Subject: [baidarka] launched
From: Wayne Steffens (wsteffen@skypoint.com)
Date: Sat Dec 22 2001 - 18:11:41 EST
Wednesday I attached a coaming lip, made out of kiln-dried ash (all I could
find) that I soaked and bent in stages in my bathtub overnight. I think
this was the only part of the boat that went smoothly, without a hitch.
Today, we launched the baidarka. I arrived at the launch site at 9:40, as
snow began falling and the NE winds started kicking up waves on Lake
Superior. At 10:00 the others arrived, and we agreed that conditions were
perfect for a launch (because we had no choice). Temperature 27 F., NE
winds increasing to 15-20 knots, waves building quickly, light
snow...perfect!?
I launched with a little help, only taking one wave over the cockpit before
getting the sprayskirt attached. Initial feel was very good!
I'm a pretty decent roller and bracer, and I regularly go out in 5 foot and
occasionally bigger waves, so I'm no slouch but after a few minutes of
feeling fine I almost capsized in a wave that wouldnt faze me in my Sirius.
Whoa! Waves building quickly. Fun! This boat is tippy! Yeessss! ;-) I'm
sure a couple short paddles in flat water will get me used to it, but I was
surprised by its tenderness and I was a little nervous. I leaned over and
searched for the secondary stability. I'm not sure there was any there but
further testing will be needed. Except for being a little tippy, I loved
the way it felt-light, nimble and quick.
After a few minutes one friend in his stitch and glue had to raft up with
others in a S&G double, because his fingers were too frozen to finish
getting his sprayskirt on. I then rafted up so I could relax my muscles for
a second and check the boat for leakage. Looked good!
I didnt paddle long because I was a little edgy and the waves were
building. People who had said they wanted to try it decided to wait until a
better time. Weenies. I paddled it in to a sheltered area and had to scoot
across some ice to land. I had planned to roll it at least once but I was
getting pretty chilled. I will try to put some pics up in a few days.
Observations from a first time baidarkist:
It rides a lot lower in the water than I was expecting.
When I'm snug at the knee and footbraces, I am several inches from the rear
of the coaming and I have no back support at all. That, I think, was a
major factor in my feeling just a tad uneasy. I know I can easily rig a
backrest of some type, but I'm wondering if this is normal? Or should I
make future cockpits smaller?(not sure if I could get in if I did!) Just
curious.
The skin did loosen up a fair bit when it got wet, but I didnt even notice
it until after I was out of the water (much of this may have been caused by
the water I took on at launch, which was all absorbed by the nylon before
landing). I'm EXTREMELY glad that I heat-shrank it though. I think I would
have been very, very unhappy if I hadnt. Its almost drum-tight again after
30 minutes in the heated garage.
The boat did not leak any appreciable amount, if at all, so I think the
water-based PU has potential. Dont know if I'll be doing much paddling
before April though, but all I can say is..Wheeeeee!! Next! I'm very
psyched to build more, the skinboat has a totally different and more
"intimate" feel.
Wayne
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