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Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board
Re: Q700 - Handling/skill level question
Posted By: sing In Response To: Q700 - Handling/skill level question *Pic* (Jim Kozel)
Date: Saturday, 6 September 2003, at 8:52 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
Don't know how many times you have actually gone out in it, but it may still be too soon to figure out if it works for you?
I went from a 22" to a 20" and then a 18" beam (16" waterline beam) SOF in a year. Since finishing the SOF early in spring, it's been pretty the only touring boat I've been in this season (not counting white water boats). For months, I was wondering whether I had made the SOF beam too narrow as it felt tippy as all heck. Somewhere in the last couple on months, I made the transiton to feeling quite comfortable in it, as reflected in a paddle a couple weeks back in choppy seas and 20 knot winds. I have learned to relax and let my hips ride (independently) with the boat and waves. Anyway, I don't have a choice but to keep the boat. It's too narrow for most folks.
It may be worth trying to paddle 700 more though there may be no reason if you're finding a similar performance from your storm (of course, you may also not be getting the "performance" because you're tense and nervous in the 700). I would think it be pretty easy to sell that boat in the used market.
sing
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