Re: [Paddlewise] Another Tiderace Review

"muthah-shipping". Got it! Guess I've been leaning toward the other guy's
"mothership" moniker: http://www.pbase.com/bartenderdave/profile

Dave gave us a good on-going play-by-play on paddlewise and Westcoast Paddler
(I finally actually joined WP recently).

As for the Mariner's, they really are fine examples of what it takes to find
the perfect compromise of design parameters and finally bring into production
and distribution each design. All boats, as we know, are a compromise of often
competing design issues. And I think Matt and Cam even played up the fact that
these kayaks weren't for mass market appeal, but rather for the "few" - the
few I assume they meant as totally discriminating paddlers. So if you like the
Mariner line in general, I'd say you are amongst some prime candidates.

And conceptually and in practice, things like the Mariner sliding seat system
for adjusting trim were obviously genius, but then again, more complexity,
more weight. The latter undeniable. The lack of bulkheads was another
fantastic, if bold, course of action to take. I should know, I have almost
irreparable damage to my kayak underhull, where one can plainly determine the
profile of the bulkheads from sever cracks. I remember a fellow who first
circumnavigated the Charlottes; he had a Washington-made kayak that he
specified without bulkheads, due to the heavy surf landings he anticipated. He
also found the kayak a pain to load and unload. Again, not a mass-market
appeal.

As far as Duane's comments, stern rocker is another of those compromises. And
just where is the degree of separation between a kayak that needs a rudder or
skeg for mild broaching problems versus severe? Where in the continuum does
one kayak suddenly designate itself as unfit from a safety and easy usage
standpoint? And how much is only antithetical hyperbole (not Duane's specific
observations, but in general kayak community discussions)?

Ultimately, for a playboat, kayak designers like Bjorn prefer maneuverability
to tractability with direction stability primarily the quality of the paddler
technique, rather than the hull design which inhibits the kayak forever. This
would seem to be the Mariner approach. How one arrives there can be j
subjective. That is there opinions and Bjorn would even call it an acquired
taste, not shared by all. For an expedition sea kayak, obviously strong
tracking features are what one looks for, and anticipates in the design more
often than not. Funnily enough, some of the best BCU/ACA/CRCA paddlers I know
secretly love their high volume, rudder equipped kayaks (like the CD
Expedition as an example), finding life just simply grand in these kayaks for
long-range travel, with ease of directional stability in cross winds during
long exposures, and not too tight a fit for multi-day expeditioning, as far as
cockpit size and seating.

I like a kayak than can do it all, with more emphasis on a tight-fitting,
low-profile design that tracks well in open waters, can still be played with
in rock gardens, and has a good turn of speed full out, yet paddles easily and
burns less calories at routine paddling speeds. It has to look good too, be
able to be maneuver back on course when wave and wind conspire to push you
around. I don't want a kayak that pops hatches in open surf, leaks, and one
that doesn't crack under the indignation of heavy rocky surf landings; one
that has at least a bit of secondary (or final) stability, and a kayak that
you simply are not overtly aware of beneath you (one that makes you feel like
part of the environment, rather than sitting in a big tub). That last point
has been mentioned by Mariner owners, so I know some are happy, and certainly
the responsiveness of kayaks like the Express suggests that this is a key
aspect of kayak "feel" and flow. For me, traditional Inuit based designs and
the British-form kayaks are the only thing that turns my crank. I may be
wrong, I may be right. It is my oinion. That's all I can really answer for,
though I am unabashed in my desire to see paddlers get out on the water and
enjoy themselves - even if you have to use "muthashipping". :-)

(My wife just looked at Dave's photos of the bartender, and said she could see
herself skippering a boat like that, following me around in my kayak. A mama
mothershipper in waiting!)

Doug

Craig had said (snip):

  That's "muthah-shipping". <grin>

  Thanks for your thoughts on this issue. It's always fun to get in on one of
these debates (or help start one) because the ideas are always interesting.

  As to why the Mariners are being sold, I didn't ask. At least one of the
Mariners has some repair issues (bow). Sometimes people just give up aspects
of paddling for personal reasons. Sometimes they move on; having been seduced
into something new. I didn't dare contact the seller. I'm not allowed to buy
any more kayaks. I'm pretty sure she's bought a gun.
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