Re: [Paddlewise] A Can of Worms

Wow,

quit the thread I have come back to. I find it a bit odd that we are 
characterizing boats as "tippy". What happened to primary and 
secondary stability? By far, the most popular British boat in these 
parts is the Romany 18'. While I can see people wanting to 
characterize this boat as tippy, it really is pretty stable. Sure, 
that primary stability makes it easy to edge but the secondary makes 
it really to hold it there. It is anything but tippy. Meanwhile, the 
Solstice GTS I paddle is very tippy if you consider only its 
secondary stability. It doesn't go over on edge as willingly as many 
boats, but once it does you need to really hold it there or over you 
go.

As for British boats tracking better. Good god, is there a boat that 
tracks better than the GTS sans rudder/skeg?

I have also paddled many Necky's, another company whose boats I would 
classify as somewhat "tippy". Well, if forced to.

My last gripe (and this has probably come up already). Since when is 
the N.A. coastline less rugged than the UK's? My primary stomping 
grounds is Lake Superior which has about four cups worth of sand in 
the entire lake. It is a lot of exposed rocky coast where unannounced 
storms cause many a rocky surf landing. Most of the boaters I paddle 
with have a lot of gel-coat repairs and a lot of scars from Superior, 
regardless of where the boat comes from. Interestingly, many ship 
captains have long considered Superior to have some of the most 
dangerous waters in the world.

The best boat is the one your paddling.

-Patrick
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