As an err...... uhm..... full figured gentleman (i.e. fat guy) I have been unable to find a hard shell white water kajak that I can fit in comfortably. As a result I have been contemplating the option of an inflatable such as the AIRE - LYNX 1 or the FORCE XL. Does anyone have any experience with this form of water craft ????? THANKS, Hal *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Hal Christiansen writes: > As an err...... uhm..... full figured gentleman (i.e. fat guy) I have been > unable to find a hard shell white water kajak that I can fit in > comfortably. As a result I have been contemplating the option of an > inflatable such as the AIRE - LYNX 1 or the FORCE XL. > > Does anyone have any experience with this form of water craft ????? >From my own experience (Aire Force), the SOT inflatables can be fun boats. They can pack a decent amount of gear strapped on behind the paddler. For river running they would be a great boat, but they don't compare to a hardshell for maneuverability and speed. I tried to play in some standing waves with one and it took a great deal of effort to not quite make it across the eddy line to the wave 8( Possibly with more practice it could be done. There's also some interesting things going on with stability. While the initial stability is strong and you can get tossed around w/o a problem, your center of gravity is higher and once you start to go over its hard to stop. Theoretically the Aire series are rollable and they provide thigh straps, I havn't seen it done (yet 8). Are you able to rent one in your area? Glen Acord - Eugene, OR WKCC, OKCC, OOPS Mariner II, Neckie Rip *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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