[Paddlewise] Cockpit Yada Yada

Matt wrote:

<<<<
Try tightening the shock cord that goes around the cockpit rim. Be sure
and
loosen it again if the spraydeck may be used by novices later.
Call Rich at Snapdragon (425)957-3575. I'm sure he could tell you (and
make
you one just like it). He was one of Chris's sponsors. Chris told me he
did
the whole trip with the one spraydeck so it held up well.
>>>>

Like, if it didn't, he's gonna say something negative about one of his
sponsors? Oh Matt, you are like so yesterday.

<<<<
An implosion bar
is a bar that is inside a closed pocket across the front of the deck.
Its
ends rest on either side of the cockpit rim about 1/2 way from your
belly to
the front of the cockpit. It helps prevent the deck from being forced
into
the cockpit enough by a breaker to pull the shock cord off the coaming
rim.
>>>>

Hey Matt and gang, I know some kayaks that need an implosion bar under
their vacuum bagged fiberglass decks :-)

<<<<
I have thought of (but never tried) putting a plastic or aluminum plate
that
fits around the front of the cockpit rim and supports the spraydeck
against
implosion. It would become a hard plate filling in the front of the
cockpit
area. It would essentially convert a large cockpit into a small cockpit.
At
least until you release the font of the spraydeck and then pushed it
forward
or lift it off the rim to remove it. Maybe a knee tube could be built
into
this "Ocean Cockpit Conversion" device too. Just think Doug, all the
benefits of a small cockpit for those who think they need it, but few of
the
disadvantages.
>>>>

Yes Matt, an Ocean Cockpit can be a little harder to get out of quickly
as you have implied in the past. Yes, I agree, you are right -- through
hell and high water, I've never been sucked out of my Nordkapp...yeap,
it's definitely harder to come out of! I love it when we agree! :-)

But I feel a bit ripped off -- not the skirt (that never happens), but
the fact that I can't indulge my consumptive technoweenie gearhead
fetish for spending money on new paddling stuff, as I don't need one of
these wonderful implosion bars that all the big-name paddlers are having
to use.

Well, I like my Ocean Cockpit (have I mentioned that to the list
before?). Maybe I _don't_ need it, but aesthetically, they look better
on a Greenland style sea boat -- and funny, I wonder where they get the
name "Ocean Cockpit" from anyway?

Alas my friend, I shall now keep my bias cockpit-fit hyperbole to myself
until I get my web site up and running, whereupon I shall quote your
previous recommendations for the Ocean Cockpit.

PS   My recollection with Chris prior to his NZ departure, was that he
wanted to keep using the Nordkapp for a number of superiority reasons
including speed and seating security, but that the development of
sciatica put pressure on him (forgive the pun) to switch to the Romany
(which he said turned out to be a surprizingly an increadibly great boat
on his pre-trip training). And as far as his lack of a skeg or rudder
with respect to your prior comment about Chris "still completing" the NZ
trip, didn't someone on this list mention a while back that Chris said
he would have "sold his heart" for a skeg or rudder.

PPS  One thing I do know: my small cockpit along with the inner
latex-rand Phoenix sprayskirt, keeps me from coming out of the cockpit
into the water, and moreover, keeps the water 100% out of the cockpit,
respectively. That's my watertight argument. And off the net,
<http://www.tep.ei.tum.de/~steve/canoe/sea.kayaking.faq.html>, a small
quote:

How should the boat fit?

Another thing to consider is cockpit size. A larger cockpit can make it
easier
for a person to enter and exit a boat. A smaller cockpit is preferred by
some
because it is considered more watertight.

Copyright 1996, Todd Leigh

C' ya on the sea,
DL


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