Huge outfitting and learning curve ahead:
-Fell out of the surfski… twice when I first tried to sit in the cockpit.
-Managed to paddle down the shoreline several hundred yards and back. I had to adjust the rudder pedal distance for each of the first three laps before feeling these somewhat right.
-I need to outfit the cockpit area as i feel myself moving backwards each time pushed against the pedal on a paddle stroke.
-Half the time, I engaged the rudder unintentionally when I stroke.
-When I turn, I almost always lift my inside knee automatically, as if I were in my sea kayak, tryIng to carve an outside edge. I came close several times but did not fall out of the boat.
-Took three trys before I managed my frist successful remount. While the remount Is similar to what I do with my waveskis, the surfski has a rounder hull in contrast to the flat bottom of my waveskis. The surfski wants to roll, which I did if I didn’t keep my head and chest area low as I turn and plop my bottom into the cockpit seat.
So, will do some outfitting (any suggestions?) before my next outing. Next outing, will practice more remounts before more wing paddling.
Re the pedals, adjust the angle so they’re parallel to the foot plate or slightly away from you. This will reduce unintentional rudder engagement.
Sounds like the foot board may need to be a hair closer? You should be securely in the back of the bucket. Maybe you’re skinny and epic buckets are on the larger side, so some side or back padding might be beneficial.
Learning leg drive without engaging the pedals is a skill to develop.
Remounting just takes practice. It’s undesirable right now due to the cold water, but do it every paddle (at the end if you like, which is better anyways. Many capsizes happen when tired).
One trick for remounting, I learned it’s easier to remount if I flop my butt down about half way on the hump and slide back. Trying to remount too far back increases difficulty for me.
Review Ivan Lawler’s paddling masterclass on YouTube. Focus on form.
I’m a decade into surfski obsession, and only recently realized, even after hearing the mantra 1000x - there is NO power without leg drive. If you’re not driving, you cannot engage the outer core muscles and you lose 20-30% of your power. Proper leg drive is required to generate any power.
Maybe some foam on the sides of the bucket or next to your calves if you lack good connection with the boat.
Thanks. Good suggestions to consider as well as thoughts/questions about the fit. I’ll need to tinker a bit more in my garage, before hitting the water again.
Probably best when I get some personal instruction from a coach who can check and advise on my equipment and technique. Looking to get coaching at the NE Surfski Center when it opens again… hopefully next month.
Great to see you paddling the V7! It was my first surfski and nearly my first kayak after owning a Tarpon 140 for only a few months.
I found my first maiden trip challenging because I was using a wing paddle for the first time. If you use your usual paddle the first days and then swap to the wing paddle things will get much easier
At the kayak club I see many very experienced sea kayakers having some balance troubles when they first paddle their new surfskis, like a V7 or a Bluefin. They get used to them quickly.
Hey, glad you found your way here! This forum has a few dedicated surfskiers and could benefit from additional perspectives.
I’m mentally prepped and welcome some mild spanking. Happened in each transition in going from being rec boater to seakayaker to surf kayaker to waveskier to white water kayaker and now to surfskiing. The challenge is allowing oneself to learn with a “beginner’s mind”. As long as I don’t kill myself, my wife is good with it. LOL.
Looking forward to your feedback as well as others.
Thanks. I must have seen that video because my rudder control is tilted ever slightly towards me. Will go the other way, as suggested by MCime. I think i will put in a seat pad which hopefully will stop my butt from sliding backwards but at the cost of a higher center of gravity (which I think I can adapt to).
I actually joined this forum in Feb 2022 and life got busy
I am currently having a beginner mind again with the double surfski with some wobbles etc. It is so different from paddling alone. I am more stable on the Fenn Elite alone than with my wife on the XT double… With my daughter it is much better. We will get there eventually!
If you keep sliding toward the back, you might want to use this:
I am into surfskis but also sit on top, sea kayaks, kayak sailing… I just love water
Based on this video, I need to bring my foot plate several notches back (while leaving the rudder control plate somewhat forward). Will make adjustment and try again.
I never had a kayak with a sail but I held a friend’s kayak with his sail (holding his paddle) and we were moving easily at 4 mph despite the fact I had a wide rotomold Acadia that was a drag! The sail allows you to go further and to keep your energy for when you come back upwind
About your V7: if you feel it rolls too much you can swap the rudder for a longer one (look for DK rudder) that might help to stabilise the ski. Then once you are used to the V7 just swap back to the original rudder. If you play in big waves you just keep the longer rudder for turning better.
Here is a photo of a DK rudder on my old Fenn Mako Elite:
In the background there is a V7.
While most of the locals and global visitors were at the Boston Marathon route on this Patriots Day, I took the opportunity to return to Hingham Harbor. This time I shared the Bay with the Hingham High crew team.
Thanks to the feedback of the PNet regulars. I made some adjustments in the footplate location and the cant of the rudder control. These two changes made huge difference. I was not yawing all over the place when trying to do leg drive. Also, wasn’t getting pushed back into a reclining position with the leg drives as well. I still feel very deep in the seat bucket, but won’t pad out until several more outings with the current adjustments.
Welcome any technique critique (but will may be emotionally scarred with gratuitous critiques of my paddling immersion fashion and looks… so don’t!).
It does look odd. It’s a wing paddle. Looks like a mis-shapened ice cream scoop. Grabs water noticeably more than my other paddles. And, this the smaller mid size (rather than full size) wing. Part of the learning curve is how to use this wing paddle effectively/efficiently.
I have one more notch left to bring the footplate closer to me. This would allow me to raise my knees slightly higher than currently. I noticed that I am not driving nor rotating as much. Also, could adopt a higher angle based on this video:
