Hello from a newbie to the list and to paddling. I will be buying a composite kayak soon and our local vendor has a limited selection. They do have a Gulfstream and it seems to meet most of my criteria. I'll be trying it out this week (with a little cooperation from the retailer) and would appreciate the input of people who have paddled it. What should I be aware of or look for. Thanks for your help. Andy Mulina *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> -----Original Message----- >On Behalf Of Andy Mulina > > Hello from a newbie to the list and to paddling. I will be > buying a composite kayak soon and our local vendor has a > limited selection. They do have a Gulfstream and it seems to > meet most of my criteria. I'll be trying it out this week > (with a little cooperation from the retailer) and would > appreciate the input of people who have paddled it. What > should I be aware of or look for. Thanks for your help.Andie, Andy, Be prepared for a fantastic amount of fun. I have been paddling a GS for a little over two years and it is my absolute favorite boat. There are faster boats out there, but the GS will keep up with a normal cruising speed of about 4 knots without much effort. However, I can get it up to 5 knots only with a great deal of effort and for short periods of time. It just doesn't have the length to do that kind of speed. If you are a new paddler, this boat is something that you will grow into. At first it will be difficult to turn because it tracks extremely well. As you become more proficient, you will find that the boat turns on a dime when leaned or edged. It will handle everything from the flattest water to the kind of rough stuff that Doug Lloyd likes to play in ( I fall somewhere in between those two extremes). After owning this boat, I would never own a boat without a skeg and a day hatch. The only disadvantages are that the skeg does take up some storage space in the rear hatch, but you can put enough gear to camp for about a week if you are careful. The boat is also a bit of a wet ride. The sharp pointed bow knifes through waves rather than going up and over them - but that also eliminates a lot of the slapping that some other boats do. Finally, the boat seems to be the perfect length for wanting to broach in the surf we get in Southern CA. Therefore, you should learn how to side surf the boat on both a low and a high brace--almost all of my surf landings are done sideways. My final statement about the GS is that if I was buying another boat and money was no object--I would still buy another GS. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Re Steve Holtzman's reply to Andy Mulina's Gulfstream query, I also have been paddling a Gulfstream for about two years. I agree with all Steve has to say, although I personally have not found a broaching problem in the Atlantic surf on the South Carolina coast: yes it will broach, but in my (admittedly limited) experience, most kayaks will do that if given a chance. And in any case, as Steve implies, it's edging abilities, plus it's comforting stability when on edge, make sideways landings almost a pleasure. So go for it - I think you will be very happy with the boat. Keith Rodgers *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
One of the reasons a boat broaches easily is the shape of the very front leading edge of the hull. This area is the first to interface with the water and will determine the vessel's course. If the course chosen is not straight down the wave the boat will begin a ( possibly unstoppable) turn or broach. Sidesurf City. The softer, rockered and more rounded this shape the less chance of broach (generally) as it might be maneuvered back onto another course. The thinner and straight the more chance of broach. The GS has a fairly thin bow section (good tracking, tho wet ride) and broaches quite easily. Everything's a compromise. get out and paddle a BUNCH of boats before you fall in love with a design. just 2 centavos steve Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe N 45º 36.285' 250 NE Tomahawk Isle Dr. W 122º 39.841' Portland, OR 97217 Web: www.aldercreek.com Phone: 503.285.0464 Email: aldercreek_at_qwest.net *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
The more boats you can try the better, but as a beginner you won't be able to recognize the boat you will want next year, so you may as well pick one now and trade it later. In particular, a wide boat like the Gulfstream may at first feel attractively stable, and after a few weeks or months seem a barge. Andy Mulina wrote: > Hello from a newbie to the list and to paddling. I will be buying a > composite kayak soon and our local vendor has a limited selection. They do > have a Gulfstream and it seems to meet most of my criteria. I'll be trying > it out this week (with a little cooperation from the retailer) and would > appreciate the input of people who have paddled it. What should I be aware > of or look for. Thanks for your help. