Bill, I find that my Looksha IV is the opposite of my CD Squall - The Looksha is pushed around and weathercocks in windy conditions, making it a struggle to maneuver. I'm not used to this and probably waste a lot of energy keeping the boat pointed towards my destination. The Squall is rarely bothered by wind and tracks just fine in any direction I want. It seems that I need a rudder for the easy turning boats rather that the hard tracking ones just to compensate for weather cocking! I can lean the Squall on edge to turn just fine. Still refuse to use a rudder to learn about paddling for now. The problem arises when my wife and I kayak together - when the wind comes up it becomes very difficult, if not impossible to stay close to one another because the boats respond so differently. It is going to require extra effort on somebody's part - either take the "long" way as you suggested, making the hard tracking boat paddle a greater distance, or take the direct route which makes work for the weather cocking boat. I know paddling skills are a factor here, but you must account for the different styles of boats. Every "windy" situation I've been in with other paddlers has resulted in a few boats getting separated and taking the long route to lessen the battle with the wind. I don't like this as it separates the group when a rescue may be necessary. This brings up a factor that has not been mentioned assembling group paddles - The Boats! What about the people who show up with a 12 foot hybrid on a large lake or ocean??? Tim Boat'n in the Ozarks *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Fri Dec 01 2000 - 06:54:04 PST
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