>ralph diaz wrote: >In defense of plastic kayaks, I was a witness to the last time the >Finlandia Challenge was run into NYC. The last leg was an open race for >paddlers who had not been in the long distance one from Chicago >finishing that same morning. The first kayak over the finish line of >some 15 -20 recreational kayaks was a fellow from California in a >plastic Dagger. He actually beat some surfskies and obvious racing type >boats. A boat does not necessarily maketh the racer. Years ago, when I had a crappy plastic sea kayak, (Sea Runner... are these still being made?), I was always the slowest paddler in a group. After deciding it was the boat, I sold the plastic kayak and spent beaucoup dinero on a glass boat. Guess what.... still the slowest paddler in a group, and now the glass boat is dinged, scratched, patched, and de-gelcoated (to the point where I can almost read a paper through the bottom!). Am longing for the days when I could drag my boat over a rocky beach or garage floor or use a concrete boat ramp without guilt. Signed, future plastic sea kayak owner, Tina Portland, Oregon ------------------------------------------------------------- ___________ / OOOOOOO- / I / -OOOOOOO- / I /___________/ / I___________I / Have you hugged your bento today? Check out the BENTO BUGGY website at: http://www.pcez.com/BentoBuggy ------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
tomkayak wrote: >>Let me tell a story. I took part in a 120 mile Sea Kayak race in Southeast Alaska. One entry used a plastic sea kayak. He finessed last, a half a day after the last male paddler. As he exited the boat he swore he would never step foot in a plastic kayak again.<< In defense of plastic kayaks, I was a witness to the last time the Finlandia Challenge was run into NYC. The last leg was an open race for paddlers who had not been in the long distance one from Chicago finishing that same morning. The first kayak over the finish line of some 15 -20 recreational kayaks was a fellow from California in a plastic Dagger. He actually beat some surfskies and obvious racing type boats. A boat does not necessarily maketh the racer. ralph -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** 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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