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> -----Original Message----- > From: owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net > [mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net] On Behalf Of Andy Mulina > Hello from a newbie to the list and to paddling. I will be > buying a composite kayak soon and our local vendor has a > limited selection. They do have a Gulfstream and it seems to > meet most of my criteria. I'll be trying it out this week > (with a little cooperation from the retailer) and would > appreciate the input of people who have paddled it. What > should I be aware of or look for. Thanks for your help. Andy, Please make sure you share your opinions of the GS with the group after you test paddle it. So far you've already heard comments that range from "it's great" to "it's a barge". I suspect your opinion will probably be somewhere between those two. ;-) Steve Holtzman *************************************************************************** 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 said: >Andy, Please make sure you share your opinions of the GS with the group after you test paddle it. So far you've already heard comments that range from "it's great" to "it's a barge". I suspect your opinion will probably be somewhere between those two. ;-)< The Gulfstream is no barge. Being a bit wider, it sits a little higher in the water so less surface friction is evident. I've seen these boats is some pretty miserable conditions, and they do very well indeed. I think you can push them a little faster than hull speed with minimum effort compared to narrower Greenland styled kayaks that max out sooner, but I've yet to meet a Gulfstream owner who can outpace my heavy Nordkapp when I feel like utilizing my push-pulling stroke (you use body momentum to thrust the kayak forward, then quickly place your paddle well forward and physically try to pull the water backward; more akin to a pulling-water stroke used for outrigger paddling). Works for me and gets me back home through some rather intense seas that most folks will never experience. At times it is the only stroke that gives any forward momentum. It also works well for towing in extreme conditions, though better done with a rear tow as opposed to a torso-tow. The stroke is extremely hard on one's shoulder joints. After some storms, it's back home with dual frozen pea bags for the evening. Doug Lloyd Victoria BC ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ "Whatever can be said at all can be said clearly and whatever cannot be said clearly should not be said at all." Ludwig Wittgenstein ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Doug Lloyd said: > > The Gulfstream is no barge. Being a bit wider, it sits a > little higher in the water so less surface friction is > evident. I've seen these boats is some pretty miserable > conditions, and they do very well indeed. I think you can > push them a little faster than hull speed with minimum effort > compared to narrower Greenland styled kayaks that max out > sooner, but I've yet to meet a Gulfstream owner who can > outpace my heavy Nordkapp when I feel like utilizing my > push-pulling stroke Doug, I couldn't agree with you more. Somewhere in this whole thread someone got me confused with someone who thought the boat was a barge. I *love* my Gulfstream. I've found that I can cruise at 4 to 4 1/2 knots with very little effort---but trying to break the 5 knot barrier is almost impossible for me. That means my friends who paddle those 18-19 foot boats can leave me in their wakes if they put their minds, backs, legs, and arms to it. Although not as heavy as your Nordkapp, it's still a heavy boat for its size. My latest incident with some nasty surf on a launch proved to me that the extra weight pays off in a lot more structural integrity. Steve *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
I have a Sirocco, which is the plastic version of the Gulfstream. I have only paddled a Gulfstream once, but my recollection is that it has substantially the same feel as the Sirocco, except that the Gulfstream is faster and prettier. The boats have virtually the same dimensions and hull shape. I got plastic so I could use it extensively in rock gardening without serious damage. I think it is an excellent boat for someone starting out. Primary stability is not so high that it prevents aggressive edging, and secondary stability is very high so you can put the boat on edge with confidence. It carves turns nicely on edge. The boat rolls easier than any other boat I have paddled. So easily that after paddling mine exclusively for a while, I find that my roll is sloppy when I get in my other boats. That's a plus for a beginner, because when it comes time to learn and master your roll (do it soon), you'll want to stack the deck in your favor. In surf zone conditions it handles with confidence going forward, backward, or sideways, but you don't always have a choice as to which. If the waves aren't to steep I can sometime steer on them and make a bottom turn, but when they get steeper the boat will broach like any other sea kayak. The skeg is marginal on my boat, and the Sea Kayaker test of the Gulfstream indicates that the same holds true for the glass version. The skeg has just enough area to cancel weather cocking, but not enough to make the boat favor downwind. That's not necessarily a negative, but you have to be careful when packing the boat. If you pack too bow heavy, you won't be able to cancel the weather cocking with the skeg. If you carefully pack stern heavy, you won't need the skeg anyway. I would recommend it, but don't delude yourself into thinking you'll be happy with it for 10 years. I don't believe it will "seem a barge" after a few weeks or months, but your tastes in a boat will evolve as you find your niche in the sport. Good luck. Steve Brown -----Original Message----- Hello from a newbie to the list and to paddling. I will be buying a composite kayak soon and our local vendor has a limited selection. They do have a Gulfstream and it seems to meet most of my criteria. I'll be trying it out this week (with a little cooperation from the retailer) and would appreciate the input of people who have paddled it. What should I be aware of or look for. Thanks for your help. Andy Mulina *************************************************************************** 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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