible sale, the number one question is "how light is it?" I am afraid that if customers do not ask for lightweight, builders will make boats heavier than necessary, which is almost as bad as making a boat lighter than useful? That's the point we are dealing with here, I think. Customers should be able to choose boats as light and strong as possible and necessary. >But I am reminded of Paul Caffyn's first attempt paddling to the NW Passage >a few years ago. He had a custom Nordkapp laid-up real light. He had to >abandon the trip and return to New Zealand, when water started to seep >through the very fabric of the hull along with other problems. I wonder than if VCP is really capable of building lightweight boats that are also strong enough. Through experience with (European) canoe builders, I have my doubts about firms who are not really accustomed to building lightweight boats, and only do it once in a while just because a rare customer asks for it. Dirk Barends the Netherlands *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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