[Paddlewise] Trying new boats...

Dear Friends:

Our club, Terra Santa, has just received a selection of new boats, all
British.  In addition to the NDK Romany Explorers we already have, we have
received some VCP Skerrays (plastic), and NDK Greenlander and Greenlander Pro.

I'm having a lot of fun trying them out, since until now I had only paddled
the Romany Explorer.  As I will be in the States soon, and will be trying
Mariner kayaks, more VCP kayaks, and hopefully some CD kayaks (and some
paddles -- only used Lendal so far), I was wondering if anyone out there
had some guidance on what to look for when comparing boats (and paddles).
I've read SeaKayaker reviews, so I have some idea.  For instance, I know
that I find the Skerray super easy to turn, easy to lean, but that I can't
lean back in it to roll, since one sits deep and I have a short torso.
Bracing comes more from the knees in the Skerray, as opposed to the thighs
in the Romany Explorer.  I did not find the Greenlander impressive in
quartering seas, but my wife loves the thing.

As many of you know, I'm a novice, but by now I have been out on the water
about 30 times, in various conditions, can high brace, scull for support,
get  a lean, etc. (no roll yet, but I'm trying...)  I realize that I might
not be experienced enough to tell the difference.  But, as you all know, we
try to do so because most of us cannot afford a whole fleet, so we attempt
to get what is the best for us.

Anyway, trying the new boats is really fun...

Best wishes,


Josh in Ra`anana
(who is dreaming about Puget Sound [okay, to be more realistic, only Lake
Union and Lake Washington on this trip], Monterey Bay, and some lazy river
in Colorado).

==============================================================================
Dr. Joshua Teitelbaum, Research Fellow               Tel: [972] 3-640-6448
Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and        Fax: [972] 3-641-5802
  African Studies                                                       
Tel Aviv University
Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 69978  Israel
E-mail:teitelba_at_ccsg.tau.ac.il
www.dayan.org
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