Early kayaks
I wonder if there were other glass kayaks being developed in Europe when the Anas was introduced. I’m familiar with the things you wrote but wonder if we only know about the Anas since Valley turned out to be such a powerful influence and notable manufacturer? I wonder when Derek’s Orion was out?
BTW: did you know that there were Nordcapps with rudders. And I believe the first Nordcapp was the one with the fixed skeg and the other model without it and the drop down skeg came later. The first Anas’s came with no skegs. After loads of complaints from dealers, I believe Valley came up with the first drop down skeg, primairly to correct the Anas’s handling in following seas.
I like the guy
– Last Updated: Oct-14-07 11:12 AM EST –
Actually Derek has a good sense of humor and I think thats about himself as well. Many things he talks about are a bit tongue and cheek and he enjoys ranting and creating controversy and attention but if you confront him about something, he's not obstinate and backs off pretty quickly as in the end of the video. He has unbelieveable shoulder flexibility from patting himself on the back but I have found him a pretty likable guy. I was fortunate to have dinner with him twice when he visited CT years back and he's a kayak entertainer on steroids. He has done great things for kayaking and if anybody deserves the title of "Father of modern kayaking" who else would you give it to? He has distributed more knowledge on the sport through his books and appearances than anybody.
There's tens of thousands of paddlers more skilled than Derek, but when he first started coming here to teach, there was nobody with his knowledge and skills doing that.
BTW: the North Sea is 350 miles across with an average of 400 sea going ships on it per day. We used to bust 'em off on Derek asking what ever happened to the other two guys who crossed the N. Sea with him and how come they don't have books out and nowbody knows about them. If you get a chance to hear him lecture or teach, you will be highly entertained and humored.
that’s good
my daughter learned to roll in 15minutes of verbal instruction in a very loose fitting Pygmy Golden Eye 13. How could ANYONE toot their horn with humility reinforcers like that?
Took me about a year to get a similar level of proficiency.
Right -Wrong
Truth or fairy tale, I have sat through a couple of his talks on paddling and his adventures. I listened and learned many things. Some good some questionable some arguable. But you have to admit he’s fun to listen to. And a great teller of tales! And I hope at 70+ I’m still paddling at all never mind 1/2 as well as he does.
Good Journey’s
Shawn
I
kind of liked the story about his espousing on the proper lenqth of a kayak for 40 minutes than saying that the proper lenqth was 17’2", the exact space inside his garage
what jay said
i had the opportunity to paddle the baidarka, the kayak derek paddled across the north sea. a very committing boat and an even more committing paddle. have you seen video of the rescue by a freighter on the first attempt? awesome stuff! doubt there’s very many posters on PNET who’ve come close to the level of paddling Derek did early on even allowing for current gear and experience. i know i haven’t. have also taken his beyond the cockpit class–most of the pleasure was in listening to him talk. IMO, he’s entitled to be a bit of a curmudgeon and a raconteur at this point in his life. don’t have to agree with everything he’s says to be grateful for the contributions he’s made no matter how quirky.
Agreed, indeed. Just a smidge of…
…well intentioned ribbing to DH. He did teach me to go beyond the cockpit, and he is very witty in the Horodowich video. Even his book on sea kayaking is laced with his opinion and sharp humor. Fun. I do not for a second doubt his prowess in a kayak, and his sincerity in what he is saying; thanks for pointing that out, jb and talon. He does come off like a know-it-all sometimes, though, you have to chuckle a tad at that. But yes, I would much rather take a course from him than from most others.
Derek still has a lot to say
I have taken Derek’s Beyond the Cockpit class twice (with my friend Wayne assisting him). Although I don’t agree with everything that Derek says, I do enjoy his sense of humor and I’ve learned a lot from him.
Just as I don’t take everything that other instructors say or teache, as gospel, I take what Derek says that I can use and incorporate it into my own personal style of paddling.
He has accomplished a lot - the crossing of the North Sea was quite an accomplishment and his books on kayaking are among the best.
