Re: [Paddlewise] How tough are SOF

Gordin (et al),

Chris's Romany didn't take the punishment in the surf, in the end of course.

Here's another Romany with surf damage:

>http://www.apgar.com/040430_gallery.htm<

I've seen some BC built kayaks buckle way too easily in the surf  though - 
and no, it ain't a pretty sight. I mean really buckled man..

Truth is, any kayak is subject to surf damage, especially filled with water. 
The Cape Falcon guys seem to put their SOF's through the surf grinder, with 
undue abandon. I'd hate to have a wooden hull rib break at the chine while 
surfing and impale my buttocks though. Harvey G, I don't think, reports 
structural problems in SOF surfing, though he tends to hit the back of his 
head on the rear deck when the waves get too big! Guess you better configure 
your SOF aft deck beams to anthropocentrically miss your head, rather 
cradling it on the softer skin part between deck beams. :-)

I think the loading and unloading aspect is what makes touring less 
objective with a SOF, not to mention the lower volume usually associated the 
the funnier paddling designs.

My ultimate touring/surf capable/rock garden survivable sea kayak would 
probably be made using laminated carbon fiber/ Kevlar composites 
thermoformed into shape. As manufacturing composite affordability gets 
better, it may be a more realistic option in the future. Heck of a long way 
from SOF's of 2000 years ago.

Hey, I like the picture of you from Mick Allen's site:

>http://www.westcoastpaddler.com/wallpaper/download.php?image=18&pic=5<

It's now on my monitor background.

Let's do Deception Pass sometime. Sounds like good training:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/outdoors/2002866793_nwwkayaks16.html

Behave,

Doug


> Just how tough are SOF kayaks?
>
> How well would they stand up to an emergency landing on a dumping surf 
> beach?
> Could they survive more then one dumping surf landing?
>
> What's the best skin to use if you want to paddle a SOF in the rock 
> gardens?
>
> Can you build a SOF with water proof forward and aft compartments as Doug
> seems to imply he'd like to do?
>
> Would not ridgid bulkheads thwart the whole flexible aspects of a SOF?
>
> I ask these questions out of ignorance I'm not trying to start a month 
> long
> arguement over the merits of SOF.  In fact I've considered a SOF for a 
> trip
> I'd like to make to a remote area.  Howeer, I'd like to know if such  boat 
> can
> take the sort of punishment for example that Chris Duff's NDK went through
> down in New Zealand.
>
> Gordin
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