[Paddlewise] Breaking Boats

Dave Kruger wrote:

<Big snip> >>>Let's hear what folks who **have broken** boats have to say. 
(Except for Doug Lloyd -- I think Doug is proud of having broken his
British heavy several times!)  I'd like to know what model you broke, and
how you did it.>>> <snip>

My Nordkapp never broke up per say. It was the seams that let go. I
replaced them with tape inside and out, using epoxy resin, and now it is
"bommer" (as Roger puts it). Dave's Arluk split its seams on our Storm
Island rescue trip, in heavy open-sea conditions - and he had inside and
outside seams factory installed, but they were done in fiberglass. I think
fiberglass seams can have limitations for boats that get abused. My point
is, there is more to consider in all this, than just the overall
construction/weight/layup factors. 

One more point here, is that heavy kayaks for recreational day-surfing
might be considered somewhat hazardous. That heavy Romany can be a
liability in surf.

Back to seams: Then there's the "H" extrusion seam, but let's not go there!

Another factor we often forget about in this ongoing debate about haevy vs
light, is the plain durability of heavier boats - they just last longer
(guess they have to because you drag them more upthe beach). Anyway, I'm
not too proud of my British heavy right now, as I can hardly lift the darn
thing onto my car. Groan! 

Sorry for taking the bite, Dave.

BC'in Ya
Doug Lloyd

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