Re: [Paddlewise] Question of Khatsalano kayak

I also own a standard Khatsalano. Great boat. I've only paddled it 
about half a dozen times since I moved to Europe but have enjoyed it 
so far.  The seat is annoying as the back is much too high. Makes for 
a comfortable ride, but lousy for laybacks. I took the plastic back 
out but still haven't gotten it to the point where it is as 
comfortable as I'd like it to be. The plastic crossrib behind the 
seat has a little know on it that drives into my back when sculling 
and rolling.

I did have a very negative experience in the Khats weekend before 
last. Maybe some of you here can shed some light on it. I set off 
with a group I have never paddled with for a short day paddle on the 
North Sea. Everything started out well and the paddling seemed fine. 
That is, it seemed fine as we were paddling around a point out onto 
the sea following the coast to our left. Once we were out, I noticed 
that my boat continued veering to the left - as if she missed land 
and wished to return. I thought this might be due to the current and 
chop and mentioned it to a companion and asked if he was experiencing 
the same problem. He wasn't.

Hmmm.

Some leaning and paddle compensation helped. Well, it helped for a 
bit. After a while I noticed that my boat was really going to the 
left. I mean badly. I was sitting on my edge and having to compensate 
with a rudder stroke every third stroke. We landed for a break and I 
moved the very light load I had with me around thinking that the load 
weight might just be off-centered.

So we headed out after a brief rest and into some bigger chop. My 
boat was leaning just as badly as before and I was falling far behind 
the group. The chop was getting confused and as I was constantly 
keeping the boat on its side I was caught unexpected and knocked over 
by a wave. Surprise. I've never capsized on a trip before so just 
hung there for a second wondering what the hell happened. Rushed my 
roll attempt and blew it. I was pissed to be upside down and after 
two attempts didn't bother anymore and bailed.

New lesson learned. When paddling in a new country ask what type of 
rescue they prefer. Next time I'll do a re-enter and roll because I 
really hate the British style pull-the-boat-on-the-deck and get 
squished between two boats x-rescue. I don't like hanging on a bow 
around while the rescuer does all the work. I'm sure there are 
reasons to do this type of rescue, though I am not sure what they 
might be. Just seems slow and excessive and just pulling the bow, 
flipping it with the person in the water on the stern is quicker, 
less damaging and actually possible with a loaded boat. Anyway....

Oh, I also hate the term "rescue". Let's go with "aid" or something.

So I', flailing about because I can't go in a straight line and 
getting sore from leaning and compensating and we land again. I load 
the boat up with about 50lbs of sand in dry bags on the suggesting 
that the boat is too light unballasted and that must be the reason 
she's listing. I don't entirely buy this, I am guessing that the 
frame is slightly bent.

See, what I didn't mention before is that we drove two hours down to 
the trip put-in and as the Khats still takes me forever to build, I 
car-topped it. They use these strange, to me anyways, sideways 
stacker-thingies here. The boat was on its right side for the trip 
down. Seemed like a frame bent to the right would turn left in the 
water. Any of you designer/builders want to comment?

We got back in the water and the ballast made the boat worse. This, 
to me, confirmed my suspicion that it was the frame. Seems like more 
hull in the water, more turn. It was so bad I am fairly sure that I 
could have gone in a complete circle with ten paddle strokes. We got 
to a small beach cafe and I bailed from the trip and discovered I had 
caught a cold.

I loaded the boat on the other side of the car for the trip back 
(well, three hours later after sitting around in a cafe with nothing 
to read. Next lesson, always bring a book in a dry bag). We got back 
to the club house where I unloaded the boat, kicked it a few times, 
shouted and shook my ineffectual fists in the air for emphasis and 
left.

I haven't had a chance to work on the boat since then due to general 
busi/lazi/bitterness. The boat looks true so I am not sure if it is 
the frame. My other thought is that the sponsons might be un-equally 
inflated. This is a Khats regular with the smaller sponsons, but that 
still seems like it could be responsible.

I'll report back once I finally have a chance to work on the boat 
weekend after next (I've got visitors coming tomorrow), but would 
love to hear any thoughts, ideas etc on the problem before I start my 
investigations.

Worst thing about the experience, the people I was paddling with have 
never paddled with me before and have outlawed me ever bringing the 
Khats on a trip again unless I get a  rudder for it. Annoying, as it 
is my only boat here and I still don't think the boat needs a rudder, 
nor do I think it has anything to do with my paddling style (which 
was also implied).

OK, that's off my chest. Any thoughts?

Nice boat though.

-Patrick

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