Re: [Paddlewise] recreational kayaks

Preamble:  My mail has been in a funk the last couple of days, and I 
haven't received many messages.  Please forgive me if my comments 
have already been covered by someone else...


Jed wrote:

>>Please allow me to clarify what I meant by a rec boat:
A rec boat in this area of the US is defined as no bulkheads. no 
hatches, no flotation, no rudder and no skeg.<<

-snip-


A small nitpicky thing or two (or three - or more)...

"No rudder and no skeg" are not necessarily indicators of so called 
"recreational" kayaks.  Many fine, full featured, seaworthy, and 
generally extremely lovely kayaks have neither :-).  Also - some sea 
kayaks don't have bulkheads or deck hatches - and use floatation and 
sea socks instead.  For instance - folding, and more traditional skin 
on frame kayaks.

For unloaded day paddles in a folding or other skin on frame boat, or 
a rigid boat with no bulkheads, floatation bags, and sometimes sea 
socks are used in addition to the float bags.  For trips where 
loading is necessary, packing carefully with a number of dry bags and 
possibly the use of a sea sock can compensate for lack of 
bulkhead/floatation.

Something Patrick M. mentioned makes great semantic sense as well:

>>>Try and be honest with yourself.  Remember that in the end, this 
is recreational for all of us (all of the sustenance hunters on the 
list aside).<<<


Aside from Patrick's comment here, which I agree with, I think that 
John F. made some good points as to the essential differences between 
"recreational" and the more "serious" touring boaties.  

All that said, I would add that there are indeed enough significant 
differences in handling and seaworthiness of various boats to warrant 
careful consideration beyond just the loose definitions of 
"recreational" or "serious touring" boats when looking for a new 
boat.

And one last thing... Though it's quite true that any boat is better 
than no boat, it's also true that if you love your boat in every way 
that is important to you (aesthetics included), and it, combined with 
your skills, can get you safely and with pleasure on and through the 
waters you paddle, it's probably a good match.  

While one boat can do many things, and take you many places with 
pleasure and safety, in your lifetime, you'll probably find reasons 
to own and paddle a variety of bonny wee boaties.  Just be sure to 
have lots of garage space - and don't feel bad if there's no room for 
your car in it.  I say "allow your fleet to grow with abandon" - and 
be happy.

Melissa
  


 









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