Given that…
…the race takes place on Memorial Day in upstate New York, this probably wasn’t one of your most illuminating posts.
Well,
It would depend upon The Dog.
If you get a Short dog, some people here will point out that a short dog might steer better, but be doggy in the water in terms of speed.
So, you may want to look at a Longer type of dog. However, with a headwind, if the longer model dog is standing diagonally there is going to be some weathercocking, and if his stance is completely sideways up at the bow, you are going to be having some serious problemos making headway. However, a sideways long dog in the stern can give you some seriously smokin’ wind-aided kayak sailing advantages. Teach him to lay down with paws over each side, and you have now gotten yourself a set of gullwings!
Don’t forget to balance the weight of the Short or Long model Dog with appropriate matched weight at the other end of the kayak, just as an intelligent, resourceful, and clever person would do if it were an inanimate piece of gear packed away in a hatch, and they wanted to have a more pleasant, balanced experience. To determine the weight of the Dog, put him on a scale. To determine the weight of the gear, just guess, give up, and then put it on a scale, too, so you can state, with authority, to curious onlookers that Your Dog is the appropriate model for Your Kayak.
Then there is the Really Important Criteria: Whether to go with a Sit On Top Dog, or a Cockpit Canine Model.
Most Serious People will insist that any one going out in the water for more than 15 minutes or a quarter mile must use the Cockpit Canine model.
The only problem with this, is then you’ll have to fork out $35,000 for a top of the line SUV, preferably a SuDogaboo, and another $1000/$2000 in top rack accessories, so the Cockpit Canine does not get a Complex that he was seen hauling in some Bubba truck, or worse, a FORD product using foam blocks and used salvage cotton clothesline rope.
And then the neoprene skirts can really be a bummer, to the dog. Hot. Confining.
On the other hand, with a Sit-On-Top Dog, the Dog will be so darned happy just to be getting out of the house and out for a ride to the lake or river, he couldn’t care less what vehicle you’re using, as long as he gets to go along. The Sit-On-Top Dog also self- loads into the kayak much easier than the Cockpit Canine model. This might have something to do with the fact that the Sit-On-Top kayak is designed to carry things that are not shaped exactly like the inside of a kayak, and to have them be really easy to get in and out of those open areas. Aka “built in platforms.”
As for the ride, there is no comparison, the Sit-On-Top Dog outperforms the Cockpit Canine because the Sit-On-Top model Dog learns that it can move around in a kayak “carefully” without tipping the thing over, but the Cockpit Model can be a most difficult challenge unless it is very, very small, and then you run the risk of misplacing it when it falls in. And small things are more likely to bounce out during wave action. And it’s not really safe to tie them in.
Your Long Dog model, therefore, should be paired with a Long Dog Sit On Top fishing-style kayak of at least 14 to 16 feet in length. This will still give you some speed as long as you’ve got The Dog trained to stand in the correct sailing position.
Oh, and don’t forget The Dog PFD, because some breeds of dogs do not float, they sink, and assuming that your dog does swim, they still need a handle on top to grab onto if they try to take off without you or get going in a current.
Actually DK did intimidate someone
Not going to get into who, but they didn’t know how to take what he said and it could have been taken as an intent to threaten by a stranger to his discourse.
cruel
– Last Updated: Jun-03-16 12:51 AM EST –
to the dog period. I cannot even see any credible race organization even permitting it.
X’s 2
Jack L
I Would Recommend A Two-man/Double
Outrigger canoe, for a 55 - 65 pound dog would sit or lay comfortably up front and balance the bow out perfectly for the race. The only problem would be the portage. Freeze up 3 or 4 double cheeseburgers and train your dog to sip water from a tube.
you may have noticed
that there are others here who “intimidate newbies”. But ok, warn whoever you want. But to continue to complain about something you can ignore only brings more attention to it. Do you disagree?
I wasn’t referring to that
– Last Updated: Jun-03-16 10:27 AM EST –
Nowhere in my response to willowleaf or willowleaf's initial post was "intimidation" mentioned, and and if you were being observant (or honest), you would have noticed my disapproval with his post at the time. I really resent your implication. And if we're going to be bluntly honest - there are others whose rigid views on all things paddling-related also intimidate "newbies".
Meanwhile, we've had at least two threads written about datakoll that had nothing to do with said intimidation, but rather, the lack of clarity in his posts. People went on to take personal shots at him, perhaps you participated? Is that what the forum is for?
I found those threads and the people who used the opportunity to cast personal insults incredibly childish and hypocritical. Warn newbies if you want but that was overboard and certainly didn't set a better example for "newbies".
Infinite monkey theorem
– Last Updated: Jun-03-16 10:25 AM EST –
> Among all the blather, there are occasionally...very occasionally...pearls of wisdom.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinite_monkey_theorem
good one, BR!
NM
I’ve actually see a dog
Standing on a shower mat in the back deck of a kayak
But for 10 miles not 70
Cool pic!
many seaworthy pups
– Last Updated: Jun-03-16 12:59 PM EST –
P.net participant TsunamiChuck often paddles with his pup, Paris, and recently posted links to videos of them on various outings in Alaskan waters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xK-He5em1g&feature=em-upload_owner
The question here is not whether a dog can ride along on a kayak. Of course they can. The issue we've been batting about is whether it is rational (or humane) to consider taking one along on a serious all-day endurance race.
But since we have not heard "boo" from the OP since he/she posted their question, we can't be altogether sure if that was their intent or if they were hoping someone would suggest a craft that could be used without the dog for the race and then with the dog on later, more leisurely outings.