Re: [Paddlewise] ocean cockpit

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At 09:23 AM 8/12/02 -0700, Shawn Baker wrote:
>Jim Farrelly <jfarrelly5_at_comcast.net> wrote:
> >I am considering buying a used Valley Pintail with an ocean
> >cockpit.  I have never used an ocean cockpit.
>
>"Michael Daly" <michaeldaly_at_rogers.com> wrote:
> >I have an ocean cockpit on my Ellesmere.  I would not recommend it for
> > the average paddler.
> >I find it helps make people think you're a Serious Paddler :-)
>
>I would have to agree with Michael.  I traded one of my S&G boats to a
>lady in my paddling club for the summer.  In return, I got the use of
>an older VCP Selkie.  Her husband disliked the ocean cockpit, and I
>attributed it mostly to age/stiffness.
>
>The Selkie isn't VCP's best design, but its most annoying asset is the
>ocean cockpit.  It's a 24" wide boat, and I prefer to use my Guillemot.

When I bought my Skerray there was also a Selkie in the same shop.  I 
didn't know anything about either of them.  I'm glad I got the Skerray.

>So...for my loaner, I've been taking people out in the Selkie.  Not a
>good idea.  It takes a lot longer,

Do you mean it takes a lot longer to wet-exit or that it takes a lot longer 
in general because the Selkie is slow?

>  and adds a lot of anxiety to a wet
>exit (in average paddlers).

Think so?  From my experience, most of those that have never done a wet 
exit before experience anxiety the first couple of times they do it.

I've only used my Skerray once this season. It's at my friends rental shop 
and he sends complete novices out in it all the time (without a 
sprayskirt).  I've never noticed that it's harder to exit due to the ocean 
cockpit.

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