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 ============================================================================== *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
----- 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/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 6/21/00 2:41:35 PM, teitelba_at_post.tau.ac.il writes: << 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. >> News Flash, Josh...... you are not a novice anymore. ((( Romany's Rule!))) If you perform every trick you know (((Romany's Rule!))) in every boat you try, you will quickly come to realize that Romany's Rule !! Sorry, that just slipped. But if you do put each boat through the paces as you know them, you'll do fine and learn quite a lot. Oh, and by the way, you may find some difficulty finding a boat that handles better than the Romany. Good Luck! Happy Hunting! Jed *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> > News Flash, Josh...... you are not a novice anymore. ((( Romany's Rule!))) > If you perform every trick you know (((Romany's Rule!))) in every boat you > try, you will quickly come to realize that Romany's Rule !! Sorry, that just > slipped. But if you do put each boat through the paces as you know them, > you'll do fine and learn quite a lot. Oh, and by the way, you may find some > difficulty finding a boat that handles better than the Romany. Good Luck! > Happy Hunting! Except perhaps the Caribou. But then, one wouldn't want to get too, well, evangelistic about it. . . <g> Mark *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 6/22/00 1:57:14 AM, sailboatrestorations_at_worldnet.att.net writes: << Except perhaps the Caribou. But then, one wouldn't want to get too, well, evangelistic about it. . . <g> >> I almost threw in a line for you of the Caribou Clan... but since I no longer own one, I though it inappropriate to climb up onto the Buchanan pulpit. ;-) Jed *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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