RE: [Paddlewise] Boat selection-was Paddlefests

 

Rob Cookson <rob_cookson_at_mindspring.com> wrote:

Hi Janet and All,

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
> [mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net]On Behalf Of JW



> Tippy makes me think of what one of the kayak people in class said.
He
> thought it would be better to get a boat that scared (my word)
> you a little
> because it wouldn't be any time at all before you become better
> at paddling
> and would want an upgrade. I'd never heard that said before. I'm
> cogitating on this. If you have an opinion let me have it. :)
>



I would be very careful with this line of thinking. My suggestion would
be
to focus on what your ultimate goals are. If you want to be a racer,
then
absolutely buy a fast boat that is more than you can handle and grow
into
it. If you want to really explore the "boat handling" aspect of the
sport,
push your skills, develop rolls, sculling braces, and play in surge or
tidal
streams, then get a boat that is narrower and easy to edge and roll.
You
can do still do all of those things in bigger boats it's just more
work.
But, and this is a big but, if you are seeking a more gentle experience
and
doing general touring, there is nothing wrong with stability and
volume.
Stability lets you take nice photos and relax to eat or catch fish.
Volume
allows you to carry big thermarests, and dutch ovens, and spare shoes,
and
wine, and tarps. Buy a boat based on how you plan to use it, not based
on
the way some expert uses their boat.


-some snippage-


You do make some very good points in your *tippy rant*, but I'd like to
mention an aspect of boat selection for the novice who really wants to
buy a first boat.  Also about how one's *paddling intentions* can
evolve in the fairly short period between novice and intermediate
paddler - and on from there.

When considering the purchase of a first boat, one would want to keep
that boat around for a while, I should think.  I've known so many
*novices* go out and buy a boat that they felt comfortable in (and one
that fulfilled their initial requirements of pond paddling), just to
see them try desparately to sell it a month later.  As one develops
some basic paddling skills, the *dream* tends to expand as well, and
water more challenging than that first pond is sought out (always good
to come back to ponds though as well - very relaxing and great bird
watching!).

I loved the very first boat I sat in, and if I had not allowed my
imagination to soar in that first hour (well - my imagination does that
whether I allow it or not), I might have bought something like that
first boat - on impulse.  I would also have been putting if up for sale
three days later.

My general advice to a novice wanting to buy a first boat would be: 

First - a bit of patience.  Then - paddle many boats, develop some
basic skills, dream a little (and a lot) - about where such a boat
might take you in this world covered with water, and then make as
informed a decision as possible (keeping some room open for the
expansion of one's range of paddling experiences).  So yes - do buy a
boat that suits your purpose(s), fits you physically, is aesthetically
pleasing to you, one that will allow you to grow as a paddler, and to
encounter conditions still beyond your current skill level as well.

Some will end up with less tippy boats than others, but most will end
up with something more tippy than the first few boats they feel
comfortable in.

my 2 or 3 cents

Melissa  


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