PaddleWise by thread

From: James Farrelly <JFarrelly5_at_comcast.net>
subject: [Paddlewise] Kayak Surfing
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 14:22:17 -0400
I think I found the new sponson guy.

"The first requirement is safety:  It is hard for many traditional  
kayakers to agree that sit-in kayaks are very unsafe by the fact they  
require the passenger to be attached (i.e. practically trapped)  
inside.  Some of them say that the 'Eskimo roll' is a perfectly safe  
and dependable method of recovery"

http://www.wavewalk.com/KAYAK SURFING.html





Jim et al
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************
From: Mike Euritt <mike.euritt_at_gmail.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Kayak Surfing
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 12:23:39 -0700
> looks like it could be fun, but why not just call it what it is, a
>  catamaran with a paddle? I wonder how it will fare in a rogue wave?
>

corrected link
http://www.wavewalk.com/SURFING.html
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************
From: Mark Sanders <marksanders_at_sandmarks.net>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Kayak Surfing
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 14:07:32 -0700
Oh man, am I really supposed to feel safer in that than my sea kayak??
The site says surfing a sea kayak must be unsafe, because people who do
always wear helmets, and I'm thinkin' "why doesn't that guy have one on?"
Standing INSIDE a cockpit in a wave, sure no chance of hitting your head in
that scenario. I guess if you stay inside the one foot shore break, at least
your unconscious body probably won't float too far away! And I like the way
they cut the video just as he jumps out on the wrong side of his kayak.
Guess they didn't want to show the one foot wave taking him out!!!

-----Original Message-----

corrected link
http://www.wavewalk.com/SURFING.html
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************
From: Richard Culpeper <culpeper_at_tbaytel.net>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Kayak Surfing
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 16:33:37 -0400
Why is it no surprise that the videos of it surfing do not include any
actual surfing on waves of any significance.

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net
[mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net] On Behalf Of James Farrelly

I think I found the new sponson guy.
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************
From: Craig Jungers <crjungers_at_gmail.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Kayak Surfing
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 14:27:06 -0700
(I managed to send this only to Jim.... but I have a new note regarding the
"s***sons".)

On Wed, Sep 2, 2009 at 11:22 AM, James Farrelly <JFarrelly5_at_comcast.net>wrote:

> I think I found the new sponson guy.
>
> "The first requirement is safety:  It is hard for many traditional
> kayakers to agree that sit-in kayaks are very unsafe by the fact they
> require the passenger to be attached (i.e. practically trapped)
> inside.  Some of them say that the 'Eskimo roll' is a perfectly safe
> and dependable method of recovery"
>
> http://www.wavewalk.com/KAYAK SURFING.html
>
> Well at least he hasn't accused us of killing children. However he does
have that similar tendency to twist facts in order to suit his product. He
also claims that "surf kayaks" are limited to surfing only small waves
because their smaller size prohibits them from punching through larger surf.
There are several more "discussions" on that site that are questionable if
not outright false and all of them bend the facts to suit his products. Matt
and the other designers should have a field day.

I'm guessing that the writer has little actual experience in a sit-inside
kayak or around kayakers. This reminds me of the on-line canoe magazine
committee of writers who bluntly state that any kayak with a beam of less
than about 30 inches is too unstable to paddle safely. At least they weren't
trying to push their own product.

But Jim's remarks about the "s***sons" may be more right than I thought (or
the videos indicate). In fine print on the page for ordering is this little
gem:

"Our kayaks also come with one pair of plastic foam, detachable side
flotation<http://wavewalk.com/blog/2008/03/20/kayak-side-flotation-why-use-it-and-how-does-it-work/>modules,
standard. Our enhanced (e) models feature two pairs of these
modules, standard. "

Yikes!

Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA
www.nwkayaking.net
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************
From: Doug Lloyd <douglloyd_at_shaw.ca>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Kayak Surfing
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 21:23:52 -0700
What, no side-surfing either in the pics? Hmmmm

Doug Lloyd

> Why is it no surprise that the videos of it surfing do not include any
> actual surfing on waves of any significance.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net
> [mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net] On Behalf Of James Farrelly
> 
> I think I found the new sponson guy.
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************
From: James <jimtibensky_at_fastmail.fm>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Kayak Surfing
Date: Thu, 03 Sep 2009 08:04:55 -0500
I think the website says it best, if you just follow the statement to
its logical conclusion:  

"The Polynesians, who invented the surfboard, also used twinhull boats
(catamarans) for sailing and paddling."

