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Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board
Q700 - Handling/skill level question *Pic*
Posted By: Jim Kozel
Date: Thursday, 4 September 2003, at 3:41 p.m.
Hi all -
Is it possible to be the wrong physical size for a boat when it comes to stability? I'm 6'1", long-waisted with fairly broad shoulders. I wear a 46L to 48L sportcoat and shirtsleeve length is 36.5". I weigh 215lbs.I'm having a hard time getting comfortable in the QCC Q700 I purchased last December. At times, I still feel like I'm balancing on a log. I removed the stock seat and installed a minicell seat with minicell hip braces,and there's excellent knee-bracing, too. I'm sitting barely 1/4" off the bottom of the boat.
~ The Q700 is a John Winter's design, 18' long, 17'+ waterline, 21" beam, 20.5" waterline beam. It's very fast and has awesome secondary stability. When I've made an error and started to tip, the secondary kicked in like a supporting pair of hands. I have not flipped this boat, BTW. I've had other experienced paddlers try the Q700 and they all said, "Yep, it's a bit tender, but feels great...performance boats like this usually feel tender."
~ BUT, I find its initial stability downright twitchy and feel very unstable in it. The Q700 is advertised as an intermediate to advanced boat.
~My frame of reference is my Cape Ann Storm, which is a very different but still narrow design. It's got a 22" beam and a 20.5" waterline beam. In the same choppy conditions that freak me out in the Q700, the Storm feels completely comfortable and stable. The Storm just rides over beam waves, the Q700 feels like it wants to roll. Hmmm.So, to my question: Is this a boat that I can use to take my skills to the next level, or am I simply a poor match for this boat? It certainly fits as far as size and displacement. I'm finishing my 3rd season of paddling and have taken to paddling Lake Erie. I haven't learned to roll yet, but have been pretty darn comfortable in the Cape Ann Storm. That's me in the Storm, in case a visual reference might help here.
I'm having a hard time evaluating this situation.
Thanks for any suggestions/observations you might offer.
Jim
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