Just four years ago, while taking his class, Derek paddled backwards while cajoling the rest of us to keep up with him. We had strong paddlers in that group and Derek was paddling a Gulfstream - and nobody could paddle fast enough forwards to catch him paddling backwards.
We’ve learned some things since he started paddling that have caused a lot of us to change some of the things that he originally taught. For example, I don’t think he teaches the all-in rescue that he originally taught, because it’s much faster to have everyone start a solo re-entry and then go to the weakest person and assist them, and so on and so on. But at least he was thinking of ways to handle a difficult situation.
Paddling with Derek is an experience that should be taken if the opportunity arises. He is one of paddlings “Greats”
paddling backwards
Think about it. Anyone can do more pushups than pullups. Core power’s about the same paddling in reverse, but chest and arms are actually much stronger pushing, so powerwise you’ll have an advantage going backwards over short distances (but one can’t do pushups all day). The speed is not the impressive part. Th hard part is controlling direction (hard for most - a snap for an old hand like Derek).
hutchinson’s first glass boat=1960s
ro 70s. he has pictures of his first ones in the latest editon of his book.
I like the story Derek tells
– Last Updated: Oct-16-07 8:13 PM EST –
about the first wood kayak he built. He made the cockpit opening round, and the coaming to fit just snug around the belly. He then proceeded to get in with his wet suit on. After paddling around a bit, he returned to waist deep water and proceeded to wet exit. Well, the suction from the coaming seal around the wet suit prevented him from exiting. At this point in telling the story, he makes a sucking sound and flexes his cheeks inward and puts his hands out flat in front of him, touching at the fingertips, and flexes the fingers downward to simulate oilcaning. After ample pause for the laughter to settle down, he says something like, “I was waiting for my two idiot friends on shore to wade out and help me. They never came!” More pause. “I finally wedged myself out!” It was hilarious.
Paul
His kayaks
– Last Updated: Oct-16-07 12:43 PM EST –
I once asked him why all his kayak designs are only 17 feet. He said that's the longest length I can fit in my garage.
One of his jokes is that he used to do his talk on crossing the N. Sea at the Maine Sea Kayaking Sympolium and for 3 connsective years the founders of the College there would attend. He asked them " why do you keep comming back for the same talk?" They said "Because every year it's totally different".
Had the pleasure
of meeting him, and he’s a kick. I told him that I’d swiped one of the illustrations in his book for a little private project of my own, and he joked that I must have been pretty hard up for sources. He’s very approachable, and eager to share his knowledge. Like with everyone else, whether or not I agree with everything he says isn’t that important.
(sigh)
Does nobody else have an eccentric uncle?
Jim
Not me…
… but my nieces do! 
sounds like Derek could have used
a good eskimo bow-presentation rescue
all sort of relative
nah, they used fiberglass in many sorts of kayaks in the 60’s, before there were “production sea kayaks” there were “production kayaks” used on the sea though meant for other waters.
Hmmm…something smells here?
How is it that Derek Hutchinson is on a beach during a kayak festival and while being interviewed, he is confronted with not only another well known kayak information guru, but that person happens to have a book which clearly proves the point he wants to make while bashing Derek. How convenient. Was the book a tome he carries in his drybag?
Anyone else smell a set up here? If so it is disgusting. The man did so many things for the sport here and in the UK.
Paul
no set-up
that’s what Matt does. At the Outdoor Retailer demo days and WCSKS he measures new boats, paddles them and records EVERYTHING. He has a data base that includes MOST of the boats built in the past 20-30 years. that’s the ‘book’ you saw him refer to. carries it around in a drybag.
I had someone tell me at the WCSKS, after seeing Matt with his flowing, long grey whiskers and hair, “Wow, i didn’t know that GOD kayaked!”
hee hee
steve
Matt Boze
Is not just another guy who sells boats. He’s been in the business a long time with a great record himself, just not so published as is DH. I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting him, but would love to work out an opportunity if I got to the west coast.
Out of anyone who would have that info at hand, Matt Boze would be the person. And while DH is a great old uncle, I don’t see any problem with someone who does have a command of the history in North America coming up and offering a correction. DH was holding quite forth publically and this kind of thing is a not unexpected result.