Date: Mon, 8 Nov 1999 10:45:39 -0800 (PST)
From: wolfgang brinck <nativewater@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: baidarka First-timer seeks advice -- boat don't fit!
To: baidarka@lists.intelenet.net
Very interesting - Your height, weight and shoe size
match mine exactly. So a few more thoughts:
Degree of double jointedness in the knees must be a
factor. Also, in the finished boat, you get a little
extra room due to flexing of the skin and ribs and
space between the ribs. But that's not really the
answer. Ribs compress some over time so if you start
with a tight boat, you will have an even tighter boat
if you ever recover the hull. So the real answer is
to make the boat roomy enough to begin with.
The bigger cockpit is probably the best answer. Also,
I just thought of this, the Seattle paddlers made
their cockpits big enough to fit commercial spray
skirts - another plus if you're going to stray from
the original anyway.
As for getting stuck in the boat after capsizing. Very
little chance of that. Getting out is always easier
than getting in because when upside down, you are
essentially weightless. One word of caution though.
Never wear open sandals or anything with a loose heel
or straps that can get snagged on a rib.
--- Mark Haller-Wade <hwade@frazmtn.com> wrote:
> David Keefe wrote:
>
> > Have other people had this problem? I'm not
> really all that big of a guy,
> > and it seems like others must have encountered
> this, unless I've done
> > something stupid or am misunderstanding something.
> >
> > Any advice from those more experienced would be
> greatly appreciated.
> >
> > Wolfgang -- are you out there?
>
>
> David:
>
> I'm on my first boat following Wolfgang's wonderful
> book as well, and no
> you're not the only one to have this problem. I'm
> at the exact same
> stage and did my "block test" yesterday and had the
> exact same problem.
> You saved me from writing the same questions,
> thanks! I'm 5'10", 180
> lbs, size 10 1/2 shoe. The instructions call for
> raising the boat 7",
> but the length of my feet with a light shoe on is
> 11". I can't get in
> my boat either, and after i do (by raising it up and
> back down), my feet
> stick out as well.
>
> Sliding into the boat with my legs straight, my
> shins hit the knee brace
> and stop me. Same thing trying to exit. It does
> seem like a matter of
> depth because once i'm in, the cockpit size and
> brace positions seem
> fine (except my toes stick out). I'm kinda worried
> about being stuck in
> it capsized (i can't roll), not a good situation if
> you know what i
> mean. We must have done something wrong, hopefully
> the many kayak gurus
> on this list can help us!
> --mark
=====
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