[Paddlewise] PaddleFest 2000 Demo days at MBK

For anyone who lives in the Monterey Bay area, I stopped by Monterey Bay
Kayaks today and dropped off 50 PaddleWise stickers. They plan to give
them to beginning students, but if you want one you could probably whine
your way into getting one, as they were free to MBK from me.

While there I found out that they are becoming a dealer for Cobra, the
polyethylene sit on tops. I now paddle a Cobra Explorer (11' 3") and am
lusting after a longer narrower boat for easier, faster paddling and as a
free diving platform. Currently I'm wanting to try the Cobra Tourer (15'
with Tank well) and the Expedition (18' feet no tank well). I hear that
Cobra will be at the Paddlefest 2000 demo days on Saturday, June 24th at
the beach in front of MBK. (Actually they have both models in shop now if
anyone besides me is interested in trying one out before then.) I like
the tank well for putting diving gear in it and strapping the top so it
can be used and repacked on the water without opening the hatch(es). So
far I'm not aware of any other single SOT boat, as long as the Tourer,
which has a tank well. If you know of one I've missed, please let me know. 

I may end up with the Expedition model of either Heritage, which I've
tried and like, or Cobra. They both have plenty of flat deck space, with
eyelets, but I'd much prefer a tank well, so the weight can be kept
lower. I'm particularly thinking of that 14-20 lead weight belt and the
hazards of digging it out of a hatch while on the water. I'm not sold on
the idea of laying it on the floor of the cockpit under my knees, tho'
that would keep the weight pretty low and exterior to the hatches, if
tank well is not there. I welcome any comments or suggestions. I used to
do a lot of SCUBA diving from a Royak, about 30 years ago, and in those
days I put everything inside the hatch, behind the seat. Now I'm not sure
I want to do that. If it works out that I have to, I'll be stocking up on
airbags for flotation, if I get wet when the hatch is open (and a couple
of pumps).

Is there anyone on here that dives from their kayak. I'm not diving yet,
still need mask, fins, snorkel and weights and will probably end up
buying a thicker wet suit, too. It might be possible to get by with 3mm
suit I have for paddling, with the jacket and a hood, for free diving as
one doesn't spend _quite_ as long in the colder, deeper, water as you do
when on SCUBA. Especially since I'm now 30 years older and less
aerobically efficient. No doubt I'm somewhat better insulated at 200 lbs.
than I was in the old days at 155 lbs. and 6% body fat.  :-)

fairwinds and happy bytes,
-- 
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   Dave Flory, San Jose, CA.             daflory_at_pacbell.net     
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  Speak softly and study Aikido, then you won't need a big stick.  ©2000
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