Re: [Paddlewise] Mariner Kayaks

From: Michael Daly <michaeldaly_at_rogers.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2001 13:13:25 -0500
From: "Patrick Maun" <patrick_at_patrickmaun.com>


> >Mike wrote:
> >>No discredit to the great folks at Mariner, but I'm a tad amazed that 
> >>this seems to be a unique feature.  Many kayaks do this, including my
> >>Solstice GTH,  the Swift North Sea (JW design),  Pintail and many
> >more.
> 
> Is the GTH the older touring model? 

Got a note about this offline from someone. Sorry - some of us Solstice owners 
are a tad weary of all the letters and have taken to dropping the V.  Hence, we
call the GTHV the GTH and the GTSHV the GTSH.

> I had a Soltice GTS and thought 
> the hulls were similar. The GTS is an awful carving boat. It is wonderful 
> at tracking and barely weathrcocks, but you have to be on your side 
> for it to actually start to turn when leaning. 

They are similar hulls but there is a difference in beam (2") which results 
in a significant difference in performance between the GT and GTS versions.  
I've only paddled a GTS a couple of times briefly, and found it more difficult 
to turn.  It has less secondary and a straighter side longitudinally.  When on edge,
it lifts the keel line less than the GT and, I'm supposing, shows a less "shaped"
hull to the water.  Hence it doesn't turn as well.  The GT, on the other hand, is
so beamy and stiff in rolling resistance that a lot of paddlers don't lean it very 
much.   It takes a serious lean to get the GT into a good turning position.

> On the otherhand, 
> I have a Neckly Arluk III and a FC Khatsalano which both carve beautifully,
> but have some weathercocking issues when unloaded. One boat that 
> suprised me was the Current Designs Extreme. It is extremely (*grin*) 
> long, but manages to track and to lean turns quite nicely. I only 
> paddled one unloaded for a little bit and in calm conditions so have 
> no idea how it really performs in the field, but I was impressed.
> 
I haven't heard too many bad things about the Extreme.  I'd like to try it some
day.

Mike

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Received on Wed Dec 05 2001 - 10:06:07 PST

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