[Paddlewise] CD Storm - was New Boat

Keith Wrage wrote:
> I'm 6'8", 250 lbs and paddle what most would consider an entry level boat
> (plastic to boot!) - a Current Designs Storm.  

Hey, watch it - them's fighting words! ;-)

Actually, I've had an "older" style Storm for about 5 years now and it
is still one of my favorite high volume sea kayaks. For those of us
heavy enough for it, it was a great design. It tracked well even without
a rudder, yet it would carve a great turn if you could put it on edge.
It had good secondary stability, rolled well, and had a low back deck.
For a XXL paddler it was almost a sports car compared to most of the
other stiff-tracking high volume kayaks out there. It still had plenty
of volume, however, so even a heavy paddler could continue paddling with
some water in it after a self rescue in rough water. It also makes a
great boat for a "normal" sized friend of mine who uses it when leading
2 week trips in Baja, because he can carry a ton of gear and yet it will
still handle well for him (his other kayaks refuse to carve a turn when
loaded that heavily).  

Unfortunately, when I saw the "new improved" Storm at a show last fall,
it looked like a completely different boat. As I stood there looking at
it in disbelief, the rep proudly announced it was a completely new boat
- they had taken a foot and a half of rocker out. I asked why, and he
said they did that so it will be faster. As I began to cry, I explained
that I liked the old Storm because it was one of the few big-guy boats
that was maneuverable. He told me that I really wasn't going to like the
new one. I asked if they had any other big-guy boats, glass or plastic,
that would not be stiff-tracking designs. He told me I better buy one of
the older Storms while they were still around.

Going back into the garage to work on my next boat,
Frank





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