RE: [Paddlewise] Loading & handling

> Matt wrote,
> > Mark, I think you are making this far more complicated than you need to.
> > When in doubt "Read The Directions". According to the "Paddling" manual
for
> > your kayak:


I greatly resent Matt's "Read The Directions" comment.  I have always taken
great pride in the fact that I read all the manuals for my equipment and
often go back and re-read instructions even when doing routine tasks.

I have read the Owners manual and the Paddling manual multiple times.  In
fact it was partially the info on Mariner's site that prompted my question.
If as described, weathercocking increases with loading, I wondered if
losing weight from water and food consumption might not only warrant
rearrangement to the original front back ratio, but might require a
different ratio since a lighter kayak would not have the same tendency to
weathercock as the fully loaded one. Water and food consumption could
reduce load in my case by 60% (not total weight of kayak+paddler+load but %
gear loaded).

>From Matt's and others comments it seems I should not worry about trying to
continually change the back to front load ratio as total kayak load
declines. In fact I should not even need to exactly match back/front load
changes.  All I need do is to stay close to original ratio (which should be
around 2:1). 

Even though people indicated my concern was unfounded, I do not think I
needed to be told to just go back and read my instructions.  

--- Mark Arnold
--- mjamja_at_earthlink.net






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