Below is a copy of my trip report on a workout paddle we did last night. It was my first chance really to see how my new boat performed keeping up to speed. Although I admit to a few different varialbes, it seemed to me no doubt that my Tempest is quite slower than my QCC. Guess I'll have to take them both out with the GPS to see how they differ. Still, I was surprised by the difference I perceived. Maybe the hull experts out there can clue me in. At least it gives me a new respect for the Lollygagger. Mark Although I call my QCC the Lollygagger, I always realized the name applied more to the pilot than the boat. QCCs are generally considered fast boats and even my 500 with it's cavernous hatches and wide beam has a good turn of speed. But for this Thursday night workout paddle, I decided to take the Sapsucker(Tempest 170, plastic), which lived up to its name by sucking away every ounce of my energy! I think by far this has been my slowest paddling month since I started kayaking. I'd only been out twice, as I have been fighting an earache. So I knew I was in for a workout and probably chose unwisely picking the Sapsucker out of my quiver. For some reason, I also decided to go with my GP, which isn't my first choice in paddles. But the idea WAS to get a workout, so what's the point of complainin'! I decided not to be a social recluse and so abandoned the Secret Beach for the Coast Guard Beach. Duane was there early to hang out and chat. We started out with Duane, Montana Dave, me, Barb & Ken, Shameless Dave and Howard & Sharon. On the water, Chuck Freeman had just returned from a paddle and dauntlessly decided to join us. Farther down we met up with John Clinton who was still confused from last months time change! The group started in earnest against a chilly head wind under an overcast sky. Duane and I were the only Gpers, but we never really hung out as I could never get to the head of the group. Just to prove her Sainthood, Barb acquiesced to hang out with me at the back of the crowd, although we strayed not too far from the rear. Past Nick Cage's house, I poured on the speed trying to catch up with Duane, but the Sapsucker just sank into its bow wave and would give me no more. We broke at the bridge on the far side of Lido Isle before starting the downwind home stretch. Duane started off paddling backwards, but it didn't matter. He could have beaten me home with a side draw! Barb and I really fell off the pace and she kept saying she was tiring out. I just wished she'd do it instead of talking about it, because I could barely keep up with her! Still we ignored the fact that the rest of the group was nowhere to be seen and focused on the ferry as a milestone for our return. After that, the CGB wasn't far off and we at least made it to the docks before Howard and Sharon were off the water. Barb and I definitely got a workout, so I hope the rest did too. One snag on the night was MD lost his keys and after much searching had to call AAA to come get him in his van. It was a tough, though enjoyable night on the water, which left me wondering what slowed me the most, the Sapsucker, my GP or just my inactivity of late. I've often been the last to return from a paddle, but not since my first days chasing the CKF crew has it been because I had no other choice. 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/ ***************************************************************************
On Fri, Apr 10, 2009 at 12:14 PM, Mark Sanders <sandmarks_at_ca.rr.com> wrote: > Below is a copy of my trip report on a workout paddle we did last night. It > was my first chance really to see how my new boat performed keeping up to > speed. Although I admit to a few different varialbes, it seemed to me no > doubt that my Tempest is quite slower than my QCC. Guess I'll have to take > them both out with the GPS to see how they differ. Still, I was surprised > by > the difference I perceived. Maybe the hull experts out there can clue me > in. > At least it gives me a new respect for the Lollygagger. > Well, first of all you have the wrong idea about what makes a good "workout boat". I watch so many people spend huge amounts of money on their "workout boat" only to go so fast that they really get practically no workout at all. Before they know it they're at the end of the lake or bay or ocean and it's time to go home. Worse yet, if there is much wind or sea they have to turn around and go home before they launch, thereby getting *actually* no workout at all. No, a fast boat is not the ideal workout boat. Ideally, you'd just paddle the dock (making sure that it's well tethered to the shore). This has many advantages; not the least of which is that you can have sandwiches and beer handy; not to mention a toilet. And when you're nicely pooped out you just stand up and walk back to the car. You can ignore those folks making the nasty remarks about the idiot paddling the dock; that's what I do. See? You get a nice workout and don't actually have to go anywhere. I suppose you could arrange an comfy chair out there on the dock too. Maybe a TV set or FM radio or something. You are on the right track though. Selecting a plastic boat and GP paddles gives you an enormous advantage over more efficient and speedy transport. The other paddlers may get back first but who gets the best workout? Why, it's you, of course. :) So, having said that I have to say that I find plastic boats incredibly slow, too. It might be that all of my plastic boats are white water kayaks and none are longer than about 11 feet. It also might be that paddling them in a straight line is only possible if you focus intently on the bow of the boat and never, ever, stop paddling. (You should try the RPM Max for a workout boat, actually!!!) It also might have something to do with the fact that the bottoms are all scratched and roughed up from launching over rock ledges and stuff. But that just adds to their value as a workout boat. I can sympathize with your fatigue issues. I'm just now getting on the water regularly myself. The winter was long and nasty and I lost all my cross country ski gear in the shop fire so I spent way too much time on the sofa. Hang in there... and if you find a good workout dock keep it a secret or all your friends will be hogging it. Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA *************************************************************************** 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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