Re: [Paddlewise] new boat shake down.

Kirk and Duane,
Is it possible for an ordinary average paddler to learn how to stay upright on a surf ski? It seems so improbable that a craft so narrow has any chance of spending much time right side up with out constant bracing in rough conditions.



----- "Duane Strosaker" <strosaker_at_yahoo.com> wrote:

> From: "Duane Strosaker" <strosaker_at_yahoo.com>
> To: "Kirk Olsen" <kork4_at_cluemail.com>, paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net
> Sent: Monday, September 19, 2011 1:52:33 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
> Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] new boat shake down.
>
> Kirk,
>  
> I've heard great things about the V12 surfski.
>  
> After searching for
> months, I finally found a good deal on a used Fenn Mako Elite surfski.
> I'm really amazed how well designed and built it is. I've only been on the
> 17" wide thing for a month and I'm already starting to get used to the
> rough water and have had a few great downwind surfing runs. It's really amazing
> how well the surfskis surf the wind waves and are so much fun. I'm dedicating
> the next 12 months to preparing for the US Surfski Champs in San Francisco Bay.
> My weak link so far is my butt.
>  
> Before anyone asks, I am using a wing paddle with
> the surfski. The main advantage I'm seeing with it is greatly added
> stability in a skinny racing boat while forward stroking. But even after using
> the wing a few weeks, I was more than happy to use my GP on a 7-day island
> crossing and circumnav trip that I just got back from:
> http://duane.smugmug.com/Hobbies/cat2011/
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