RE: [Paddlewise] Krueger Kayaks

I have the chance to meet Verlen Krueger and Valerie Fons while they passed
through Argentina during their trip from Alaska to the Fire Land, and while
I didn't have the chance to paddle their canoes I had the chance to see them
close, talk with them about them, and see them paddling. Even a close friend
of mine traveled with them for a few days. Here are my conclusions ...



<-----Original Message-----
<From: William Malone
<Subject: [Paddlewise] Krueger Kayaks
<
<
<I am very impressed with Mr. Kruger's paddling and design skills.
<He says
<"  Whether paddling the Sea Wind canoe or the Dreamcatcher kayak, the
<single  blade canoe paddle increases your efficiency.  A double bladed
<paddle is necessary for other kayaks because their hull form is unstable
<and requires bracing on either side in certain conditions...

I definitely don't agree with this. Kayaks and canoes are completely
different boats, where you sit in different positions so you need different
paddling techniques. But racing canoes ( C1 ) are as unstable as racing
kayaks ( K1 ) and you don't use a double bladed paddle on them. Bracing and
balance are related to the stability of the boat and depend on your ability
not on your paddle. Whitewater canoes can be rolled with a single paddle and
kayaks can be rolled without a paddle. But talking specifically about
Krueger canoes, because of their width, flat bottom, size, and paddling
position, I agree to use a single bladed paddle.

< ... "Also, many kayaks don't have a rudder or the rudder is an
afterthought. The extra weight < of the off-side blade  swinging through the
air accumulates over several
< thousand paddle strokes in a day to sap your energy."

Krueger kayaks are heavy, strong, but heavy, and the paddles they used were
heavy, single bladed but heavy. I don't agree with this comment neither. You
may have to make a physical analysis to know how two paddles of the same
weight affects the effort of a paddler in a kayak and in a canoe or
something like that. If this were true single bladed paddles would also be
more efficient in kayaks ... and they are not ... because in a kayak you
don't feel comfortable paddling with them and this is because you can't sit
properly to use them. The same way in wide boat you won't feel comfortable
with a double paddle.

<In a magazine article he talked about a group of canoeist leaving a
<group of experienced kayakers behind over a several day trip.

This can be true ... he is a really strong man. But I don't think his canoes
are faster than the average sea kayaks. Actually they were doing pretty slow
and my friend paddling with a Nordkapp had to be waiting for them all the
time. But they had the chance to attach one canoe to the other forming a
catamaran and sail ... and then they did go very fast, faster than my friend
can paddle. As they traveled most of they're trip trough rivers they did a
lot of sailing.

<He also says "Contrary to what some  may believe, a larger, longer boat
<paddles easier, safer, and with better  handling characteristics than
<many smaller less stable craft.  For all its size and  stability the
<Dreamcatcher is as fast as some of the marathon racing C-1's."

So why millions of whitewater and surf kayakers use the opposite ? The speed
of any boat is a related to the length but also to your power. If you are
not strong enough a long heavier boat can be slower ... and the longer the
less maneuverable. Wider is safe in calm waters, but not in the sea.
Actually they were not able to paddle in our seas. We offered them sea
kayaks to go on but they didn't accept. And definitely the Dreamcatcher
can't be as fast as a racing C1 !!!

Verlen Krueger is one of the most important paddlers of the world. He has
the guiness record of miles paddled in a canoe. But the boats he manufacture
are strong, reliable, high volume canoes. They are not kayaks, even when
some of them are close decked. Saying his canoes are better than kayaks is
wrong. They are just different. His canoes are not good for open water, but
they are so stable you can stand on them and so big you can sleep in them
too. Anyway I respect him very much.

My 2 cents.-

Fernando Lopez Arbarello
Kayak Argentina - Sea Kayaking Mailing List
kayak_argentina_at_yahoo.com <mailto:kayak_argentina_at_yahoo.com>



***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************