On Fri, 28 Jan 2000 21:00:39 -0300, Fernando said: >>Sea-kayaking is a sport that, in my country (Argentina), has evolved based mostly on the NORDKAPP, from VCP. So we can say we know it well enough and under any situations. I would appreciate very much if you send me, ( off the list if you prefer ) your opinion about the pros and cons of the Nordkapp [...] >> Oh, this is simple! 1. If you know it well enough and under any situations, why are you soliciting opinions? 2. If you only have one kayak mold in your country, namely the illegal Nordkapp, how can you fairly appraise it, if you have not paddled anything else for comparison and contrast? 3. The Nordkapp is over twenty years old, admittedly it has a fine heritage, but other designs have evolved from it, not to mention other designs that are completely at odds with the Nordkapp, but have fine characteristics too, even superior ones. Why not concentrate on asking people what other boats they like, and why? (I think you did in a round-about way, perhaps). Everybody knows the Nordkapp bow plunges, that its shallow round hull lacks some of the stability a hull with more "V" or with chines has, and that it gives a wet ride. It is also hard to preform a balance brace with, has an awful stock seat (you may have _not_ ripped off that part of the design), and runs-off in a following sea and is difficult to bring back on course again. Because of the forward narrowness, there is little room for large feet, and because of this same narrowness, log-legged people loose mucho storage capacity in the forward compartment, such that deck-loads are employed. British units in glass can be heavy -- not sure what you guys build them at. Oh yeah, the last few inches of the front horn is for looks, not function, and the built in fin/skeg inhibits backing up in kelp and turning into the wind in Force 7 or more. One more thing, Brit style boats like the Nordkapp are poorly fitted-out for comfort and security -- you need to do a bit of tinkering. But I guess you already knew all this. I think a logical replacement might be the Romany or one of the Foster-Rowe kayaks (you might even yield more consistent quality with your builder that with some of the F/R units repoted. You might be able to get a license for one of these other kayaks, and even produce them legally. Or do what a number of designers have done -- change a few dimensions here and there, and call your kayak something else, and then NO royalties. Anyway, glad you guys have something to paddle down there. You must have some beautiful coastline. I dream about paddling down in places that are your "backyard". And it appears trying to find the perfect kayak is a universal pursuit. Good luck on your search. Funny how you wound up on Paddlewise with all the other perfect boat dreamers! BC'in Ya Doug Lloyd (not the best diplomat in the world) *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
From: "Doug Lloyd" <dlloyd_at_telus.net> Sent: Domingo, 30 de Enero de 2000 06:21 a.m. > 1. If you know it well enough and under any situations, why are you > soliciting opinions? Just in order to see what´s important for you in a kayak, having in he Nordkapp a well known reference point. Different cultures have different preferences, for example not all Americans like Brit. boats. > 2. If you only have one kayak mould in your country, namely the illegal > Nordkapp, how can you fairly appraise it, if you have not paddled anything > else for comparison and contrast? I never said that. We have some different designs or illegal versions of foreign kayaks. The fact they are illegal is not because we like it. With a money exchange rate of $1 = u$s1, paying $1 for a litter of gas, and being $ 700 a month the average salary, you can realise there´s only a very few people here who can pay for an original boat. (There´s an ORION that coasted u$s 4000 and some SEA-LIONS for u$s 2500, when local versions cost around u$s 1000). There´s also another reason, we´re coming out from military dictatorship governments when all importations were prohibited. So we had to manage somehow. Anyway I have paddled these kayaks as well as a CHINOOK and other similar in shape to Easy Ryder´s ESKIMO. > 3. The Nordkapp is over twenty years old, admittedly it has a fine > heritage, but other designs have evolved from it, not to mention other > designs that are completely at odds with the Nordkapp, but have fine > characteristics too, even superior ones. This is the point why I am interested in your opinion as the very experienced paddler you are. Which are these kayaks and why are them better. > Why not concentrate on asking people what other boats they like, and why? (I think you did in a > round-about way, perhaps). Yes, I did, and many of you ( including yourself ) sent me a response. I appreciate that very much. > You might be able to get a license for one of these other kayaks, and even produce them legally. Or do what a > number of designers have done -- change a few dimensions here and there, > and call your kayak something else, and then NO royalties. I can do that, and will get some for sure, but with our "broken up" economy I don´t think I´ll be able to sell more than one or two kayaks. I started kayaking 15 years ago and owned some of those kayaks I mentioned, being "my" best choice the Nordcapp. Then, after experiencing the problems you detailed so well, I decided to make some modifications, as you did yourself. But this kayak I had was a really weak one, and weakness has no cure, so I decided to build my own version. As this Nordcapp design was close enough to what I wanted I didn´t have to change it radically, just the skeg, to make it more manoeuvrable, add a day hatch, like the Romany, raised a little the rear deck to gain volume for the day-hatch, and make bigger front and rear hatches. I did this just for me, the same way you´re planning to build you own strip-built boat. But once the boat was finished some friends wanted it so I still keep making it, but only under request. There´s not a think like a market for kayaking here. We don´t have such a demand. So I have always concentrated more in teaching novices and spreading up the sport than making business of it. > Anyway, glad you guys have something to paddle down there. You must have > some beautiful coastline. I dream about paddling down in places that are > your "backyard". Yes, for sure. Most of it virgin and plenty of wildlife, we even have whales in Patagonia. Argentina has every landscape or geographical region you can imagine, from deserts to rain-forests. We have the vast plain PAMPAS and the amazing ACONCAGUA. And I also dream on paddling our "backyard", but just an advise, never let CHILEANS know you referred to their country as ARGENTINA´S BACKYARD ´cause they´ll never forgive you !!! Chilean Fjords are maybe the last unexplored paradise on earth, but permits to access are almost impossible to get. The Navy in Chile (and their militaries in general) are very restrictive about it. But I will do it some day, we can even do it together ... > And it appears trying to find the perfect kayak is a universal pursuit.... THE PERFECT KAYAK DOES NOT EXIST !!!!. I´m not looking for it. I´m just trying to widen up my mind, learn more from other´s experience, and maybe custom fit my kayak to better its performance or make it more comfortable. Best regards and thank you again. Fernando López Arbarello (Who´s not looking for the perfect boat, but trying to become a wiser-paddler) uktkayak_at_interar.com.ar P.S.: Dough, I´m still interested on the modifications you made to your Nordkapp, specially for the rudder ( I´designing one so I´m looking for new different ideas), and not for commercial purposes. *************************************************************************** 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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