So,it seems, those genius Polynesians did not use catamarans for
surfing.

Hype is hype. I can imagine the Polynesians saying "Those dugouts the
other islanders are paddling are useless . . . "


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/
***************************************************************************
From: Richard Culpeper <culpeper_at_tbaytel.net>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Kayak Surfing
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2009 10:47:46 -0400
They also gave us the term "huli," as in "the surf ended in a huli."

There are some terrific outrigger surfing videos on teh intrawebs, e.g.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVFSEsD2OHo , but given the water temperature
here on Superior, my crew would mutiny rather than surf in our OC-6 --
riding swells is as far as we will go.




-----Original Message-----
I think the website says it best, if you just follow the statement to
its logical conclusion:  

"The Polynesians, who invented the surfboard, also used twinhull boats
(catamarans) for sailing and paddling."

So,it seems, those genius Polynesians did not use catamarans for
surfing.

Hype is hype. I can imagine the Polynesians saying "Those dugouts the
other islanders are paddling are useless . . . "


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/
***************************************************************************
From: Joe P. <jpylka_at_earthlink.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Kayak Surfing
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2009 10:30:51 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
  Well, he's not like Tim, really.  He doesn't have that chip on his shoulder.  However, he is also
Not a surfer
Not a paddler
Maybe a fisherman.

And he's a huckster.  He's hyping what he can to sell his product but doesn't know enough to realize how far off he is.  
It's just not a kayak.  And while he does sell s**ns*ns they are only pool noodles with a bungee cord through them.  Where he has them placed, they don't even come into play until you've already fallen out of the boat.  

I think this is one of those things you can ignore and they will go away...

Joe P.

-----Original Message-----
>From: James Farrelly <JFarrelly5_at_comcast.net>
>Sent: Sep 2, 2009 2:22 PM
>To: paddlewise Paddlewise <paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net>
>Subject: [Paddlewise] Kayak Surfing
>
>I think I found the new sponson guy.
>http://www.wavewalk.com/KAYAKSURFING.html
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************
From: Robert Livingston <bearboat2_at_comcast.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Kayak Surfing
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2009 20:59:16 -0700
On Sep 3, 2009, at 07:30 AM, Joe P. wrote:

> Not a surfer
> Not a paddler
> Maybe a fisherman.
>
> And he's a huckster.  He's hyping what he can to sell his product  
> but doesn't know enough to realize how far off he is.
> It's just not a kayak.

This is all a little harsh. How can we as a group of kayakers  
"reserve" the words paddler and surfer and kayaker for that matter.

He is out there paddling and he is out there in the surf.

As for hucksterism, I just call that marketing. In this case it is a  
little crude and obvious but he is just a guy running a little  
business out of his basement. I have heard BS from much bigger kayak  
companies that is more subtle but equally exaggerated. Every kayak out  
there is super fast... Like the Garrison Keiler town where everyone is  
above average.

I live in Seattle but went back east and made an effort to meet this  
guy and paddle his boat. He was very cordial. This is a very low  
budget operation. And his boat is very different with the good and  
often bad that comes from wandering off the mean. But I enjoy people  
who are doing things out the the ordinary rather than another sea  
kayak that is indistinguishable from dozens of others except for the  
claim made for it. At least his boat is actually different.

He is a dreamer and an "original". He originally designed two hulls  
that you strap to your feet and walk on the water. Not very practical.  
He evolved into his current design from that unlikely start.

I guess I am a lumper not a splitter. I am happy to call him a paddler  
and a surfer.

_________________

As for his boat, it is less stable than one might think. Fun and easy  
to get in and out off the shore. Symmetric like many ferries so you do  
not have to turn around if you go from one shore to a nearby one. I  
would not want to paddle great distances in it.

And it is made of that plastic stuff that I dislike but which a  
majority of people paddle now. Wobbly and squishy.

I think he sells mostly to fisherman. You are sitting in a position  
that is overall more comfortable than sitting in a classic kayak --  
for older folk.

I was over in the kayak forum kayak building thing that Guillemot  
kayaks runs. There is a guy there who just made a catamaran kayak with  
all the problems that that creates. But it is interesting. I would  
like to paddle it. I do not think that it makes much sense. But you  
have to have people who are willing to do the far out.
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************
From: MATT MARINER BROZE <marinerkayaks_at_msn.com>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Kayak Surfing
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2009 23:34:50 -0700
- -----Original Message-----
>From: James Farrelly JFarrelly5_at_comcast.net

>I think I found the new sponson guy.






