Paddlewisers, Before you hear any rumors about me being seen paddling fiberglass, I thought I'd let you all know myself. Yes, I, a fan of plastic boats, bought a fiberglass boat this week. Just let me say that it is not my first fiberglass boat. I own a Northwest Seascape double, and I used to own a Current Designs Equinox single. I also just sold a plywood/fiber/epoxy (Pygmy Queen Charlotte) sea kayak that I built. Anyhow, I bought a new Necky Arluk II from Ed Gillet at Southwest Kayaks in San Diego for $2035 US. My plastic Looksha IV is a very maneuverable kayak that I used on my crossings, but I felt I needed a model with more speed to "complete my fleet" for some longer and more numerous crossings planned this summer, and thus the Arluk II. And no, you won't see me playing in any rock gardens, tight sea caves or nasty surf with rocky beaches in the fiberglass. That's what plastic is for! Anyhow, the Arluk II was plenty fast! Of course, I had already ripped out the back rest, installed a backband, and carved and glued foam in all the right spots before taking it out. On the first launch today, I had to break the boat in by doing some rolling, sculling, bracing, and surf landings and launches--all without a wetsuit, by the way. Oh, and like it does best, the fiberglass sure did make me look pretty! On a side note (please let me combine two subjects), while paddling today my buddies, Jim Gabriel and Rick Rubio, and I were lucky enough to spot a gray whale, which was a nice surprise to add to a nice day of sea kayaking in Southern California. Duane Strosaker Who will never believe that fiberglass is more rugged than plastic! <A HREF="http://members.aol.com/pirateseakayaker/index.html">Pirate Sea Kayaker</A> *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Duane; Welcome to the light side of kayaking! :-) After you have paddled it for a while I would like your impressions on your new boat. The Arluk II is one of the boats that I have been considering for my next boat. Mike -- Paddling along through fog so thick that only one's thoughts are visible, your reverie is abruptly shattered by the ancient cry of a great blue heron as she lifts uncertainly from the brilliant blue of a mussel-shell beach witnessed only by the brooding, wet spruce....your passage home seems as much back through time as it does through space. Mark H Hunt *************************************************************************** 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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