Re: [Paddlewise] Rec boats

Steve McBride <drsm_at_direcway.com> asked:
>>>>>>Anyone on this forum have an opinion on a decent boat for shallow
rivers
(read rock scratches), mostly grade 1-3, and small lakes? I'm seeing a lot
of recreational boats that are so wide that they aren't as much fun to
paddle, but white water boats don't work well crossing small lakes. Maybe no
such animal exists, but if you have an idea, I'm open to hearing it. Our
regular boats are too long for rivers, and too valuable to chance the rocks
and sticks on the bottom.<<<<<<<<

I've been pretty disappointed in most plastic Rec boats. A few years back
after testing dozens of them at a symposium I liked paddling the little
inflatable Sterns K-116 (the one with the little skeg, not the WW version of
the same name) better than most of the plastic Rec boats then on the market.
Probably, I liked it better because it was far better than I had expected
from a little inflatable and the Rec boats didn't come anywhere close to
what I thought they could be. Lately, some Rec boats have gotten lots
better. I thought the Dagger Catalyst 13.0 and Element 11.2 were good
representatives of what a Rec kayak could be (among plastic kayaks their
respective lengths). Both turned very quickly with a lean (8 & 6 sec.) but
tracked relatively okay when level (12 & 9 sec.). The Crossover didn't turn
any faster than the Element (6 sec.) but tracked about as well (7 sec.) as
an old whitewater kayak (in other words, it didn't). [Note: the ratio of
tracking (level) to turning (leaned) times has more to do with ones
perception of tracking ability than the raw level turning numbers do].
I never expected a lot of speed out of a Rec kayak, but most I've tried
chugged and churned up the water at anywhere near their hull speed (which
because of their short length is very easy to get to so anyone wanting to
get somewhere is likely to be pushing them that fast). The Catalyst and the
Element were much cleaner through he water than most kayaks their same size.
I found the Prijon Yukon Expedition to also not track at all well when level
(10 sec.) but not turn much faster (7 sec.) than the Catalyst when leaned
(it also had a very strong weather helm).

Prijon's 14-6 long x 25.5" wide Calabria could be turned almost as quickly
when leaned (7.5 sec.) but tracked very well when level (15 sec.). That is a
nice combination for a short touring kayak I wrote in my notes about the
Calabria: nice kayak except for weather helm & my size 12 feet snag on
recessed deck fittings when using the rudder. The rudder or the quick
response to a leaned turn could both be used to correct the weather helm).
The Yukon Expedition could turn a leaned 180 only 1/2 second faster (7 sec.)
but didn't track nearly as well when level (10 sec.).
Note: my timed results for plastic kayaks often vary when retested due to
the differing shapes of the "same" plastic kayaks (even when new and they
came out of the same mold). I almost always get the same turning numbers
with fiberglass kayaks of the same model (unless there is some confounding,
like the design was changed but the name remained, or there was a large
difference in water temperatures between the tests). I'd advise anyone
buying a plastic kayak to either test paddle the very kayak you will
purchase or get a guarantee from the seller that you will that feel it
paddles the same as the demo kayak you tried and liked (or else you can
return it within a reasonable period). After purchase your job is to try not
to distort it into some new shape. Hot days and roof racks can both take
their toll on soft plastic kayaks but the combination can make major changes
to their shape (and likely how deep the keels will be in the water the next
time you use it). Among polyethylene kayaks the Prijon's are probably the
least likely to get distorted later because they use a little stiffer
plastic (that requires a different molding process).

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/
***************************************************************************