Re: [Paddlewise] Kayak Fit

That should be a Cetus LV - fresh out to the west coast this week.


>I tried sitting in a P&H Cetus at MEC tonight. The lads were nice enough to 
>lower it down from the ceiling using climbing gear (this is MEC afterall). 
>I wanted to see if I could fit into the thing. I had the boat on a short 
>list as a performance cruiser partially due to a few good cyberspace 
>reviews, including:
>
> www.kayakquixotica.com
>
> or
>
> http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.kayakquixotica.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/romany-cetus051709.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.kayakquixotica.com/2009/05/17/ph-cetus/&usg=__9LDv9H2jiXSpEBWo8saBJW7cNZI=&h=282&w=500&sz=69&hl=en&start=5&um=1&tbnid=BjZtak5Z4g7GCM:&tbnh=73&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcetus%2Blv%2Bkayak%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1W1GGLR_en%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1
>
> Ouch - that's a long link...
>
> I liked the day locker, the low rear deck, the quality build, the 
> better-than-most-other-manufacturers cockpit rim shape, sweep and recessed 
> look, etc, and low slung profile over the regular Cetus, but my thighs 
> were too tight. I'd have to remove the seat and redo the molded in thigh 
> braces to have a chance.
>
> Next I went over to Ocean River Sports and dry tested the Nordkapp LV as 
> well. Last time I was in it one I'd dropped (due to health reasons) to 165 
> from my usual 195. At 215, I could barely fit. All these keyhole cockpits 
> with thigh braces built in allow for only a certain maxed size paddler. 
> Still, the kayak was totally buck compared to what Victoria stores have 
> been selling for decades up until now. The Tahe Marine Greenlander was 
> swoopy cool with lots of overhang and a fit that was maybe doable at 16 
> years of age. It was a bit flimsy too - I'd bust that kayak the first 
> weekend out if I could get in it. To me. most kayaks have a positively 
> diaphragmlike membrane dealers actually call a hull.
>
> Well, I gravitated back to the Nordkapp LV. On closer look, the deck 
> aesthetics and peaked deck just didn't work for me - but then I'm rather 
> way-wierd and anal about that stuff and it doesn't relate to performance.
>
> Next, I'll have to head down to Warshington and rent one of George's 
> Illusions by Sterling n' see what I think. As long as Craig doesn't warn 
> Sterling ahead of time because if I did buy one back at the factory that 
> guaranteed for life hull warrently just might put Sterling out of 
> buisness. :-) Though I'd get one around 55 pounds with the Stronglite 
> build which should be really bombproof. Last time I asked Sterling about a 
> build quality like before he got popular beyong his immediate geography he 
> scoffed that nobody would ever need such a thing. Matt and Cam were the 
> only guys that ever let me entertain such thoughts about a custom build 
> order like that.
>
> I've tried the Tiderace units already and will have to wait for the 
> Maelstrom boats to make it out back west. At 51 I've become waaay too 
> picky in life, especially with the small details. I run a youth program 
> for 6 months a year helping teens build approximately 1/10 scale model 
> cars from scratch - wood and aluminum and bondo. I had all my girls in my 
> all-girl club in tears many times this year pushing them toward detailed 
> perfection. My club also took home most of the trophies, which isn't 
> supposed to be the reason for the club's. So, you see I'm still thinking I 
> might have to make my own kayak to please myself. Better get these renos 
> finished...it's been 15 years.
>
> At 215 I'm not a very "fit" paddler - so all the more reason to get back 
> doing more paddling sometime soon.
>
> One day I'll have a perfect boat with perfect layout and a perfect fit and 
> perfect bombproofness and then I can go do what I do best, beat it up and 
> my body also.
>
> Doug Lloyd 
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