Re: [Paddlewise] Advice on boats

Jerry wrote:

> Doug wrote:
>>Nordkapp LV is incredibly fast off the line but still a demanding kayak 
>>that requires the paddler to take care of themselves. Boat will not do it 
>>for you. All need a little skeg now and again.
>
> In general, Doug, what is gained from a kayak that is demanding vs a 
> similar one that is not as demanding?  It is not like the Tiderace or 
> Romany are inferior to the NLV in conditions because they are less 
> demanding.  What is lost from a bit of stability provided by these 
> similarly purposed boats, or gained from the twitchy quickness of the NLV?
>
> Jerry

Well Jerry and all, good evening. That's the question a lot of instructors 
ask too in terms of a boat for themselves, especially as a Romany used for 
instruction allows pedagogical concentration toward the student, allowing 
the instructor to not need to pay as much attention to balance, etc. 
Similarly, the Romany-like hulls undergoing initiated strokes are more 
responsive to the applied implementation allowing all parties a better 
visual reference. This obviously translates well not only for instruction 
but into a kayak that takes better care of you on an expedition or in 
textured water with faceted hydraulics from unexpected quarters. Good 
paddlers like Shauna of BBB switched out of Nordkapps and into NDK designs 
some time ago for precisely these reasons. Advanced paddlers and instructors 
like Mike at Ecomarine also made the same move - even more so as some of the 
NDK hulls do well even without a skeg, which is unlikely with the Valley 
designs. Duff applied this logic to his expeditioning paddling, gaining not 
only cargo capacity, but an "uncomplication" too. His hull responsiveness 
meant excellent maneuverability in heavy surf zones.

So, why the heck a twitchy Nordkapp? Well the LV is a different kettle of 
fish, and a Nordkapp in name only to a degree. Test paddles have confirmed 
this for me. While the LV is fast off the line, the Classic and the Jubilee 
are still better long-range paddling machines, though the LV doesn't need 
the weight in it to enjoy day-tripping.And there is a difference between 
play boater requirements for rock gardens/surf/tideraces versus open ocean 
storm play. The later isn't a big draw. Look at the cross-comparison charts 
on the Point 65 web site. Play boats de-escalate performance in big open 
water conditions.

As for your implied assertion, I'd agree that the more relaxing Tiderace or 
Romany is an equal performer for most tastes without the twitchy 
preponderance. However, one should also bear witness to maritime 
hydrodynamic tradition and realize that the Nordkapp hull even through the 
latest itineration shares a heritage with classic Viking hulls as well as 
took inception form Inuit proven form.Those who love their Nordys can't 
express exactly what draws them to pursue the learning curve associated with 
paddling these hulls in advanced conditions, or why they put up with the 
difficulty of even something as simple as getting a camera out of the day 
hatch.

I can say that when I sit and paddle a Romany, the front bow gyrates with 
each paddle stroke. When I'm parallel in a beam sea with these other kayak 
designs alongside me, the Norkapp hull stays in a lateral groove you can't 
help but not ignore. When I'm sweep and I have to race forward 1000 yards to 
catch the leader or race off to herd in strays, the Nordy delivers. In an 
all-day slog in lumpy, short-period seas, the tight-ass Nordy delivers 
consistent sea-kindly rides - all be it with continued attention. When you 
spend hours clawing up over wave tops in a contrary head sea, it's magic 
(poor planning, poor luck, but hey, it happens).

Valley makes lots of non-twitchy kayak designs good for comfort and gear 
capacity. Thousands of other paddlers make their own kayaks, many much more 
twitchy and lower volume - and love to paddle them. Bjorn over in Euroland 
can design-up a boat to fit your anthromorphic parameters and give you 
whatever range of design criteria you want from his current selection, but 
it'll never be a Nordkapp experience. So there, that's it. It's the Nordkapp 
experience. Maybe not the _in general_ answer you were looking for, but the 
twitchy-prone Nordkapps aren't a generalist kayak. And why it is when things 
get really bad out there, really bad, the Nordkapp owners aren't headed in 
yet? Hard to answer. Hard to fathom. Subjective righting-moment perceptions 
(as opposed to my subjective writing moments, or perhaps in conert with 
them, heh, heh)? And if I have to tow someone for 6 hours in a gale, I know 
what I want to be paddling.

But heck Mr. Jerry, an Explorer will always get you home.Paddlers working to 
the advanced level, out on expeditions, benefit well. Talk to Gordin W.  And 
SK Magazine readersagreed with you this year that these NDKs are "the" 
solution.

Be cool Jerry. You've always had a problem with this stability thing, I 
think. That's okay. It's all good. Maybe it's just a different blood that 
flows in some kayakers' veins, to accept the "twitchy is more fun so more 
active so more stable so actually less tippy in a bad sea situation" notion. 
I can only really speak for myself: for me that blood is the same blood that 
babbles in the mountain brooks down through raging rivers and rages mightily 
in tempestuous seas. It is, you see, a certain essential wildness.
Doug Lloyd
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