Thank you, everyone, for the intelligent answers about bent shaft paddles. I learned what I had hoped to learn. I'll chime in on boat counts. Since kayaks are like golf clubs, each for a very specific purpose and all a compromise of some sort, I don't think there's any shame in having a bunch. Me: Skin on frame Greenland style built in class at Superior kayak (love it - 17.5 inches wide, 18.5 feet long. FAST) SKUK Explorer Laser bat slalom boat Perception Pirouette whitewater boat Perception Sabre whitewater boat Feathercraft Expedition K-1 Feathercraft Expedition K-2 Robin Savage made thing that has wood deck and fibreglas hull, sort of a fast but shorter day tripper kayak (?) which I got for $75 at a symposium. Don't know what it should be called other than fast and fun to paddle. Current Designs Libra XT 40 year old BAT boat (Baths Advanced Trainer - baths being British for "pool") a kayak polo boat that has rounded ends and is only five feet long. Interesting history of the boat and a picture of one the same color as mine at http://ukriversguidebook.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5752&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=bath+trainer Jim Tibensky *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In the recent postings of our group wherein people listed their aquatic vehicle holdings, Jim & Craig both listed a Perception Pirouette whitewater boat. I have been looking to pick up a cheap WW off Ebay to just play with. I've had a little experience here and have found that I don't fit in every WW boat. DAMHIKT! My impression is that I would be able to fit in the Piroette. I am 6'-1" tall, 217lbs and size 13 (US) feet. [184cm tall, 98kg, 15.5 stone with 46 shoes] Can anyone confirm this? Thanks, Bill Leonhardt *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I am 5'11", 34" inseam, around 185#, size 12(46) feet. I paddled a Pirouette for a few years and I don't think i was maxing it out. You would probably fit OK. The Pirouette is a fast boat, especially by current trends, not too difficult to roll. The quintessential Big Boy's boat is the RPM Max, which I think Craig has. That boat is huge on me. If you're looking for a plain river runner, the Dagger Vortex is roomy. Leonhardt, William J wrote: > In the recent postings of our group wherein people listed their aquatic > vehicle holdings, Jim & Craig both listed a Perception Pirouette > whitewater boat. > > I have been looking to pick up a cheap WW off Ebay to just play with. > I've had a little experience here and have found that I don't fit in > every WW boat. DAMHIKT! > > My impression is that I would be able to fit in the Piroette. I am > 6'-1" tall, 217lbs and size 13 (US) feet. [184cm tall, 98kg, 15.5 stone > with 46 shoes] > > Can anyone confirm this? -- Steve Cramer Athens, GA http://www.savvypaddler.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Bill, you would also fit in a Dagger RPM Max, Pyranha H2 or H3 (as long as it is 255 L), Cheers, Rob G -----Original Message----- From: Leonhardt, William J <wjleonhardt_at_bnl.gov> To: paddlewise <PaddleWise_at_paddlewise.net> Sent: Mon, 18 Aug 2008 9:02 am Subject: [Paddlewise] WW boat In the recent postings of our group wherein people listed their aquatic vehicle holdings, Jim & Craig both listed a Perception Pirouette whitewater boat. I have been looking to pick up a cheap WW off Ebay to just play with. I've had a little experience here and have found that I don't fit in every WW boat. DAMHIKT! My impression is that I would be able to fit in the Piroette. I am 6'-1" tall, 217lbs and size 13 (US) feet. [184cm tall, 98kg, 15.5 stone with 46 shoes] Can anyone confirm this? Thanks, Bill Leonhardt *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
William, I'm am 6' 1/2" (used to be 6'2") and about 220lbs with a size 12 shoe and I can barely fit into the Pirouette. Mostly the inseam and the feet; long legs and long feet can cramp your toes into the bulkhead and create a very sharp angle on your ankles. It's not comfortable for me for hours of playing. This is one of the reasons I migrated to an RPM Max although I think the plain old RPM would have done just fine. Almost all of the w/w boats built prior to about 1995 were small; they didn't start producing boats for bigger guys until they all witnessed the phenomenal success of Dagger's RPM. Somewhere around 2000 it became popular to build designs in two or three sizes. The Pirouette is a fine river runner and a decent little playboat. At least one CKF'er uses his as a rock garden boat and I know of a few people who like them in ocean surf. No "edges" though. The RPM and RPM Max will surf standing waves but they have no edges so you can't really do tricks with them. They side-surf well, though. And they have a lot of buoyancy so they'll keep you on top. There are a lot of Pirouettes out there and you should be able to find something to try on. I found pain to be a great motivator to move to a larger boat but it took a few years. There are some reviews on www.paddling.net which can be valuable. Ignore the numerical values (everyone thinks their favorite kayak is a 10) but you can draw insight from the commentaries. Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA On Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 9:02 AM, Leonhardt, William J <wjleonhardt_at_bnl.gov>wrote: > In the recent postings of our group wherein people listed their aquatic > vehicle holdings, Jim & Craig both listed a Perception Pirouette > whitewater boat. > > I have been looking to pick up a cheap WW off Ebay to just play with. > I've had a little experience here and have found that I don't fit in > every WW boat. DAMHIKT! > > My impression is that I would be able to fit in the Piroette. I am > 6'-1" tall, 217lbs and size 13 (US) feet. [184cm tall, 98kg, 15.5 stone > with 46 shoes] > > Can anyone confirm this? *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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