An interesting discussion so far, but some important measurements used to identify a great sea kayaker have been overlooked. Please pardon the use of the pronoun "he" for the designated paddler, but I just can not force myself to type "she/he". (OK I can not force myself to type it more than once). 1. Boat loan factor = Number of kayaks owned * (percent of time he has said yes to borrowing a kayak). Note: If more than one type of kayak is owned add 0.2 to number of kayaks owned for each different type (touring, surfing, folding, etc) Note: Add 0.5 to number of kayaks owned if loan of kayak includes $300+ carbon fiber paddle or a really nice Greenland paddle Note: Subtract 0.2 from number of kayaks if more than 1 of kayaks is plastic. I hate rock gardening in a borrowed fiberglass kayak since it usually results in "percent of time said yes to borrowing" going right down to zero. Therefore having one plastic kayak available is a plus but beyond that I consider a whole plastic fleet as a liability 2. Boat transport factor = Number of kayaks carried on his car/trailer * (percent of time asked that he will transport kayaks and you and your friends) Note: Add 5 * (1- percent of time he asks for gas money) Note: Max factor is 10 regardless of calculated number 3. Food factor = Number of extra servings carried * (Restaurant price of equivalent serving)/5) Note: Multiply number of extra servings by 1.5 for imported beers, good wines, and freshly backed cobblers. Note: Add 1 if he cooks and cleans dishes on camping trips Note: This is calculated on a daily basis so average what happens over long trips by the number of days in the trip. Be sure and do a calculation for extra servings of snacks, main dishes, and desserts. Note: Many people have used a "taste" factor but we know this is a completely subjective measurement and could not be adequately measured in even the best of tank tests. I would be willing to try a tank test with a tank of lobster (boiled and with drawn butter) or filled with rib-eye steaks and twice baked potatoes if anyone would care to finance the tests. Add the 3 factors and rate as follows 0 - 4.99 -- Would benefit from paddling with higher rated kayakers 5 - 9.99 -- Average 10 - 19.99 -- Superior 20 and > -- Holy grail (The hand roll is the holy grail for many kayakers, but finding a paddling partner that rates this high is my holy grail). I am also working to incorporate the following factors, but have not completely worked out the formulas: a. Inverse ego factor b. Bladder capacity factor c. Inverse chatter factor d. Naturalist factor - This was the "person who could identify that bird" factor , but I think it should be expanded somewhat. e. Natureist factor - This is the "person who knows where all the nude beaches are" factor. (I think this is the proper terminology but I may have it incorrect) Quote from a future famous philosopher: "Is a kayaker measured with a Greenland ruler any more or less than one measured with a Euro (metric) ruler?" Mark J. Arnold - A "2" in search of a "20" . mjamja_at_earthlink.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/ ***************************************************************************
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