RE: [Paddlewise] Instability of folding kayaks (was Re: Rolling a K-lite)

> my preference in
> personal boats leans towards skinny tippy little craft.  Why?  Because
they
> are fun!

Hi Rob,

Just curious. What is your personal preference?

Jack Fu
47°38'N 122°08'W

PS: We've never met but I always hear good things about you from people
you have taught. One thing they say about about you that really
struck a cord in me is that you are economical and to-the-point with words.
You tell the student what he needs at that moment rather than go into a
big theoretical lecture. As a result the student gets it right away
rather than have to digest a lot of verbiage. I learned this lesson when
I was a ski instructor many years ago. Even when say three things needed
correcting (for example edging the outside ski more, pushing the outside
knee
in more, twisting the torso more toward the outside), I would tell the
student
to do only one (or at most two) of those things at any time. When we got
that worked out I'd bring out the next point. That way the student does
not feel overwhelmed.


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net
[mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net]On Behalf Of Rob Cookson
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2000 10:35 AM
To: Kevin Whilden
Cc: Paddlewise (E-mail)
Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Instability of folding kayaks (was Re: Rolling
a K-lite)


Hello again Kevin and All,

All I can offer is what I have observed over the years teaching and leading
tours.  My experience has been that with groups of paddlers with low to
moderate skill levels, the boats of lower stability capsize first.

(Though here's something funny for you, I only had one capsize in all of my
tours this year and he was in a stable single Kayak, less than 20 'from
shore in mirror calm conditions.  He leaned WAYYYY over the side to look at
his rudder and sploosh over he went.)

I would suggest that if you put one expert in a tippy boat and one expert in
a stable boat (both boats that the experts are familiar with) they would
both stay upright until the point of exhaustion and then capsize.  I will
say that with two novices in the same situation I have always seen the
skinny boat capsize first.

The first sea kayak I ever paddled in rough water was a Dirigo, remember
those?  27.5" wide.  I paddled the Dirigo in some pretty rough stuff and
never capsized.  I have also paddled my Dawn Treader in similar conditions
and stayed upright, same same Nordkapp.

I guess there could be a point where too much stability becomes a problem,
it's just that I have never witnessed it.  I have lead people in double
Folbots in conditions that I never would have taken them in in even
moderately beamy singles.  Stability can be an advantage.

As you and I know each other, I think you also know that my preference in
personal boats leans towards skinny tippy little craft.  Why?  Because they
are fun!

If you said: "Rob we're going to drop you into this hurricane and we want
you to survive as long as you can, pick a boat."  I would opt for a Godzilla
or an old Response, both stable and easy to roll and control.  Hey I might
as well have some fun surfing before I go!

Anyway,  just things I've noticed.

Cheers,


Rob Cookson
<snip>

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