Years ago.. {almost 60+} I got started in Canoes.. given advise by a olf friend. He was Calvin Rutstrum. He was a true woodsman and Canoe person. I learned alot those years so long ago. Trumplines, Duluth packs. Canoes and Outdoors was a lifestyle then. Phil Cotton Sr got me started in Folbots and Kleppers. Which was more seaworthy for Coastal work. All in all I like them for longer trips. Later when Lee Moyer formed Pacific Water Sports he had me convinced to try the narrow boats. I did so and loved them for general work. My first "regular boat was a Sea Otter by PWS. But still, I loved the Wider Boats for their payload carrying. I still prefer wood/canvas canoes for the workhorse boats. But love the Kayaks. Or general "Touring Boats" I should say. Having made 4 major trips all over 2000 miles in them. The best way for me to go now, is in the larger boats. Where one can be gone a month, if he so desires and not worry of sea conditions or what to leave home, but all within reason... So many I've met over the years, Angier, Rutstrum, LaBastille, Mason.. All had a secret love for Kayaks, though not for the narrow beam ones. Myself I credit Folbot with getting the average person into Kayaks. Although some will not say the craft is a true Yak. Never the less It I believe is the father of the Sport. Although the boon of the whitewater paddlers of the 60,s evolved the sport. Prior to 1940,s there was little if any interest in Kayaks... they were a thing of the northern lands. Not suited to lower states use.. Even now in my view a narrow boat is good for getting someplace fast, from point A to point B...Seaworthy yes... But for extended trips... no... Just my thoughts Ive seen over the years.... W *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
This isn't so much about who got me started as who got me started _safely_. Several years ago, work-addled, hobbyless, slave to a 24x7 beeper, I decided to save myself and retire early. But I knew it would be insanity to retire without first finding something positive to fill the void that tyrannical beeper would leave. So I took up the clarinet. Well, it didn't take too long to discover my lack of talent in that arena. OK, something different... Hmmm, I know, I'll buy a kayak! So I trotted down to the local kayak store and announced my intentions. It was an especially warm March in Maryland and I was dying to get out on the water. Soft breezes, sun-spangled ripples, (and, oh yeah, 50-degree water), I couldn't wait! But wait I did. For 6 weeks. The folks at the kayak store gently and politely let me know that they did not want to sell a kayak to someone of my ignorance in March! They convinced me I should try before buying, and yet they refused to let me demo any of their boats because the water was dangerously cold. They suggested I wait until __May__ for the local "demo days". This was the first inkling I had that kayaking is not as safe as playing scales on the clarinet, and it was a lesson I'll never forget. Now, is this any way to treat customers? You bet! I'll be forever grateful to the folks at that shop for tipping me off to the dangers of paddling in cold water, even at the risk of losing a sale. I did eventually buy my first kayak from them. And they will always be my first stop when I need gear. Or another kayak. (Although maybe 6 is enough....? Nah!) Ann *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
On Thursday 24 April 2003 01:57, Ann Rougle wrote: > This isn't so much about who got me started as who got me started > _safely_. > > Several years ago, work-addled, hobbyless, slave to a 24x7 beeper, I > decided to save myself and retire early. But I knew it would be > insanity to retire without first finding something positive to fill the > void that tyrannical beeper would leave. So I took up the clarinet. > Well, it didn't take too long to discover my lack of talent in that > arena. OK, something different... Hmmm, I know, I'll buy a kayak! > > So I trotted down to the local kayak store and announced my intentions. > It was an especially warm March in Maryland and I was dying to get out > on the water. Soft breezes, sun-spangled ripples, (and, oh yeah, > 50-degree water), I couldn't wait! > > But wait I did. For 6 weeks. The folks at the kayak store gently and > politely let me know that they did not want to sell a kayak to someone > of my ignorance in March! They convinced me I should try before buying, > and yet they refused to let me demo any of their boats because the water > was dangerously cold. They suggested I wait until __May__ for the local > "demo days". This was the first inkling I had that kayaking is not as > safe as playing scales on the clarinet, and it was a lesson I'll never > forget. > > Now, is this any way to treat customers? You bet! I'll be forever > grateful to the folks at that shop for tipping me off to the dangers of > paddling in cold water, even at the risk of losing a sale. I did > eventually buy my first kayak from them. And they will always be my > first stop when I need gear. Or another kayak. (Although maybe 6 is > enough....? Nah!) > > Ann Great to see you over here Ann. You are on our Backwoods_Epitaph group. Do you get out much since your retire, as far as paddleing? Sam *************************************************************************** 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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