Re: [Paddlewise] Another Tiderace Review

> Doug wrote:
>>>>>>>>Matt was one of the early promoters of temporary outrigger re-entry
> methodology; his rigging reflects that. Funny to now see almost all kayak
> reviews include deck rigging as an integral component of good 
> design.<<<<<<

Matt replied:
> Actually, Doug you have the cart before the horse. I was influenced by the
> cool looking deck rigging I saw on some of the English designs such as the
> VCP Nordkapp and McNulty Huntsman. I spent many late evenings (after my
> family had retired) in early 1981 in my basement sitting in the original
> Mariner kayak thinking about how to make deck riggings more functional 
> ...snip

> I didn't invent (and promote) the outrigger paddle float rescue 
> (originally
> called the Mariner self-rescue--see John Dowd's second edition of Sea
> Kayaking) until a little after the deck line system was already in place.
> Serendipitously, the back deck gear holding lines were already located 
> where
> it was easy to slip a paddle under them and use the drip ring as a stop 
> so...snip

Well I certainly remember your undue influence on me back then; I carried my 
half-filler water jug faithfully everywhere I paddled for a number of years, 
undergoing the scorn and ridicule of my re-enter and roll only buddies. 
Okay, I kept a SeaSeat for backup.

Hey, I have a Nordkapp and a McNulty Huntsman. Where do you think they came 
up with that saying, "All decked out"? :-)

> Doug also wrote:
>>>>>Kayak with a proven ability to ride over waves and not through then 
>>>>>also
>
> have a problem in high winds of being blow sideways. Just like boats with
> low volume give a wetter ride.<<<<<<<

Matt replied:
> While I'm sure you have experienced this I don't think you can make it a
> general rule. I think you may be comparing apples to oranges here. In 
> fact,
> in some cases your experience could be just the opposite. Given all things
> being kept equal (that is, an equal profile, draft, width, load weight, 
> and
> tracking stiffness) except for more fullness in the above waterline bow
> lines in one of the kayaks than the other I'll bet the fuller bow blows 
> over
> less because it presents a more streamlined rounded profile to a side wind
> rather than the more flat vertical ends on a finer bowed kayak.

It might, it might not. Hard to take things in isolation, I agree. But you 
can't discount the possibility totally. Certainly I've heard reports of 
bow-blow down for owners of kayaks like the Southwind and others. Heck, even 
the new Nordkapp LV looks like a wind vane. Jeesh. It seems to me each kayak 
model has its compromises, faults, and better attributes. The kayak 
community, the market place, time, word of mouth and word over the internet 
sorts out the models that excell, the models that do okay, and the real dogs 
(which may do just fine for average paddling). And I know what I see with my 
own eyes, but as usual, should shut up and keep it to myself. :-)

Matt said:
>Even though
> the finer bow may bury in the face of the waves it still comes out and is
> exposed at the wave crest where the wind is strongest (because it is not
> blocked by the waves as it is when the bow is in the trough). In fact, 
> after
> being buried deep in the wave face it may pop out even higher than a bow
> with a more progressive lift. I can't help but remembering that old 
> Current
> Designs advertisement with the very fine bow Solstice at about a 45 degree
> angle after punching a breaker (and while it made a dramatic photo my 
> guess
> was it was actually headed for a back ender in the next few seconds).

You don't want to know what else happened to that kayak next in that 
photoshoot!

Matt said:
> Greater fullness at the stern can also make for a wetter ride (all other
> things being equal) because the previous wave may be (given a roughly 
> kayak
> length wavelength--the roughest kind) lifting it more and not letting the
> bow pivot back up as easily as a finer stern (which can sink further
> allowing the bow pivot up more).

Ah yes, a finer stern. My Nordkapp has a fine looking rear end. Love the sea 
kindly ride in the messy stuff. Craig doesn't know wht he's missing. Though, 
his Mariner kayaks are the next best thing. :-)    ..........just some 
humour Matt!!!!!!!!!!!!

DL 
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