No he is not the next Sp*ns*n man.

Yoav (Wave Walker) has a way of sometimes mis-interpreting and presenting
things in a favorable light to his product and I don't think he has had much
experience with kayaks at all but he is no sp*ns*n man. I just read his
present article on speed and there is not much left there to critisize. He has
taken past criticisms and incorporated them into his article and done a lot
more research than when I was first corresponding with him several years ago.
He even looks to have a new model in the works where he seems to be
incorporating what he has learned. That's not something you could expect from
sp*ns*n man. He may deemphasis the negatives such as more wetted surfave
friction on a multi-hull but at least he now acknowledges the fact.

His use of speed data for Monohull Vs. Multihull sailboats still bothers me.
While it is true for sailboats it just doesn't apply to kayaks so is very
misleading. He should quit trying to ride that comparison. He also seems to
think that all kayaks need rudders or constant attention to make them go
straight. That probably just shows that he has only used squirrelly kayak
hulls (like a WW kayak or a poor rec kayak) himself and is leaping to wrong
conclusions from that limited experience.

I see at the end of his speed article he has acknowledged (below) my
[sometimes harsh] contributions. I suspect I'm not the only one who took him
to task for what he had been saying earlier.


"Acknowledgment:
This article in its present form would have been impossible to write without
the direct and indirect inputs from many professional and amateur kayak, canoe
and other boat designers who contributed their [sometimes harsh] critique and
plenty of useful information."
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************
From: Doug Lloyd <douglloyd_at_shaw.ca>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Kayak Surfing
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2009 23:39:05 -0700
Yeah, good kayak for fishing. Whatever the real design concept was and 
whatever the boat really excels at, which I'm sure it does have some good 
attributes and uses ( like fishing) are the things he should concentrate his 
advertising around. Just an observation.

Doug Lloyd.

> On Sep 3, 2009, at 07:30 AM, Joe P. wrote:
>
>> Not a surfer
>> Not a paddler
>> Maybe a fisherman.
>>
>> And he's a huckster.  He's hyping what he can to sell his product  but 
>> doesn't know enough to realize how far off he is.
>> It's just not a kayak.
>
> This is all a little harsh. How can we as a group of kayakers  "reserve" 
> the words paddler and surfer and kayaker for that matter.
>
> He is out there paddling and he is out there in the surf.
>
> As for hucksterism, I just call that marketing. In this case it is a 
> little crude and obvious but he is just a guy running a little  business 
> out of his basement. I have heard BS from much bigger kayak  companies 
> that is more subtle but equally exaggerated. Every kayak out  there is 
> super fast... Like the Garrison Keiler town where everyone is  above 
> average.
>
> I live in Seattle but went back east and made an effort to meet this  guy 
> and paddle his boat. He was very cordial. This is a very low  budget 
> operation. And his boat is very different with the good and  often bad 
> that comes from wandering off the mean. But I enjoy people  who are doing 
> things out the the ordinary rather than another sea  kayak that is 
> indistinguishable from dozens of others except for the  claim made for it. 
> At least his boat is actually different.
>
> He is a dreamer and an "original". He originally designed two hulls  that 
> you strap to your feet and walk on the water. Not very practical.  He 
> evolved into his current design from that unlikely start.
>
> I guess I am a lumper not a splitter. I am happy to call him a paddler 
> and a surfer.
>
> _________________
>
> As for his boat, it is less stable than one might think. Fun and easy  to 
> get in and out off the shore. Symmetric like many ferries so you do  not 
> have to turn around if you go from one shore to a nearby one. I  would not 
> want to paddle great distances in it.
>
> And it is made of that plastic stuff that I dislike but which a  majority 
> of people paddle now. Wobbly and squishy.
>
> I think he sells mostly to fisherman. You are sitting in a position  that 
> is overall more comfortable than sitting in a classic kayak --  for older 
> folk.
>
> I was over in the kayak forum kayak building thing that Guillemot  kayaks 
> runs. There is a guy there who just made a catamaran kayak with  all the 
> problems that that creates. But it is interesting. I would  like to paddle 
> it. I do not think that it makes much sense. But you  have to have people 
> who are willing to do the far out.
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:52 PDT