[Paddlewise] Boat Inertia (was Magazine out-Article by Doug L)

Matt Broze said:

Doug wrote:

>>>I know enough respected, big name paddlers who share a
similar view about the need for weight in open water conditions. <<<

<Who, besides Derek Hutchinson?>

Matt, its Thanksgiving here in Canada today, so stuffed on turkey as
such, the subject of weight seems appropriate.    :-)   As far as naming
names, sorry, you can do your _own_ back-channeling, phone calls,
discussions at symposiums and interviews, etc., lest I be accused of
reading more into what they said to me  --  out of context (something
you have accused me of in the past). Hutchy is safe to quote however on
this one, eh?


<While I agree that weight can help in extreme conditions it doesn't
have to
be the weight of the kayak.>

Yes, that is so true. Never said it wasn't. One can add gear, Genuine
Canadian Ballast Rocks (tm), or whatever. I have my own Genuine BC Pea
Gravel, kept in an old gear bag, that straps down via buckles just
behind the seat in the oval hatch (buckle "D" rings are glassed to the
inside hull, preventing movement of the bag). And heck, Scott recently
"trashed" us guys on Paddlewise who carry tons of rescue gear. Doesn't
Scott realize that's just _more_ ballast for guys like me :-)

And you are correct, weight can help in extreme conditions. I once
loaded my Norkapp with 300 + lbs of rock. It was the only way to get out
into the 50 to 70 knot wind. But as much as I go on and on about extreme
paddling, it is not my main preoccupation. But when I do head out to big
water, having weight really does help. That was the point of my post,
weight helps, but it wasn't meant as a promotion of heavy kayaks, so
much as an indication that all my mod's have left me with a heavy kayak
-- and that happens to work out well for me for extreme conditions as my
boat is already heavy. I should have kept it back-channel with Kes, but
his question was posited on the open forum, hence my reply on PW. I know
you are attempting to combat disinformation in the event someone
misinterprets what I said. That is fine and commendable and I'm sorry to
take you away from your busy schedule.

<I think this is often used as a justification
for British heavies. Below is some of what I wrote to Derek concerning
the
manuscript I had reviewed for "Derek Hutchinson's Guide to Sea Kayaking"

back in (I believe) 1983 or 1984. I still believe much of the design
information in that book was in reality mostly advertising for Derek's
kayaks in America.>

Yeap. But that is his prerogative, just as it is yours to promote what
you believe in any literature you produce. And I must say, his desire
for heavier boats is the norm in his jurisdiction, where he writes from.
Also, I noticed with the McNulty "Huntsman" that I am thinking of
buying, that it is a nice average weight but, it sure needs some
reinforcing. The back deck cockpit rim sags when I put my fat bum on it,
and the hull is too thin and flexible for my liking -- can't even tie it
down properly to the roof racks. Yes, I will be adding weight to it if I
buy it. Funnily enough, this is one of the kayaks that McNulty made
subsequent to the big fallout with Hutchy. The boats went downhill when
he lost direct control over production standards. I believe this
happened a bit with the P&H boats too. A friend's 'Cirrus' split a seam
and cracked the hull after hitting a sea wall during some storm
paddling. I didn't think he hit that hard. But like you imply, not
everyone is in to ramming sea walls :-)

<snip> your quote from your letter to Derek from two decades ago

That was a good letter you sent him at the time Matt. I remember it, and
I remember Derek's response at the time: "Who in the hell does this Matt
guy think he is, to tell me how to write my books." Ahh, for the old
days, Matt! Hey Matt, what's with all the old quotes of yours being
pulled out of your personal archive files recently? Thought engineer
types were always improving on previous efforts, or are they heavy
weight examples of well-engineered statements?. I'll go back to sleep
now -- there must be a drug or something in the turkey I ate.

BC'in Ya
Doug Lloyd (who's heavy sea kayak can ram through even big strainers :-)
)

<

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