RE: [Paddlewise] Iceland Expidition 2003

From: Doug Lloyd <dalloyd_at_telus.net>
Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2003 23:22:04 -0700
Tom said:
>The cockpits look like keyholes, not ocean style.  Does anyone know the
thinking on that choice?<

Either expedition or local waters use, the pros and cons of various cockpit
arrangements are the same. I believe the current BCU school-of-thinking
would advocate for a cockpit that provides quick egress yet good solid
ensconcement. Only a white-water keyhole cockpit shoehorned into a sea kayak
can provide for these two objectives.

Having said that I prefer my ocean cockpit as I don't need to splay my legs
to gain the required purchase that the keyhole cockpit normally demands. I
also believe many fine paddlers advocate a bit of a loose fit to allow some
wiggle room, as well as a big enough cockpit like a keyhole one, which also
makes cowboy scramble rescues much easier. I restrict myself to mostly fully
inverted re-entry and roll methodologies for self rescues, so the ocean
cockpit works fine for me. I'd certainly look at the keyhole cockpit more
seriously in terms of attributes if and when I replace my old-generation
Nordkapp. I do know paddlers who make their own kayaks, and specifically
incorporate the ocean cockpit dimensions out of choice.

Doug Lloyd
Victoria BC

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"Whatever can be said at all can be said clearly and whatever cannot be said
clearly should not be said at all."
Ludwig Wittgenstein
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Received on Thu Jun 05 2003 - 23:22:13 PDT

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