A couple weeks ago I finally decided on a new boat and bought an Epic V12. It had come down to an Epic V12, a Huki S1X special, or a Fenn Elite. The deciding factor was, I had a V12 demo and could get a good price on it. The 3 boats are all pretty comparable. Yesterday was my first trip out on it in fun conditions. The wind was blowing out of the east, 10 to 15 knots. We paddled from Lynch Park in Beverly Mass to Misery island. We did a few loops around little misery as the waves running along the island were great fun. One of the guys, using an Epic V8 recorded 10.4 mph on his gps as we played in the waves. On one trip around the island a series of sport fishing boats had just gone through the channel so there was some good slop - 3 foot waves plus 2 foot chop yields entertainment. Riding the waves back from Misery Island to Lynch Park was fabulous. You need to work to get every ride, but the rides were steady. My benchmark was I managed to stay with one of my buddies, who the best local surf ski paddler in rough water. For me sticking with Mike Tracy was great, it meant minimal mistakes or lapses on the trip in. I'm getting used to the elvstrom/anderson bailer in the cockpit. I'm getting fairly good at opening or closing it in a single try, using my heel. The epic website says the boat is 3% slower with the bailer down. That was definitely visible. On the way out to misery island I was side by side with Mike Tracy with the bailer up. When I put the bailer down, I fell back a bit and had to work harder. But when water is coming into the cockpit every third or fourth wave it's nice to have the boat self bailing, instead of collecting. -- Kirk Olsen *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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/ Duane Southern California From: Kirk Olsen <kork4_at_cluemail.com> >A couple weeks ago I finally decided on a new boat and bought an Epic >V12. It had come down to an Epic V12, a Huki S1X special, or a Fenn >Elite *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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/ *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Michael, I have heard that a lot of paddlers have troubles getting used to a full-on race surfski in rough water. I'm 47 years old and consider myself average athletically with a knack for kayaking. So I was concerned about whether I'd be able to handle one. I still have a long way to go before being proficient in the surfski, but I have been happy with my progress and I'm feeling confident about it. So I think it's really an individual thing. I think sea kayakers who are comfortable in really confused water have good chance at becoming used to a surfski. My focus this first month has been on skills rather than fitness, so I've been staying out in the ocean and avoiding the bay as much as possible. Attitude may play a roll too. I've been enjoying the challenge of not getting bucked off these things and laugh everytime I come close to taking a swim. I did demo one the more stable beginner/intermediate surfskis and immediately knew it lacked the performance that I wanted. Duane From: Michael Dziobak <mdziobak_at_mtu.edu> >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. *************************************************************************** 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 Monday, September 19, 2011 2:37 PM, "Michael Dziobak" <mdziobak_at_mtu.edu> wrote: > 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. There is definitely a learning curve. But it's worth it :-) I rarely paddle anything but my surf ski these days. This past weekend I think I only need 3 braces over 10 miles and 2 hours of fairly entertaining conditions. Of the 6 of us, only one person swam, and that was when he got sloppy after some fun rides. For a kayaker the first challenge is learning to control the boat with your butt. If you are coming from a canoe you are used to controlling the hull with your butt instead of your knees so it's 'easier'. If you rely heavily on pulling up on your knee hooks it's going to be more of a challenge, to unlearn those habits. There are now 3 levels of surf ski - the 21" beam, the 19" beam and the 17.5" beam models. The wider boats are easier. If you can propel them without bracing the narrow boats are faster. If you need to brace more than once every 10 minutes a wider boat is probably faster. As for getting used to them, my preference is to let the boat float under you and by maintaining a quick cadence get the extra stability from the firmly planted paddle. Paddling slowly and timidly feels really jittery. It's interesting to follow someone who's good, their torso rarely moves, the hull also just sort of maintains level with the planet - irrespective of the waves. When riding waves I will lay a casual low brace on the wave to keep the speed in check and try to avoid outrunning the wave. Of the people I paddle with now, one guy went from paddling a seda glider in flatwater to winning some local open water races in a calendar year. In his first summer he went from a daunting number of swims (in busy harbor clapotis), to punching through an 8 foot face and landing a 4 foot drop on the backside. This year he has started winning the local races. I think he finished in the top 10 surf skis, at the Blackburn challenge, on the first anniversary of his trying a surf ski. If anyone decides to go for a surf ski feel free to contact me. I would be happy to make comments and suggestions. I've talked multiple people through converting. If you happen to live in New England I can almost definitely arrange for some test runs... In Northeastern Massachusetts you can use one of my boats. Kirk -- Kirk Olsen *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
If I had found a good deal on a carbon Fenn Elite I would own that. I was looking at shipping a new one from California - which would have worked out to about $4300. I got a good price on a used twice V12. For SF bay conditions I would go with the Fenn Elite or the Huki S1X special. I think I can paddle the S1X special in moderate conditions, while tired, with my eyes closed - it's really comfy. I wouldn't go with the V12 because of the increase resistance from the open bailer over the Elite - knowing for the US championships you would want the bailer open a whole lot.... I'm a Fenn fan. I own a Fenn Mako Millenium (it's obsolete - too tippy for normal humans), a fenn mako XT and have possesion of a fenn mako 6. I can paddle the millenium for an hour or so, but then I get too tired and my balance muscles are shot. I can race it for an hour to 2 but not more than that. You can buy these cheap, for a reason, only buy one if you regularly paddle a sprint boat. The mako xt is my wifes boat. It's a good starter boat. I regularly loan it out - most sea kayakers find it comfortable. The boat was free. The previous owner wanted it to go to a good home, I consider this boat the official loaner. The build on my Millenium and XT is fabulous. I think I could paddle straight into most kayaks and cut them in half with the millenium. The mako 6 is another matter. After I borrowed it the guy I borrowed it from said. "I'm hopeing you don't give it back. I can't sell it in good concience because the gel coat keeps flaking off" The boat is quite light - about 24 pounds. But as noted the gel coat has flaked off. I've touched it up with marine paint, which is sticking but isn't a pretty finish. This boat is fun in rough water, but squirrely in flats, it also has broached a few times on me when surfing medium sized (shoulder height to head height from boat) waves. I think it's tippier and slower than the 3 boats I narrowed my decision down to Kirk On Monday, September 19, 2011 10:52 AM, "Duane Strosaker" <strosaker_at_yahoo.com> wrote: 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: [1]http://duane.smugmug.com/Hobbies/cat2011/ Duane Southern California References 1. http://duane.smugmug.com/Hobbies/cat2011/ -- Kirk Olsen *************************************************************************** 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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