----- Original Message ----- From: "Joshua Teitelbaum" <teitelba_at_post.tau.ac.il> >I was wondering if anyone out there > had some guidance on what to look for when comparing boats (and paddles). There are three crucial tests: 1) Are you comfortable and does the boat fit? This can be judged on flat water. If you are immediately uncomfortable, then there is probably not much that can be done. If you are comfortable, then you need to spend a few hours in the boat to see if you remain so. 2) Test in fairly protected water but in 10 to 20 knot wind. Paddle in all directions to the wind and be sure that you can control the boat's direction without skeg or rudder. That is, it should weathercock only slightly. Make sure the bow doesn't blow down wind with the skeg up. 3) For this test you need as large following sea conditions as you are comfortable with. You should be able to surf at least small wind waves without feeling that you are going to capsize. Don't let any tell you that you will get used to a very twitchy boat. By the way. The Romany Explorer will pass 2 and 3 with flying colors. Jerry *************************************************************************** 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 Wed Jun 21 2000 - 16:43:50 PDT
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