Re: [Paddlewise] White Water Boats

From: Erik Sprenne <sprenne_at_netnitco.net>
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2001 20:29:55 -0600
 Wayne wrote:
> In some ways, you guys scare me - I just want to take my sea
> kayak to strange and distant shores and be able to land the
thing
> safely.  Then the next day or so, get the thing back into the
> blue water for the next port of call.
>
> What I propose to do is to get some training in the (for now)
> gentle surf, to get my confidence and skill level somewhat
> better.
>
> Is there a way to get those skills safely and applicable to the
> sea kayaks that I prefer to paddle??
>
> That is:  Is there a boat that you all would recommend for
> training the Beginner/Intermediate paddler??
>

 Wayne,

 Maybe the conclusion to be drawn from the whitewater discussion
is that the type of boat doesn't really matter, as long as it is
shorter and more maneuverable than  a sea kayak.  You won't get
everyone to agree on a single model as the perfect training boat.

 If you've got money to burn, go ahead and buy a new boat.  If
you don't want to spend a lot, by all means get an older model.
The short/long boat or displacement/planing hull debate is
similar to the rudder/no rudder debate in that there will never
be a consensus reached.

 I think that one thing that everyone can agree on is that if you
get some formal instruction in either whitewater or surf
 paddling, you will climb the learning curve the quickest
irrespective of the type of boat you're paddling.  Signing up for
a class may also enable you to demo of a number of different
boats so that you can find which type of boat suits *you* the
best (but be aware that this will change with time).

 Regards,
Erik Sprenne





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Received on Wed Feb 28 2001 - 18:21:57 PST

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