Paddlewisers, More on breaking fiberglass: Last weekend a friend told me that he damaged the hull of his Falcon 18 again while playing in the surf on a sandy beach. By the way, his nick name is now "Hull Cracker" and we call his kayak "Eggshell." The kayak is a nice design, but the lay-up seems too light. More on failing skegs: During the recent skeg reliability discussion on this list, the Kajak Sport skeg system received some good comments. Well, after some surf launches and landings today, a friend's Kajak Sport skeg jammed up and the cable in the hatch area is bowing when the rod-mounted knob is pulled back to try to deploy the skeg. Fortunately, this kayak is not skeg dependant. By the way, I still think Kajak Sport has some of the best quality kayaks and skegs on the market. Dangerous high cockpit coamings: While playing in the surf today, a friend had to punch a fast dumping four-footer, and despite hitting the wave in the tucked forward position, he was knocked back flat on the back deck. Afterwards, he complained about back pain from hitting the rear of the coaming, which is rather high on his kayak. Plastic, plastic, plastic: After being without a plastic kayak for a year now, it is so nice to have one again. I really missed being able to bang into and slide over rocks with impunity. Free at last, free at last! By the way, the plastic kayak is a Current Designs Squamish, which I bought for banging around on day paddles. It's a zippy mini sea kayak. Cool combat roll: While I was playing in the surf today, I broached on a dumping four-footer as it was breaking on me. Despite leaning and bracing horizontally (all the way on my side) into the wave, I was high enough on the dumper that it knocked me back over in the opposite direction. While tumbling in the mess, I felt a strong pull on the right blade of my paddle, so to prevent injury, I let go of the paddle with my right hand and hung on tight with my left as the paddle swung in an arc. Then I set up with both hands on the paddle and popped up. Duane Strosaker www.rollordrown.com Southern California *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
>Plastic, plastic, plastic: After being without a plastic kayak for a year now, >it is so nice to have one again. I really missed being able to bang into and >slide over rocks with impunity. Free at last, free at last! By the way, the >plastic kayak is a Current Designs Squamish, which I bought for banging around >on day paddles. It's a zippy mini sea kayak. Duane... Read a great review in SK (Feb 03) about the CD Squamish. That's CD's new 15.5 foot plastic boat? They mentioned it was a boat designed for the smaller paddler in mind, correct? At well under $1000 I thought it was a keeper. But since I'm 6 foot 2 inches and 185 pounds, I don't stand a chance. Bummer. Tom *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Tom, Yes, the CD Squamish is a mini sea kayak. I am 5', 10" tall and weigh 165 pounds, and if I were much bigger I wouldn't fit in it. It makes a fun little day boat for us average size people. Duane *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
<By the way, I still think Kajak Sport has some of the best quality kayaks and <skegs on the market. <Dangerous high cockpit coamings: While playing in the surf today, a friend had <to punch a fast dumping four-footer, and despite hitting the wave in the <tucked forward position, he was knocked back flat on the back deck. <Afterwards, he complained about back pain from hitting the rear of the <coaming, which is rather high on his kayak. Was this the friend who was paddling the Kajak Sport? The reason I ask is that I have a Kajak Sport, and while I agree totally with what you say about the quality of the boat, the coaming may force me to sell the boat. I find that it pushes my PFD and tow belt up, so that I'm really uncomfortable. Also, I lay back when I roll, and I can't really lay back in this boat, which has been interfering with my roll. The result is that after spending a lot of money on this boat, I spend more time paddling my Romany (which is a lovely boat that I would never part with - but I had hoped to paddle my new boat also). Does anyone have any solutions for this problem? I haven't done so yet, but I am going to try padding the seat a bit (i.e., using a ThermoRest pad,at least to begin with). I don't know what that will do to center of gravity & stability, but I also don't know how much it will help. Replacing the coaming is probably not an option. Joan *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Duane Strosaker said: > More on failing skegs: During the recent skeg reliability discussion on this > list, the Kajak Sport skeg system received some good comments. Well, after > some surf launches and landings today, a friend's Kajak Sport skeg jammed up > and the cable in the hatch area is bowing when the rod-mounted knob is pulled > back to try to deploy the