Turning in waves & wind is important
too. The rudder allows turning the Summersong away from beam waves without having to lean the gunwale lower for the waves to come over easier. I was trying to make a left turn once with 2-3’ beam waves from the right and everytime I’d start to get the boat turning, a wave would slap the stern and straighten the boat out again so it was back to being parallel with the waves. I dropped the rudder and turned right away, lesson learned. Battling it out with stroke skills is a nice challenge when playing around, but when trying to keep up with sea kayaks, which are now pulling away because you can’t turn to follow them, the option to drop the rudder and do a flat turn immediately and safely, without water coming over the gunwale, is quite appreciated. Of course, most people don’t paddle flatwater cruisers in the conditions that I’ve paddled the Summersong.
My Magic Experience
Huh, sounds like a sappy children’s book.
But anyhoo, I too have had problems with my Magic weathercocking, especially when not loaded with gear.
At Raystown last fall CEWilson convinced me that the Magic would benefit from a slider, so I fabricated several styles before coming to my solution. And darned if trimming the boat doesn’t work wonders!
If the Magic is the boat you want, assume you will have to make some mods.
Jim
Thanks folks
Your replies seem to generally confirm my limited experience.
I really like the looks of canoes and think they are one of the classiest craft devised.
But unfortunately we sometimes have to paddle when schedules permit and can’t wait for good weather and I guess this is where the kayak comes into play (for me).
I have a Min II and love the way it paddles and am looking for the same in a solo, but…
guess I’ll sell my pungo for a slightly more versatile kayak first - strictly for practical purposes.
Thakns again
The PBW Rapidfire is the most
wind ignoring canoe I have paddled, but it is still not a match for a kayak in serious wind.
well sure it has more surface
exposed to the wind…
I bet for 95 percent of paddlers they could not tell in the winds they paddle in. The other five percent will stick it out.
Hey just did 8 miles in 1:40 tonight in RapidFire at leisurely pace. Which for this Social Security retiree means leisurely.
Now you know I’ve caught too many …
...... Stripers and Blues Chip , to be thinkin about crankin them in from a Yak . For pete sakes , sometimes it has been all I could do to keep my footing in the Montauk (power boat) when one is on , with the rod buried against the forearm . I'm not going to try that sitting in a Yak , I'll be pulled right over .
The Bay is almost always rocking up/down , sideways etc., sometimes it trys to throw you overboard all by itself , lol ..
When I saw the pic. of the Thomas Point light you took , it reminded me of all the nights (in autum , Sept.-Oct.) I would set in the shallows anchored at the rock break water wall off the land rip rap wall (T.P.), in 3'-4' of water , and throw a 3/4 oz. sinking Rattle Trap into the schools that came in from midnite till dawn . The water actually boils there from the schools of a hundred , mixed Blues and Stripers . Arm breaking nights that completely exhuast you .
I don't really consider that type of fishing a canoe thing either . Reservors , eastern shore ponds , and mountain rivers for me and the canoe thank you .
But just for the shear pleasure chopping around on the Bay or open waters , a sea Yak looks like it could be a blast , the cruising thing ya know !!
Shoulda known a fishing person like
yourself would know all about that. But since you fish out of canoes, I figured maybe you weren’t into that Bay fishing.
It is pretty exciting, though, when the fish starts towing the boat. I caught a drum once that took me for a good tow, and that was in a dinghy.
How about crabbin’? Canoedancing wants to give that a try while he’s summering up this way. I’ll try to be hospitable, but it’s not something I’ve ever done, except off a bridge down in the outer banks. PM me if you’re willing to give up info on a good spot to try a trot line out of the canoe. Or PM canoedancing and show him the spot. A vegetarian, I’d just as soon let the crabs along anyway.
~~Chip
~~Chip
Leisurely?Not pushing hard maybe,
but leisurely? I need lessons.
Did you get the cover for your PBW?
If so, do you think it works to make paddling in the wind easier?
Cmon its tan time
Up here we have to savor our sun…no way am I putting on a spray cover for the three weeks left in summer.
Pretty soon it will be time to pull out the fleece.
OMG it got hot! 79…maybe I do need that cover for shade.
I haven’t seen the need for a cover
either. Over 90 here today;100 by Saturday.Fleece by January.
Sorry Chip , don’t go crabbing …
… never really did , but I will eat them .
And about fishing in the Bay , your thought was more correct than not . Exactly all my fishing for the past 6-7 yrs. has been in the freshwaters .
I used to spend an avg. of 500 hrs. a yr. fishing Stripers off the Bridge all through the night , but sold the last boat (B.W.Manimsha) and have only been twice since then . It was and is a finacial thing .
I do have another now but it is a project boat (Montauk) and it is only half ready . I expect to get out there again someday .