Hard to say unless we know the most challenging conditions paddled in, but I think yes, based on his or her comfort in the Eddyline Merlin, OR B.A. hasn’t paddled an Eddyline in really challenging conditions. Reviews of the Merlin at paddling.com vary from “great stability” to “horrible stability,” which could relate to either the paddlers’ skill or the conditions. I owned three kayaks that I got rid of after one hair-raising experience in challenging conditions: the Swift Kiwassa, Eddyline Merlin, and Eddyline Journey. (Should specify that I owned the Merlin XT, not LT, and one review indicates that the LT was more stable than the XT.)
She makes that Eddyline sing baby.
Would you teach WaterBird how to brace so he can begin paddling some true performance kayaks instead of those Rec Tubs…
Thanks
mjac
The pot-stirring may not be all that helpful. Why are you pitting people against each other? Sitting back, eating popcorn, aren’t you?
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More or less.
I’m no boat snob, Bosun.
Damnit Alice, every time you say something I can’t understand it…What is a “Bosun” for crying out loud. I can’t even figure out who the comment is directed at.
Bosun: “A ship’s officer in charge of equipment and the crew.”
Alright, look, I have resigned myself to the fact that each of your comments are going to actually take 2-3 comments. One comment to make the original comment THEN 2 OR THREE COMMENTS TO EXPLAIN THE FIRST ONE.
Okay, I am down with Bosun as in Bosun Mate and Coxswain, you are into Maritime terms. Now, how does “Bosun” relate to the first part of the comment. Go slow, because we want to wrap this up.
mjac
You’ll not find anything trying to read between the lines. What you see is what you get.
I’m here to learn and share experiences. I will offer ideas, but I wont tell people what boat(s) they should own and/or paddle because I don’t know them or their paddling style or preferred conditions, and I won’t think less of them for choosing differently than I.
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Alice, you are avoiding the subject.
This is the original statement, “ I am no boat snob, Bosun.”
Now, what previous comment or comments is this referring to? That will answer the question.
Now, after that, how is “Bosun” connected to “ I am not a boat snob.” I have no clue…Very nebulous, as usual.
I am not a boat snob either, but I want to be. Now Bill Swift…
Edit: I think you are going to set a record with this one on how many posts it will take to explain it.
Greetings. New to the group. Purchased this 2009 Hurricane Tracer 165 sea kayak last summer. Fast, agile, and comfortable for my 6’-4” and 220 lb frame.
When walking it back to/from the water, resting on my shoulder, the combing was always creaking. The same when entering and exiting the cockpit. Shame on me thinking that was normal.
During a nice cold and early twilight paddle with a buddy last fall, following waves started swamping cockpit (odd given the skirt was tight), the combing parted the cockpit after applying a quick brace to prevent a broach, boom, over I went. It was impossible to insert the combing and seat back in the kayak as the circumference of existing epoxy on the combing (OD) was larger than the ID of the cockpit. I could re-entry, but just got swamped in seconds. With no seat, knee brace, or skirt, It was a LONG and cold paddle back. Just a reminder to paddle with a buddy, especially when water/air temps were both low.
Good news, kayak is fixed and I can all but guarantee that is is stronger now than when it left the factory. When built, Hurricane used a ~ 3/8” thick bead of epoxy. I filled the complete deep 1-1.25” joint between the two adjoining surfaces with G-Flex (after hours of prep). It is rock solid now. Check the repair thread on FB “Sea Kayak Repair” group. Everyone should pack that joint now before it separates.
I will have to take a look at mine to see if I can picture what you ate talking about, the “1-1.25” joint” between the two surfaces. My combing cracked right at the base and when I checked it, it was cracked about 60-70% all the way around in the exact same place. Unlike yourself, this boat was not worth spending money on to fix it, I just reinforced it with some 3M Extreme Hold Duct Tape.
Supposed to be a weak spot on Hurricanes, at least the older ones.
I’d upload a few photos, but it is not allowing for some reason.
There are some kind of policies for brand new members like, so many posts at the beginning and such, uploading photographs may be one of them.