Josh - and group - I can't identify at all with the generalizations about "British boats" and "American boats". In particular, I think the concept that American boats are wide and therefore "stable" (whatever **that** is!) and therefore potentially safer is just plain dangerous. I think there is some danger of drifting too far off into generalizations which don't have any basis in fact. Different boats suit different people. Wide boats are not all "stable". "Narrow" boats do not all have limited carrying capacity. Wide boats are not more seaworthy *because they are wider*. There is no reliable way to safely put a newcomer on the ocean in any boat, without proper preparation and supervision. But perhaps more important than any of the above is that there are many excellent sea kayaks made in America and many others made in Britain (or Germany, or Australia or Argentina, etc etc...) which will be safe and will be tremendous fun for the novice paddler on protected ocean waters - with proper preparation and supervision. I said a "novice" paddler - not a "beginning" paddler. I said "with proper preparation and supervision". There's no trick to this. Safety and fun depend on recogizing one's capabilities, getting appropriate training, paddling with people who have good judgment and are dedicated to enjoying the sport safely. They do not depend on choosing a boat made in a specific place, or a boat of a specific shape. (Yes, yes, yes....some boats are more fun than others, for me - but that varies from person to person. A boat that I love, you might hate - and vice versa. I speak as an intermediate level paddler, not as an expert or anything near to an elite paddler.) Having said all that, I'll confess that the first sea kayak I bought, about 7 years ago now, is a NDK Romany 16. I loved the boat the first time I paddled it, and I've never had a reason to change my mind. It's still my favorite boat for most uses. As a novice sea kayaker I paddled it on the ocean in conditions up to Bft 3 - with proper supervision. As a (very low-level) kayak expeditioner, I've taken the boat on trips of 5 days' length, and it holds all I need with room to spare. When I've taken trips with a group, I borrow a Romany 18 (now called the "Explorer") and with that I can carry all my gear as well as a lot of communal gear and a "Groover" or "Boom-box". I'll always be happy to palm the Groover off to someone with a nice wide American-made boat. Any takers? <G> Bill Hansen Ithaca NY *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sun May 14 2000 - 09:45:57 PDT
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