Ten people were waiting at the Coast Guard beach this morning probably wondering where the host was. Ken had decided to launch with me at the Secret Beach and so got to see my new boat, which I had hoped to spring on everybody at the CG beach. I had just bought the boat on Saturday and spent the evening moving the seat back and inch and a half, but could still barely get my feet on the pegs. Ken had some ambitious plans, so it probably wasn't a good day for a maiden voyage, but what the hey. So the Lollygagger stayed at home. At CGB, we had time to chat and Henry was surprised to hear I couldn't get my feet on my pegs. He's 6'2" or so with the same boat and when he tried mine, he didn't have any trouble. It might have something to do with me owning a pair of size 13 feet though. Our large group decided to take charge of the middle of the channel on our way out, so it was good traffic was at a minimum. Despite being a bit snug, I was feeling good in the Sapsucker(as in yellow bellied) and I liked the way it responded to leans. I got the feeling that I was getting a bit more torso rotation, although that may be a figment of my imagination. Ken led us all far out to sea in search of the Grays and after a while my cramped legs started to complain. I'd alternately take one foot off, but it wasn't that easy to get them back on. When we turned to head home, the coast looked very far away. Not everyone stayed together on the way home and while the main group headed for Abalone Point, I decided to head a bit north to Crystal cove. I headed straight on to the beach to stretch my legs and wait for the rest to make their way north. I rejoined the group, but stayed inside the surf zone for the trip home. I put the Sapsucker through it paces dodging sneaker waves and getting side surfed a couple time. I felt pretty confident with the more maneuverability of my new boat and found myself getting ever closer to the reefs. I seemed to hear an occasional gasp from the peanut gallery whenever I seemed to be engulfed by a way, but there was no real carnage. We made our maiden voyage through BAR and then made the long slog back to the harbor. I was happy to find a nice roomy chair for lunch at the Fireside. ---The Sapsucker is a yellow plastic Tempest 170. Although slower and heavier than the Lollygagger, it has the maneuverability and rolling characteristics I was looking for in a new boat. Most of my paddles are rather short, shore hugging affairs, so I think this boat may just be the ticket. The Lollygagger will probably be looking for a new home! Mark # *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Hey Mark... congratulations on the new boat. Hope you solve the footroom issue. I have to say that the time I was entrapped in the Express I was also having trouble getting my feet back on the pegs because I had so little room (due to the tennis shoes I chose to wear). If you are not already paddling with no shoes at all, try that and then move upwards to something that will give you the support you need without being cramped. I tend to sit with my toes on the pegs and my feet pointing towards the bow and my toes pointing to the side of the boat. If it's narrowness of the bow that is causing a problem move the pegs towards you and your knees out. It can be very dangerous to get your feet hung up in the tight confines of the boat. Craig *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Mark This post wins the Oscar for most unique title. Bob *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
How sad for the Good Ship Lollygagger. Brad Mark wrote: > Ten people were waiting at the Coast Guard beach this morning probably > wondering where the host was. Ken had decided to launch with me at the > Secret Beach and so got to see my new boat, which I had hoped to spring on > everybody at the CG beach. I had just bought the boat on Saturday and > spent > the evening moving the seat back and inch and a half, but could still > barely > get my feet on the pegs. Ken had some ambitious plans, so it probably > wasn't > a good day for a maiden voyage, but what the hey. So the Lollygagger > stayed > at home. > > > ---The Sapsucker is a yellow plastic Tempest 170. Although slower and > heavier than the Lollygagger, it has the maneuverability and rolling > characteristics I was looking for in a new boat. Most of my paddles are > rather short, shore hugging affairs, so I think this boat may just be the > ticket. The Lollygagger will probably be looking for a new home! *************************************************************************** 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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