Re: [Paddlewise] Cockpit Yada Yada

Matt Broze wrote:

> See comments in text below.
>
> > Like, if it didn't, he's gonna say something negative about one of his
> > sponsors? Oh Matt, you are like so yesterday.
>
> I don't know, but suspect that sponsorship meant he got his spraydeck for
> free. I'm sure if he wasn't happy with it he would have gotten something
> else as soon as feasible. Chris strikes me as an extremely honest
> individual. I think you owe him an apology.
>

(Many snips all over)
Well, I was actually thinking of the whole sponsor game in general, not so much
Chris in particular. My recollection of Chris Duff concurs with yours, so I'm
sure you have a good point taking exception with my comments. I'll  "cc" the
list here, as a public confession statement. I don't think Chris would harbor
resentments -- that's another thing I recall about Chris. BTW,  I have always
been very careful quoting him in print, etc., seeking his prior approval, etc.

> > Hey Matt and gang, I know some kayaks that need an implosion bar under
> > their vacuum bagged fiberglass decks :-)
>
> I have heard of someone who spent several times more money repairing his
> mostly chop-strand mat kayak than it cost new. Different kayaks each have
> there place and limitations. Reasonable folks make lots of trade-offs to
> best fit their perceived needs.
>

I think expedition paddling is the ultimate in conundrums. This goes beyond the
context of the comments above, but is a springboard to expedition-equipping
questions. One would normally want a tough, durable kayak for a typical long
range expedition, but heavyweight will come with an added price over those
longer, arduous miles. I'm sure Chris could have had his Romany built like a
tank (or more so), but who wants to solo-lift that up some steep, remote beach
all the time. Other expedition-style trips might involve dragging kayaks over
glaciers, land bridges, etc. Lots of Kevlar is the usual answer, but Chris was
fairly specific with me that he didn't want to break the bank, as it were.

Good point about the perceived needs, Matt.

> > 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?
>
> Well it might just be marketing hype. More likely it came about to
> distinguish it from the huge "sprint" style cockpit which was the only other
> choice on an early Nordkapp.

I forgot about that sprint option. That explains it, then.

>
> >
> > 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.
>
> Huh? You talking to me? I don't recall such a recommendation.

That was a joke Matt -- rhetorical -- as in small cockpits are harder to get out
of, which is why o like them. Oh, never mind.

> . 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.
>
> Haven't you been suffering back problems lately Doug? Looks like with the
> switch Chris no longer suffers from sciatica. Maybe the "ocean" cockpit is a
> cause of sciatica.

Separate issues, although all paddlers should be aware that overly tight cockpit
fittings can be a hazard to health, both with respect to exits and cramping.
I've got my Nordkapp at a nice balance now. My first knee tube pod was to low,
and very dangerous. My present arrangement means I can't push the foot pump
using leg actions. I have to use my calf muscles and heels, alternating side to
side. Not for everybody.

> Chris did say during the questioning period that there
> were several times when he could have benefited from the addition of a
> rudder or skeg and wanted one then. However, he saw several disadvantages to
> a rudder most of the time and feared it would not survive the surf landings
> (one dumper early in the trip cracked the helmet he had tied to his rear
> deck--I don't think he made the mistake of underestimating the surf--and not
> wearing the helmet for launches and landings--again). I was surprised to
> learn his kayak didn't have a skeg and asked him why. Chris mentioned the
> potential gear storage space it took up that he critically needed because he
> had to do long stretches between resupply points.

Yes, I ran the same questions by him prior to the trip. I basically told him it
would be his biggest issue, next to surf  -- which he is comfortable in, being a
WW and surf paddler living near the Washington coast. I think he knew the lack
of a skeg would be a problem, but then he didn't know the extent of just how bad
the weather was going to be the year of the trip.

> He also said that going
> solo as he did, meant he wouldn't have anyone else around to get the skeg
> unstuck for him after a launch through surf. I got the impression from the
> questions about this if he were to do it again he would make the same choice
> of the more maneuverable kayak without add-on control devices. He felt the
> maneuverability he gained with the Romany in the critical surf portions of
> his trip outweighed the difficulty he had during particularly bad quartering
> following seas where he at times wished he had a rudder or skeg on his boat
> (but not a less maneuverable small cockpit kayak that would also delay his
> exits when landing through dumping surf on steep beaches. As it was it was a
> "not quick enough" exit that let the surf reclaim his kayak for the sea and
> seriously smashed it up.

The perfect kayak would be one that "morphs" into the shap/configuration you
want. A Tsunami SOT for surf landings with a quick release buckle, and a deep
draft ruddered kayak for quartering seas, etc. I've been on trips where rudders
have broken, skegs have continually gotten stuck in the closed position due to
gravel, etc., etc. (I have a custom-modified HD rudder with a lock pin/quick
release that keeps it nailed to the neck for heavy surf landings). Well, there
are no perfect compromises, but I do get the feeling from Chris generally, that
this gear/kayak talk is all secondary to the experience and lifestyle of
expedition paddling and the freedom in life derived thereof. For over-discussing
the issue of gear, I do apologize to Chris.

Well, jolly good show Matt,

Respectfully,
Doug

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