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Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board
Re: Q700 - Handling/skill level question
Posted By: John D. In Response To: Re: Q700 - Handling/skill level question (jimkozel)
Date: Saturday, 6 September 2003, at 12:09 p.m.
Jim,
In addition to the several good points & advice others have offered here, here's what worked for me when moving from a wide & stable boat to my Cunningham S&G (just over 21" max beam). When I first got in my new boat last summer I was a white knuckle paddler. It felt like I was constantly on the verge of capsize. -- It was suggested to me to raise my seat and paddle it that way for a week or two. I used a spare piece of foam that was about 1.5" thick. With the seat so much higher the balance of the boat was very tender and I had to very attentive to not capsize (I kept close to shore). A week later when I put the seat back down, my new baot was magically and wonderfully stable. At least for me, paddling with the seat so high helped me to be able to know where that balance point was and to trust it.
I'm realizing more that stability is more that just what the boat contributes, the paddler contributes a lot to the stability equation too -- to a point, I think stability is a frame of mind. Another thing I found that helped to resist the urge constantly try to keep the boat on a perfectly even keel and to keep reminding myself just RELAX and trust the stability of the boat.
-John D.
: Hi Wayne -
: That's intereting! I'm going to paddle today and will give it a try.: Thanks - Jim
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