Colin, et al: A couple more thoughts on this boat weight thing. I have mentioned to the list before that if many of the additions and improvements made to my Nordkapp were part of the original layup, then the weight would be significantly less. Repairs necessitate the addition of extra weight too, due to the need to broaden the fixed portion by feathering out the repair (or addition for that matter). Ideally, I'd take a mold of my "new and improved" 'Kapp, and then lay up a much lighter version. I was curious about the Romany weight, as a friend once bought an earlier one that came in around 75#. That's probably what mine would weigh with the reinforcements, but no structual/functional additions. Anyway, I was curious enough today to phone Chris Duff. He is coming over to Victoria March 23 for a slide show, "on maori tides" (tickets going fast at Ocean River Sports). I couldn't wait that long to talk to him. He was at home, working on his new book about the New Zealand adventure. I had secretly hoped he wouldn't be home, rather paddling out in the big blow we had today, but alas, like me, he was behind a PC (Chris lives just across the pond from me). I had a few questions for him. I asked him about he boat breaking "in half" (as exaggerated by some folks in Victoria). Chris said a few folks said he should have taken a plastic boat. Chris doesn't like the performance of plastic boats, and feels no glass boat could have survived the pounding his took, as multiple dumping surf pounded at it. The skegless boat was 56#, but about 65# after the repairs. There's that weight gain. Chris also did miss a rudder or skeg on a number of occasions, but still felt the extra storage and lack of complications was well worth it. He wore his personal boat-to-paddler tether whenever conditions blew over twenty knots. He loved the Romany, as he could paddle it for eight hours comfortably, then jump out of it and still walk up the beach (unlike with a Nordkapp, which is a bit cramped). He also said the Romany surfed like a dream, compared to a Nordkapp. And he had lots of surf. He wryly mentioned the fact that this trip defined certain limitations for him. I'll let him explain that further at the slide show and in his book. This Romany sound like an interesting boat for the right driver. Take care Colin. I'm off to watch a video, "The Incredible Lightness of Being". 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue Mar 13 2001 - 21:25:09 PST
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