Re: [Paddlewise] Sea Kayaker Reviews

From: "Kevin Whilden" <kevin_at_yourplanetearth.org>
> 
> I disagree that a subjective review has no value, as you seem to state.

I'll agree with you, Kevin, but SK handles it incorrectly.  

By analogy, let's consider film reviews.  I live in a cinema-crazy city 
and there are lots of "serious" film reviewers in the local papers.  They
are all identified by name.  As such, I have learned to associate their
personal preferences and biases with their names.  That allows me to 
judge their comments - someone who finds comedy films beneath his dignity
that raves a comedy film identifies a film that's worth seeing.  Similarly,
I've learned that one reviewer's tastes are so like mine that I can use
his reviews with little caution (he unfortunately writes for a paper I 
despise).

Now SK maintains the anonymity of the reviewers.  I don't know, nor can 
I remember who "XZ" is.  A certain KW is the only one I know.  I also
don't know if there is only one "XZ".  Therefore, the reviewer's subjectivity
is not of value to me.  I need to know, for example, that KW doesn't like
rudders at all (KW wrote something to that effect on PW a while back).  This
means his comments on rudders can be taken with an appropriate amount of salt.

If SK would publicise the reviewers and let us know things like: their favorite
kayaks, their most hated kayaks, their favorite features, their least favorite
features etc, then I could judge the meaning of their subjectivity.  

Your comments:
  
> In sea kayaks, there are matters of safety [...] I would consider such 
> information alone quite valuable.
> 
imply a sort of "objective subjectivity" which doesn't exist.

I agree that there is value in the subjective comments, but I need to be
able to know where the subjective reviewers are coming from.

> 
> >2. Each of my kayaks gets designed for a specific weight range. Sea Kayaker
> >blindly ignores this in their reviews. I can think of nothing less useful
> >than to test a boat at a displacement 20%  to 30% and more above or below
> >its designed displacement. Why don't we test sports cars to see how much
> >gravel they can carry or dump trucks for their acceleration from 0 - 60?
> 
> 
> I am curious why feel so strongly about this. What are the specific 
> problems associated with paddling at the wrong displacement? 

I feel that knowing the designer's target displacement is important.
I like the data that P&H provide with their kayaks - a range of weights
within which the kayak is intended to be used.  I look skinny, but tip
the scales at 180 lb.  When I talk about kayaks, I'm often told
that I should paddle suchandsuch.  I get in it and I'm at the top of
its weight limit.  Add some gear and it handles poorly (one that I tried
at GLSKS felt like I was sitting on the deck rather than in the seat; my
partner (126 lb) tried it and almost liked it.)  I want to be able to 
decide on whether to try a kayak based on its suitability - including 
its design displacement. I would rather not waste my time on what might 
just look impressive.

Mike

PS - I hope you can take some of our concerns back to the honchos at
SK!

***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************