Re: [Paddlewise] Boat recommendation needed

From: Michael Daly <michaeldaly_at_home.com>
Date: Sun, 27 May 2001 20:32:07 -0400
From: "Steve Holtzman" <sh_at_actglobal.net>


> My wife has decided to move up from her SOT to a "real" kayak. We are
> looking for a boat for her. She loves the way my CD Gulfstream looks but it
> is too big for her (5'4" ~120 lbs).

I know women her size that are comfortable in the Gulfstream.  It is an issue
of outfitting (padding the sides of the seat come to mind immediately with
this kayak)?

> I suggested the CD Slipstream, but after
> she read an email that she received in response to her questions from CD,
> she has ruled that boat out (supposedly less stable than the Gulfstream,
> doesn't track as well because of more rocker, etc.

Don't  know about the tracking, but it definitely has little stability.

> 
> We have rented a Perception Shadow in fiberglass for her to try this
> weekend, but she doesn't like the rudder on it. Has anybody paddled this
> boat without a rudder and if so what do you think?

Amie bought one and she likes it a lot (she's 5'4'' and 126lb).  I took it out in a 
really heavy tailwind and it was all over the place.  Wind at other points seemed ok,
but not spectacular.   Amie had it out in a good beam wind and used the rudder 
most, but not all of the time.  In easier winds, she keeps the rudder up.  

There was a rumour last year at the Great Lakes SK symposium, from the Perception
rep, that this kayak was about to be released in a skeg version.  I haven't seen or
heard anything about this since.

If she has a problem with the rudder, this might not be the best kayak for her.  A tiny 
friend of ours recently traded in her Caribou for a P&H Avocet (fg) and loves it.  Skeg
based and seems nice, though I haven't paddled it so no comment from me.

Try before you buy!

Mike



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Received on Sun May 27 2001 - 18:25:43 PDT

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