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Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board
Re: kayak choices and needs
Posted By: steve In Response To: Re: kayak choices and needs (Karl)
Date: Friday, 4 March 2005, at 1:48 p.m.
With gas prices sky rocketing, I may as well sell my car. I could buy a darn good boat for all the gas $$ I use.
Thanks for the informed response. I reckon I am going to have to decide on whether I want to spend my the next couple years racing or touring. Then when I get enough dough to buy another boat, I can have one for each purpose.
The C18 is composite and thus out of my prie range.
Do you know anything about the Aguanaut RM? It's suppose to have a foam core that makes it stiff as composite boats with only a marginal weight increase.
Thanks a heap!
Sell your car and get two boats!
: Just kidding...hey, I have extensive experience in all but the C17 (paddled
: only a bit in Force 5 winds, but not in flat water), and here is my two
: cents.: Only the Viv would be good for racing, it is great once you get above 5kn.
: But at 3-4kn, it is a slug, and does not have what I would call a
: "playful" personality. The playful aspect is great in all the
: other boats, and there are only minor personality quirks between them.
: Also, the Viv would be huge on you, kinda like driving a Ford F-350
: around. But wow, for guiding trips, it is great-I put a huge butane
: canister in the front compartment, for a 7-day self support with clients.
: Holds as much as some doubles.: The C17, T-160, and NDK would fit you well, the T-170 might be a bit large,
: not unreasonable. The gear capacity is best on the NDK, with the 170
: close. The 165 is low on gear room, at least for guiding, and the C17
: isn't big, either. The NDK's 10" hatches puts constraints on gear
: loading, for some people (I had an NDK Ex for years, and it didn't bother
: me; bothers some people). But I do like the big VCP hatches fore/aft on
: the C17;BTW, I have a plastic C16, and the hatches stay on even while
: getting cartwheeled in 6ftsurf. Not always the case with some hatches...
: I know some people that have sold their NDK's because of one issue, they can
: be a bitch to turn upwind above 20kn, unless you are both strong and
: skilled. This is not an isolated incident,BTW. But, the NDK is the only
: boat I would like to own without a skeg at all(I am thinking of getting
: another one, without the skeg). Just remarkable in Force 4, even 5,without
: need for a skeg.
: Otherwise, those are stunning boats to have fun with in nasty water, they
: will not limit you (not talking about the Viv).
: A critical point, if you race, do not get plastic. Never. Fine when new, but
: the stuff is so soft that it gouges easy, gets frayed, and noticeably
: slower. For racing, keeping your boat fair is critical.
: The resistance close to hull speed for these boats will not be drastically
: different. If you are strong enough to push them at, or exceed hull speed,
: oddly enough the T170 may be better than the longer NDK (nasty wave
: formation at higher speeds). If you race at or below 5kn, the lower wetted
: surface of the T165 may be best! But then there is the plastic issue...
: You mentioned the C17, any chance of getting a C18? Long water line, low
: wetted surface, and still wicked good fun, especially in following seas.
: Could be the best for your needs.: karl
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