skeg. Fortunately, this kayak is not skeg dependant. > By the way, I still think Kajak Sport has some of the best quality kayaks and > skegs on the market. Duane, I think you will find that the skeg on your new Current Designs boat will be pretty much trouble free. The skeg in my Gulfstream only jammed once and that was when a 350 pound woman, decided I needed help launching while I was attaching my skirt. She came up, pushed down with all of her weight on my boat and at the same time pushed me into the surf. After about 20 minutes, all of the sand and gravel washed out and the skeg operated normally again. The only other problem with them that I am aware of occurs with the older sliders that CD used like the one I have. Instead of a rod, mine is a cable and if you are not careful, it is easy to pull away from the boat and that will cause the cable to kink. It was fun paddling with you today and I REALLY like your new boat - but I think I'm a little too big to fit in it. Steve Holtzman *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Joan asks:>>Does anyone have any solutions for this problem? I haven't done so yet, but I am going to try padding the seat a bit (i.e., using a ThermoRest pad,at least to begin with). I don't know what that will do to center of gravity & stability, but I also don't know how much it will help. Replacing the coaming is probably not an option.<< Seat pads will help with the coaming dilema. So will moving the seat forward. One affects stability the other trim. Raising the seat will also give you more leverage in your paddle strokes and leverage over edge control. Racers like high seats. moving it forward could make it hard to get a leg out without lifting your butt up first, IMHO not a good thing. I dislike ocean cockpits for this reason. we do alot of technical landings/ launches/ rescues where cockpit clearance is King. Start with your therma rest 1/2 inflated, but realize a thermarest is squishy and will be unlike a *solid* foam pad. Use it for stability feedback. If it works go with a solid pad, glued in. I have raised the seat in the Milly with 5/8" foam pad to great advantage. btw, a friend had Seaward rebuild his Legend cockpit to a low slung rim and it is sweet, tho it cost him $800 Canadian. Then Duane Strosaker said: > > More on failing skegs: During the recent skeg reliability discussion on > this > > list, the Kajak Sport skeg system received some good comments. Well, after > > some surf launches and landings today, a friend's Kajak Sport skeg jammed > up > > and the cable in the hatch area is bowing when the rod-mounted knob is > pulled > > back to try to deploy the skeg. Fortunately, this kayak is not skeg > dependant. > > By the way, I still think Kajak Sport has some of the best quality kayaks > and > > skegs on the market. This will happen whenever ANY skeg cable is pushed when the skeg blade is pinned. I've seen it on lots of boats. Something's gotta give. With NDK/VCP it's the cable at the skeg or at the slider. It bows out and viola, SKEG REPAIR. KS it's usually just inside the cockpit or dayhatch. You need to epoxy the tube back onto the sidewall of the boat, a PITA. With CD I've seen the cable bow at the slider (old style) and have yet to see a new style fail. That's why the NDK/VCP bungie system is so bomber, no chance of bending a bungie. But this system comes with a whole buttload of other issues! Skeg rule # 1. Do NOT force the slider. > and finally Steve writes:>> > I think you will find that the skeg on your new Current Designs boat will be > pretty much trouble free. The skeg in my Gulfstream only jammed once and > that was when a 350 pound woman, decided I needed help launching while I was > attaching my skirt. She came up, pushed down with all of her weight on my > boat and at the same time pushed me into the surf. After about 20 minutes, > all of the sand and gravel washed out and the skeg operated normally again. Skeg rule # 2. Carry a skeg tool for clearing the debris. We use a Thrift store table knife ground down to a bit of a hook, like a climbers nut tool, with a "around the wrist" tether. You get one whenever you buy a skeg boat from us. AJ did they give you one with your Tempest? > > The only other problem with them that I am aware of occurs with the older > sliders that CD used like the one I have. Instead of a rod, mine is a cable > and if you are not careful, it is easy to pull away from the boat and that > will cause the cable to kink. The rod is only 8" long and is hollow. Inside the rod (tube) is the same ol' cable. Manufacturers are using the wrong cable for skegs. Typical skeg cable is sailboat rigging cable meant to hold up a mast not do *push/pull* service. We are working on a new system that might blow away present day skeg technology. But don't hold your breath! steve *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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