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From: Patrick Maun <patrick_at_patrickmaun.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Mariner Kayaks
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2001 10:14:56 +0100
>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? 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. 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.


-Patrick






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From: Steve Scherrer <Flatpick_at_teleport.com>
subject: [Paddlewise] CD boats < was Mariner>
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2001 09:13:34 -0800
Patrick asks:
> Is the GTH the older touring model? I had a Soltice GTS and thought
> the hulls were similar.

The series started with the ST and SS  then they added the  GT and GTS and
both pairs have quite similar hull forms. The H refers to High Volume.  Same
hull, higher freeboard at the seamline, available in GT, GTS or Extreme.

>The GTS is an awful carving boat. It is wonderful
> at tracking and barely weathercocks, but you have to be on your side
> for it to actually start to turn when leaning. On the otherhand,
> I have a Neckly Arluk III and a FC Khatsalano which both carve
beautifully,
> but have some weathercocking issues when unloaded.



1/2 full or 1/2 empty!

generally it's "My boat:
tracks very well/ doesn't weathercock= harder to turn
or
is very maneuverable/ easy to turn= weathercocks"

unless , of course, you have a *does everything perfectly*, Mariner.  ;^)

FWIW, I could relate a few tales of Mariner's mis-behaving, but that's not
the subject of this post.

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.

Yes, the Extreme is quite nice, tho quite long and pointy.  I have paddled
it with my San Juan Isle's 7 days *guiding* load and it does handle better
with a load.  I'd like to see CD put a skeg on this boat instead of the
rudder.

Steve



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From: <HTERVORT_at_aol.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] CD boats < was Mariner>
Date: Thu, 6 Dec 2001 23:12:10 EST
Steve wrote:
> 
>  Yes, the Extreme is quite nice, tho quite long and pointy.  I have paddled
>  it with my San Juan Isle's 7 days *guiding* load and it does handle better
>  with a load.  I'd like to see CD put a skeg on this boat instead of the
>  rudder.

Yes.  Wouldn't if be lovely?

We just got the first of our Andromedas in.  17'3", 20"(?) wide rework of the 
Gulfstream.  Can't wait to get one in the fleet so we can see how it paddles. 
 Quite deep V, good amount of rocker and a skeg.  It looks fast. a bit tender 
and real purty. :^)

Have you had a chance to paddle one yet?

Harold 
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From: Steve Scherrer <Flatpick_at_teleport.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] CD boats
Date: Fri, 7 Dec 2001 09:12:24 -0800
Howard writes:
> We just got the first of our Andromedas in.  17'3", 20"(?) wide rework of
the
> Gulfstream.  Can't wait to get one in the fleet so we can see how it
paddles.
>  Quite deep V, good amount of rocker and a skeg.  It looks fast. a bit
tender
> and real purty. :^)
>
> Have you had a chance to paddle one yet?

Oh yeah.

I think it's more of a re-work of the Slipstream.  It paddles like a large
Slipstream.  I paddled it unloaded for 4 days on mixed current and
flatwater.  Very nice, loose and sporty.  The only op I had to use the skeg
was in a 5 knot x-wind so I don't really have a good feel for it, but it
appears the skeg is quite a ways forward of other designs.

Your observations are correct.  Big V, making for a rather tender initial
stability feel, but plenty of 2ndary, and a good secure feeling on edge.
Plenty fast, like the SS, but IMHO too much thin, pointy, ends.  The stern
looks like a bow going backwards.

Not a ton of gear space, as the V shrinks the *useable* capacity.

Definitely a sporty kayak, not for the timid.

......but FUN!

Steve


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From: Our house <arebecca1_at_msn.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] CD boats
Date: Fri, 7 Dec 2001 19:28:37 -0600
<I paddled it unloaded for 4 days on mixed current and
 flatwater.  Very nice, loose and sporty.  >

What about the Andromeda's depth both front and rear?  Can you put your head
on the back deck?  Did you roll it?

Thanks - Dennis


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From: Steve Scherrer <Flatpick_at_teleport.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] CD boats
Date: Sat, 8 Dec 2001 07:03:06 -0800
> What about the Andromeda's depth both front and rear?  Can you put your
head
> on the back deck?  Did you roll it?
>

I did roll it a bunch.  It rolls fairly easily with good clearance on the
back deck.   The boat does not want to sit dead upside down, as many
Greenland styled boats do, due to the upturn at the ends.  It makes tipping
clear over a challenge if some hesitation isn't used.  First time I rolled I
nearly blew it as I rushed the roll before the boat had inverted completely!
Thank goodness for a sculling low brace!

Steve


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From: Michael Daly <michaeldaly_at_rogers.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Mariner Kayaks
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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