It is interesting that paddling a double kayak is such a different experience from paddling an open canoe, almost invariably a two person activity, especially when going any great distance. Why is there no horror stories of relationships destroyed, or at least tested to their limits, by this activity? Rob. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 6/11/2003 1:44:20 PM Eastern Standard Time, kdruger_at_pacifier.com writes: > ... weaker paddlers like my buddies are likely take a double into > conditions where they would not take separate singles. But, if they swamp or capsize > ... then they are in deeper trouble, once inside the boat, than they would be > in separate singles. The total volume of water to be removed from two > swamped singles (both bulkheaded) is smaller. ... ??? I guess this brings us back to the topic of float bags. White water canoeists fill up all the space in their boats (with gear in waterproof bags or with inflated bags) that they do not need for their bodies. The same principle applies to doubles, surely. And now for a quick pet peeve: Sometimes the term "divorce boat" comes up in connection with doubles. I hazard that, if a couple of paddlers cannot work together in a boat, they will have problems working together under all but the most benign circumstances anyway. Paddling doubles may not be for everyone, but those who do so sucessfully experience a dimension of pleasure in the sport that paddling a single seater cannot provide. Best regards, Ralph Ralph C. Hoehn Folding Boat Center P.O. Box 700 Enfield NH 03748 info_at_FoldingBoatCenter.com www.FoldingBoatCenter.com phone: +1-802-649-2555 -- Ralph phone: +1-603-632-9500 -- Alv (yup, they rhyme) *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Ralph said: > And now for a quick pet peeve: Sometimes the term "divorce > boat" comes up in > > connection with doubles. I hazard that, if a couple of > paddlers cannot work > > together in a boat, they will have problems working together > under all but the > > most benign circumstances anyway. Ralph, My wife of 20 years and I started paddling singles before we got our "divorce boat". We kept the boat about a year and fortunately kept our singles as well. With two "Type A" personalities in the boat, we quickly came to the realization that either the marriage or the boat had to go. Fortunately, we no longer have a tandem. I thought her paddle cadence was too fast, she thought mine was too slow (the boat required synchronized paddling). I wanted to stay further from the breaking waves and rocks---she was oblivious to them. I sat in the back with the rudder controls because I am much heavier than she--but she wanted to be able to steer the boat. If we had kept it, I'm sure I would have had to add rudder pedals for her. Our relationship is 100% better when each of us is the master of our own vessel. This may not work for all, but it certainly works for us. Steve Holtzman Southern CA *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Paddlewisers, My wife and I never have any problems getting along in our double. I actually prefer being the bow person, but she prefers that I steer (less responsibility for her), so I am in the stern. As a result, I am in charge and give the instructions, and she follows. Just like in life, we never argue. I will say that when we aren't kayaking, we make decisions together. I will also say that we started out canoeing together, so we learned early how to paddle together in the same boat. That bow seat in a double can be a wet ride. A buddy and I did a surf launch, and I just happend to make sure my buddy was in the bow seat. The surf was dumping and coming in too fast to time, so we went for it. I watched him get barried in a wave, and by the time the wave reached me in the stern seat, the boat was floating over it. I never laughed so hard. Duane Strosaker Southern California *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
--- Steve Holtzman <sh_at_actglobal.net> wrote: > > Our relationship is 100% better when each of us is > the master of our own > vessel. This may not work for all, but it certainly > works for us. > After doing ballroom dancing as partners for 15 years, my husband and I knew that working together is very difficult. We each paddle our own boat our own way - staying near enough to each other to keep in touch. We are not the strongest paddlers (see another thread) and had been advised to get a double (for the safety reasons mentioned). I think we have both improved being on our own. And, yes, we still dance - maybe even better than before __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Calendar - Free online calendar with sync to Outlook(TM). http://calendar.yahoo.com *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Windwalker wrote: <Snip>>>>>A single will not carry the supplies needed for a extended trip. <Snip>>>> This is just the opposite of my experience. Two single kayaks usually can carry more gear than one double with two paddlers in it. In most doubles much of the higher volume areas in the middle are where the paddler's legs go and the front and back storage areas are often shorter even though they are usually wider and higher than the ends of singles (but there are four of these ends in two singles and only two in the double). It's a good thing a double is wider because my partner and I had to each straddle a large gear bag between our legs during a Queen Charlotte Islands trip in a Feathercraft K2. I've never had to do that in a single. I spent most of that trip wishing I had a single to paddle. A double is a boat. A single is your lower body when on the water. Matt Broze www.marinerkayaks.com *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Matt wrote. >This is just the opposite of my experience. Two single kayaks usually can >carry more gear than one double with two paddlers in it. In most doubles >much of the higher volume areas in the middle are where the paddler's legs >go I agree with Matt. I have arranged the double geometry so that there is another compartment in the center. We moved the seats apart and therefore the center compartment is where the boat is wider. Even so, we found out that the storage volume available in the double was 1.5 that of a single, since the extreme compartments get smaller. The gain is still good because growing where wider and reducing where narrower gives a positive result. So, two singles carry more stuff. When in a double though many things are shared like tent, cooking stuff and therefore it is possible to pack a 5 day trip stuff for two. The additional advantages of this geometry are. 1.- Paddlers can be unsynchronized without hitting each other. 2.- The stern paddler doesnīt wet the bow paddler back. 3.- Turning is much easier because sweep strokes really move the edges. We donīt use rudder. The only disadvantage is that the bow paddler may get wet in big waves or crossing the surf line. Best Regards, Rafael www.mayanseas.com *************************************************************************** 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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