"On day trips my Mariner Elan seems to be very sensitive to loading.<snip> 4. Is there a way of marking the kayak for a visual check of balance at different total loadings? " G'day Mark: What I do is load the boat, then pick it up by the coaming sides at the neutral point, which I like to have at about mid thigh level on my particular boat. Adjustments are made by transfering a water bottle or food bag from front to back hatch until the boat is balanced. I think it is best to have a neutrally balanced boat, as during a day's paddle, wind or course changes might require paddling in all directions, relative to the wind. Cheers, PT Melbourne, Australia *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> Couple of questions Peter: > 1. How did you decide that mid thigh level was the correct balance point? Take everything out of the boat, straddle it, and pick it up by the inside of the coaming at a point where the boat balances. I suppose you are then holding the boat over the centre of gravity, and there may be other centres, e.g. of buoyancy, lateral resistance, etc which are more relevant strictly speaking, but in the real world, they are all close together. > 2. Do you change where the balance point is based on how much loading (ie for day tripping vs 4-5 day camping load)? No. > 3. Kayak is going to be little over 100 lbs when loaded. I don't know if I can lift it (I am not very strong) without risk to back. This is a real issue. Take good care of your back, you only get one. But the boat only has to be lifted just off the ground for a moment to see if it is front heavy or back heavy. Oops, I mean bow heavy or stern heavy! >Got any neat tricks for getting a fully loaded kayak into water without wrecking your back. Right now only option is to load with it partially floating but that might be difficult depending on beach conditions. I got away on a two week trip before last Christmas, including some dry islands, so all water the first week or so was carried. This made for real heavy boats, as my friend and I over-catered with water, allowing 6 litres per day. Four litres is enough. The two boats were a real strain to lift. We made the mistake on the first day of loading the boats about 200 metres from the waters edge, and carrying them. Quelle horreur! Better to lightly load, take the boat to the water's edge, then gradually load it up fully there. A large bag and a tarp are handy for this. Getting the boat into the water from the edge when fully loaded is still to be done. You can walk it end for end the last few metres. My friend invested in a set of fold up wheels for his boat after that trip. The wheels are pneumatic, for sand. However the unit is a little bulky, so if you have fully loaded boats, the wheels won't fit! Catch 22. Here's a tip for preserving your back: when you help carry boats, always grab the bow! Cheers, Peter Treby *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Thanks Peter, great suggestions for loading a balanced kayak! It occurred to me that once the center of mass of the empty kayak is determined, all I have to do is to slide a padded fulcrum under the boat to have a reliable trim indicator during dry loading. I could trial load the boat in my basement and trim it out with water bottles and make any location marks with masking tape. Further trim adjustments during the trip are made by feel with the water bottles or bladders. I like to load my boat in the water rather than hauling a loaded boat to the water. Another useful tip is to bring a set of slings to slide under the loaded boat. I saw this in John Dowd's book Sea Kayaking. If you have three paddling partners, you slide two paddles through the slings and four people carry the boat. Obviously this idea falls apart for the solo paddler. Cheers, Bill Birmingham, AL Website: jbchitty.8bit.co.uk *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
>It occurred to me that once the center of mass of the empty kayak is >determined, ....... Is the kayak that sensitive to loading trim? > bring a set of slings to slide under the loaded boat. If you have three >paddling partners, you slide two paddles through the slings and four people >carry the boat. Obviously this idea falls apart for the solo paddler. Why use paddles with the possibility of breaking them? Just put the slings under the kayak, put a loop (tie or sew them in) at each end of the sling and put your hand through the loop, grasp the sling and the load goes on the back of the hand, arms are straight, load goes straight through to the shoulders. Slings are very good for load sharing and we always use them with a group and loaded boats. Solo or with my partner I use a trolley which breaks down and fits in the kayak or on the deck. Alex *************************************************************************** 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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