Re: [Paddlewise] Another Tiderace Review

On Sun, Mar 9, 2008 at 6:41 PM, Doug Lloyd <douglloyd_at_shaw.ca> wrote:

>  Yes, overall, the Mariner line of kayaks seems to be the penultimate line
> of kayaks that do well without rudders or skegs. I do admit that. An active
> paddling style with a responsive hull design without auxiliary appendages
> must arguably be the hallmark of achieving the perfect compromise of design.
> I'd never take that away from Matt or Cam.
>

The question remains: Why haven't more designers taken the Mariner designs
and moved forward with them? Or even some designers. LOL.


> And, I must admit, it is difficult pulling myself away from the
> Igdlorssuit inspired lineage just about all British kayaks are derived from.
> I'm not so sure hard chines are my bag, perhaps too slappy in waves, slower,
> and less predictable in heavy seas; it does seem most recreational paddlers
> in the end are happy with some bilge roundness, while the harder chin kayaks
> do best in an SOF build where there is flex and give. It also seems apparent
> to me that British paddlers tend to like to paddle what their peers are
> paddling. That's almost axiomatic too.
>

We like what we like and what we're used to and most of us have to be pushed
into anything new and different. Pam almost literally pushed me into
Mariners and then, after buying a Max and a Sprite, she's move to an Ice
Kap. I tend to like chines because I like my boat to "bite" into the waves
as I move across them rather than slide sideways. I guess that's another
part of the Mariner hull shape that surprised me because they have chines
aft and round hulls forward. Plus a keel. Just try to build this in SOF.
LOL. (And ya, I know someone built an SOF version of a Coaster... talk about
dedication.)

I also wonder what happened to the Lee Moyer, Pacific Water Sports line of
> kayaks. They were another local PNW line of kayaks that had good success and
> a goodly following. Oh, I know the history with Lee and his ex and all that,
> but I still wonder why these manufactures come and go, rather than their
> designs just getting better and better, like Valley and P&H. Even the
> Mariners were out of production for some time.
>

Marketing? I look at all the ads and so many of them tout directional
stability ("like it's on rails"). Is this what paddlers want or is it what
the marketers are convincing them they want? Rock solid directional
stability is great for point-to-point paddling but not so nifty if you want
to play in a rock garden. Again, the Mariners seem to have combined these
traits better than most but no one has jumped onto that bandwagon at all.  I
would hate for that design line to just end... with all its promise (and so
many races won, too).

>
> My old Nordkapp fit me like a glove, allowed for complete confidence I
> could get through anything - and often did, and I've never climbed in
> another boat that made me feel that way (even discounting the
> never-as-familiar-with-your-old-boat phenomenon). If I lower the profile a
> bit more, shape in a bit more rocker, add a Keriteck skeg or rudder and
> lighten it up, I may just go with that.
>

Having full confidence and faith in your ride is critical in the soup, there
is no doubt. But you paddled that boat for a long, long time so it's not
surprising that it would take some finite period of time to get as familiar
with another design. Or maybe it's not possible.

>
> Oh, and Craig, sitting here today listening to some old 80's feel-good
> light rock, the fleeting memories of the early 80's came flooding back:
> driving down to Seattle, my Nordkapp on the roofracks, looking for some good
> gear I couldn't by here at the time, then heading over to Cape Flattery -
> youth intact, sense of adventure keen, loads of life still ahead of me, no
> limits to the horizon, no irrational fears of the ocean holding my at bay -
> those were the days. They pass far too quickly my friend.
>

LOL... I had to laugh at this paragraph because last night when I was
responding to you I was watching the PBS begathon version of rock and blues
stars on television and it was difficult to keep my mind on what I was
typing. Right now I'm watching Paris-Nice (the bicycle race) and remembering
my youth on performance bikes (even in France). Nothing lasts forever and
the trick is to be able to move smoothly from one thing to another.
Otherwise it's the sofa.. and oblivion.


Craig
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