Rob posted: >Speaking of deck loads: anyone see the deck loads, fore and aft, in the current Sea Kayaker?< Yeah, I noticed that too. Personally, I don't mind paddlers with deck-cargo loads, as long as there is some kind of systematic approach to the issue, including secure lashings, a low-as-possible-profile spread, and some prior thought and/or testing of self-rescue with said load on boat. A large duffel bag, stuffed tight, riding high can be a liability. I prefer a large bag loaded to 3/4 its capacity, or, a series of smaller, slender gear bags that meet my criteria for spread and curvature, retaining a lower profile overall - and arrangement that seems so much more secure/flat when well lashed. Perhaps a paddler who is _habitually_ over-loaded requires a different boat. SOT paddlers should have a recessed well if they want top cargo loads. As far as an excessive windage profile being created (especially with higher-profile gear bags), there are situations where paddling in wind can be aided OR inhibited by such loads. I don't think large duffel bags on a rear deck with excessive items on the foredeck would be considered normal practice for open sea kayaking, but what the heck is normal anymore in today's world of neo-sea touring opinion and practice? Certainly for lake paddling close to shore, I'd not advocate against such loads, though I wouldn't promote it either. Besides, kayak's are sluggish in fresh water, and I'd try to travel lighter and faster. I have run open water in earlier years with well-secured deck loads (small waterproof gear bags on back deck, custom lashing, with lightweight items only, for trips over a week long and water was available). Since those earlier days, I've modified my Nordkapp for optimum storage capacity, and also use compression bags to tighten up interior gear with items that have a lot of loft. I still could not accommodate a long trip where I needed my own water along. I noticed a review of the new Nordkapp (H20) in the same issue of SK; there was a bit of debate in the subtext that came through regarding storage capacity. I think for larger/taller paddlers anticipation top-side cargo loads, something like a Necky Eskia would be a better choice. No matter what deck loads are carried, spare paddle access can't be forgotten. I used to take a canoe paddle on my front deck when rear loads would obliterate access to the rear-mounted two-part paddle. BTW, there was an incident back east a few years ago where a paddler carrying firewood on his deck died paddling. The incident was never fully reviewed or published due to family grief issues, so that's something not so humorous. As an aside, I counted just over 100 pictures of paddlers seated in a kayak, in the excellent 20th Anniversary issue of Sea Kayaker. Of this number, 7 were not wearing an obvious buoyancy aid (PFD, etc.). Not sure how many folks notice that sort of stuff. (This number of 100 plus did not include pictures of paddlers on book covers or where the image was too small). I do admit there is just something correct looking about a paddler, wearing a PFD, in a kayak clear of all gear save a spare paddle. Idealism, is, well ideal. Last note: Did you catch the "last glace" pictures at the end of the magazine? It's my friend Scott who took over the To'ki business from Dave when he gave up paddling after the Storm Island incident. Scott's dog, also called To'ki, can be seen "walking around the kayak" on a tied on towel for foot-purchase, while Scott rolls his sea kayak. Scott is one of Vancouver Islands finer paddlers, a great, great guy, BCU the whole way. When it comes to Scott's deck load, now,_that's_ a different animal. :-) Rob G Date: Fri, 14 May 2004 16:14:18 -0400 From: Steve Cramer <cramersec_at_charter.net> Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Back Deck Storage Keith Wrage wrote: > So in everyone's opinion, should anything like a sleeping bag or > sleeping pad be carried on that back deck? > > How many people DO have something on the back deck for a 7 day trip? I'd say a sleeping pad is better than the 4 pieces of firewood I was assigned to carry one trip. Sort of Canadian Ballast Rocks(TM) in reverse. - -- Steve Cramer Athens, GA 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sun May 16 2004 - 09:16:17 PDT
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