Re: [Paddlewise] Happy feet/ spare paddle storage

From: Kirk Olsen <kork4_at_cluemail.com>
Date: Sat, 05 May 2007 09:53:34 -0400
On Fri, 04 May 2007 23:41:05 -0700, "Doug Lloyd" <douglloyd_at_shaw.ca>
said:
> Kirk said (snip):
> > I'm in Massachusetts.  I've been on the water for about 6 weeks. 
> 
> Okay, okay! I'm impressed. :-)

My point was it's not just a warm weather boat.  "Impressing" you was a
bonus ;-)
 
> But how do you stay on top of a surf ski? I can't imagine life without
> thigh  braces. Or is it like riding a bike - just keep moving forward?

It's more difficult - the transition is tough from a decked kayak - much
easier from an open
canoe.  I balance by pushing down on the opposite butt cheek instead of
pulling up with the onside knee.

> http://www.surfskischool.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=2

http://www.surfski.info has some links to some good videos.

> > That is definitely a cool looking boat.  The 22" beam sounds more like a
> > fishing platform (from my highly biased stupidly tippy perspective).
> > Although if I wanted a tripping boat that would definitely be on my
> > short list to demo.
> 
> Surf ski paddlers are a narrow-minded lot, aren't they? :-)

To push discussion being a highly biased is useful..

> I suppose North American manufactures will continue to come out with more 
> and more "Brit" style boats too, both play-sized and expedition-volumed.
> I  see Nimbus has a new one coming out (Ice Kap) that I first saw on
> Sterling 
> Donalson's site:
> 
> http://sterlingskayak.com/Manufacturing.shtml

One of the people on the surf ski mailing list recently lamented that
the North American market is 5 to 8 years behind the southern hemisphere
in terms of what was available for performance boats - for both
multisport racing and surf skis.  There are rotomolded surf skis
available in Australia and South Africa, none that I'm aware of in the
northern hemisphere.  Most of the rotomolded sit no tops in north
america seem to be geared toward the fishing market.  It would be nice
to see an inexpensive quasi performance sit on top.
 
> Yeah...still affraid of chine damage and paddelability without the hull 
> section profile I'm used to. Hey, I think digitus-longevitus should be
> aided now that I have oxygen flowing to the brain again and good hemodynamic 
> perfusion, though I did opt for the pig valve to negate blood thinner use
> - given that I'll still be woodworking. :-)

Build yourself a hard chine boat and beat the crap out of it on one of
your local walk out padde spots
to see if you trust it.

> BTW, I did consider prepreg nomex for a possible self-built Nordkapp, but
> my kitchen oven won't fit the full length for curing.

I've got a local kayak company with a prepreg nomex system.  If you have
a similar company in your area it might be possible to rent time using
it, if they have some downtime.  I'll be demoing one of their kayaks
this afternoon - I hope the water's lumpy ;-)

Kirk
-- 
  Kirk Olsen
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Received on Sat May 05 2007 - 06:53:41 PDT

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