At 10:10 AM 4/23/2003 -0400, John Fereira wrote: >Where abouts are you going to be on the east coast? If you're in the Research Triangle area, I've got a kevlar Quest, a RM Capella and an glass Explorer that you could try if it works for you to join one of our regular paddles. As for comparisons: The Capella is a wonderful short trip boat: comfortable, easy to roll, and good in choppy water and poking around marshes and rivers. The Quest is a quite a bit roomier, but equally as comfortable. Detailing is very good, better than the Explorer. However, I must say that the complaints about NDK boats seem to reflect past more than current experience, c.f. no leaks or other problems on my Explorer. Where do the Quest and Explorer differ? Quest is faster, has a more easily adjustable but less field serviceable skeg (cable versus rope/cam) and for my body the Quest is much more comfortable over long paddles, say 15-20 miles. (I have friends who paddle Explorer's who don't have any comfort issues.) Rolling ease is about the same, although the tighter fit in the Explorer makes getting the thighs locked in the thigh braces a bit easier. More volume in the Quest and the large rear hatch makes packing easier. The Explorer is unbelievably stable in rough water--it just seems to know what to do. Not that the Quest is a slouch in this Department, but as an intermediate paddler I'd probably say that the Explorer gains in stability a bit of what it looses in speed relative to the Quest. Lastly, unloaded the Quest weathercocks much more than the Explorer. No problem controlling weathercocking with the skeg, but I have it down a lot on with the Quest and rarely use it with the Explorer. I'm on the light end for the Quest (170lbs), and this issue away with loading the boat. I've had very good service from P&H. I've paddled the Legend on flat water and liked it quite a bit, but it feels very different from the Quest or the Explorer. It is fast and very maneuverable. Some people love the back band arrangement; others don't. It was OK for me, but not as comfortable as the Quest. Watching Nigel paddle it would make anyone want to own one and his kayaks are beautifully made boats. My view is that comfort on long paddles/trips, speed and stability in rough water are key. I'll probably end up using the Quest as my primary kayak and Kathleen, who loves the fit and feel, will use the Explorer. Best, John ********************************************************* John S. March, MD, MPH Professor and Chief, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Duke Child and Family Study Center 718 Rutherford Street Durham, NC 27705 919/416-2404 (P); 919/416-2420 (F) Email: jsmarch_at_acpub.duke.edu Website: http://www2.mc.duke.edu/pcaad " At this time I seem to have been only like a boy, playing on the sea shore whilst a great ocean of truth lay undiscovered before me" ---Sir Isaac Newton ********************************************************* *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Apr 23 2003 - 08:37:18 PDT
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