>>1. What do people think of the Projon Kodiak? >> -To be honest, I didn't liek the boat... >> The cockpit was too big (according to info on the web the cockpit is about >>the same as that that of the NW SeaScape5 I was talking about in my last >>post (36x18 vs.. 35x18.75)) >I haven't a lot of time in the Kodiak but I have taken one for a short >paddle. I also felt that the cockpit was a bit big, but I'm only 5'8", >150#. I tend to prefer smaller cockpits anyway. >The Kodiak tracks about as well as any plastic boat I've ever paddled. It >also seems to be one of the fast plastic boats I've been in as well. >Trying to turn it however with a simple sweep stroke and no edging is a >chore, and even with an edge it takes several sweeps strokes to get it >around. I thought initial stability was quite good as well as the >secondary stability. For someone that wants a plastic boat that will tend >to go in a straight line and doesn't plan on doing much playing I think >it's a good boat. I'm 5'8" as well, with a 8 1/2 shoe, and I felt swallowed up by the Kodiak...same problems I had in the doubles as far as being able to get braced. The smaller cockpit of the Tesla is great, for me anyway, the boat may be longer that what I eventually buy, but it never hurts to drive more boats... >> The rudder pedals don't slide they pivot on fixed pegs (i.e. you push with >>your toes). Even with some tweaking, I had to quit afater bout an hour >>because my calves started to twitch... >Virtually everyone that I've heard comment on the gas pedal style rudder >controls sees that as a big improvement over the sliding pegs. Even with >the rudder up the pegs still feel spongy with a sliding peg system. With >the rudder lowered it's much more difficult to brace because you can't put >pressure on the pegs. With the gas pedal system that Prijon uses the pegs >are fixed so whether the rudder lowererd or not you always have a firm >point for making contact with your feet. As someone else suggested >learning how to control your boat without relying on a rudder is a good >thing. However, I wouldn't go as far as to suggest that one should avoid a >rudder entirely. As Audrey Sutherland said, "most people that suggest that >you never need a rudder haven't spent three days straight, paddling 8 hours >a day, in 25 knot crosswinds". Sure, with sufiecient skill levels one can >control their boat under those conditions but the rudder will your life a >lot easier. Personally I prefer paddling without a rudder and if you buy a >boat with a rudder suggest that you spend at least 95% of your time >learning how to paddle without one. After spending an hour or so fighting rudder pedals on the Telsa, I'm in full aggreance with this...I think that with a little practice the gas pedal style could be gotten used to. I think the biggest problem is that the mount point of the pegs/rail in the Kodiak is about 1 - 1 1/2 inches too high for my preferred style...combine that with the huge cockpit, and...I think that what I need is a short Tesla, with a small cockpit, and a low deck with thus lower peg mounts... (At least when I drop the rudder... my intention for Monday is to take the Tesla out again, and try it for a while with the rudder up, we'll see :) ) >>2. Is their a free online boat comparison tool? i.e. a web database of >>boat specs that yopu could compare multiple boats... >As a matter of fact, there is. I wrote it a year ago or so. Check out >http://mayfly.mannlib.cornell.edu/kayak/ I knew I couldn't be the only person who had thought of this :) >Most of the information in the database was taken from a couple of 1999 >buyers guides and supplement with information from vendor web sites and >I've found that some of the specs don't always agree to use it only as a >general comparison and make no guarentees as to the accuracy of the specs. >I also haven't updated the database in quite some time so there are a lot >of 2000 models that are not included. Still, the database has about 350 >different kayaks (mostly sea kayaks but also includes whitewater boats) in >it. Whenever possible I included links to the vendor websites for more >information. I also recommend the following site: >http://paddling.net/Reviews/Kayaks.phtml for reviews on particular models. >Again, I suggest that you read them with a grain of salt as many of models >are being reviewed by those that own them and are generally favorable. All I need it for is rough specs...so that for example, when I say "dang that cockpit was huge" , I can compare it to a known... >>3. Is there a guideline for paddle length floating around out there? I >>used a 230cm Werner today, and it might have been nerves from soloing but it >>felt like the paddle was much too long. >Then try a shorter one. Paddle length is mostly related to personal >preference and paddling style. If you paddle with high angle a shorter >paddle will work better. Some prefer to paddle with a lower angle stroke >and a longer paddle works fine. I use a 220cm and my next paddle will like >be a few centimeters shorter as I am learning how to paddle with a higher >angle stroke. The 230 worked fine today, I think it was just a case of nerves yesterday...I'm going to try a shorter paddle later just to see how it feels... >>(I get to go out Monday as well, woo-hooo!!! (Time off between changing >>jobs)) >Have fun. I'm leaving work about noon today to go for a three day kayak >camping trip in the Adirondacks. Have a good weekend and thanks for the help. Aaron *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Fri Aug 11 2000 - 15:39:56 PDT
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