Tom Bergh stated that there are a handful of boats one might choose to take if one is planning a life and death Antartic journey, and it is useful to envision that hypothetical trip to clarify what boat would give you the most confidence and why that would be so.
Tom's conclusion is that it depends on two main factors, the paddler's size/height and "does the boat dissapear under you" Tom explained to me that in his opinion different boats behave optimally for paddlers of different weight and height, i.e., the center of gravity and how the boat rides change for someone 5'3" and 125 lbs. vs someone like me 6'3" and 178 lbs.
That said, Tom felt the singly most important determinant was that the boats windage, secondary stability, transition from primary to secondary, abilty to handle following seas, etc. when taken together MUST RESULT in a boat that mentally and viscerally produces an effect in the paddler of feeling at one with the boat, so that all the moves needed do not call the paddler's attention to the boat, but result in PREDICTABLE RESULTS. The effect he say only a few boats are capable of producing.
Although his opinion is that there is no ONE BOAT for all, the reason that the NDK Explorer is so often THE CHOICE is that despite its shortcomings, the net effect of the boat on BOTH novice and expert is that it disapears under the paddler.
He says to ask yourself, what boat do you want to to be in when you are seasick, injured, exhausted, scared, or otherwise compromised, hypothermic, etc. He says the choice most paddlers make when they think this way is the boat that can keep you going with the least attention paid to the boat and that allows you to make the most mistakes and still hang in there.
Hope this helps as framewrork for discussion and not a "my boat is better than your boat thing".
For me this suggests a way around dogmatic views and towards helping each paddler to find that sweetest boat for them.
second mako I like a surfski in rough conditions. The decked boats have alot more windage and you end being blown all about/fighting wind and although I can roll prefer the saftey of surfski. If pushing yourself than capsize is going to happen and a missed roll under a large wave when you are already out of breath paddling is not fun and a boat full of water in rough conditions is worse.
I don’t do multiday trips so I see no point in a taking a tanker out to sea when I don’t need to.
Great perspective & explanation Key point being how this disappearing/merging requires different boats for different people (plus some attention to outfitting, and mostly seat time!).
I cannot get a Pintail to disappear in slop because I find It frustratingly slow and wallowy relative to my Q. Only benefit is it’s naturally a bit easier to spin around - but then what? That doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy it or think it’s a great boat.
I think the Explorer is a fantastic design - but also a little dead (in some cases no doubt a good thing). More than happy to get one as a rental, and maybe if injured off Antarctica it would be good - by my Q is no harder to manage or keep upright and seems to work the waves more than get worked by the waves.
If I’d paddled and Explorer for 3 years and got into a Q700 - I’m pretty sure I’d be more comfortable in the Explorer. It would “disappear” as I’d be accustomed to it - and the 700 would not as it would be different/new. Since I have 3 years in the 700, I have the opposite experience would be better able to handle it in whatever.
The reason these expedition paddlers favor the Explorer is partly because it’s a great kayak in all the ways commonly ascribed - but I suspect it’s largely because that’s what they have experience in (and they’ve been paddling since the days when the Nordkapp was about the only choice - and the Explorer is far more friendly relative to that, not necessarily to newer designs). No reason for them to mess with what works well for them - but that doesn’t mean other kayaks may not be better choices for other paddlers.
Roughest I was in (rough for me anyway) I was not thinking about the kayak or may actions separately. All moved as one - like being some weird half man half kayak creature. Working through the waves had my full attention - with zero distractions form the kayak. It was an educational paddle - and one that left me with a whole new appreciation for the 700 (and my GP). There have been times on flat water where the boat, blade, and even myself to some extent have all faded away and there is just a sense of flow.
Man are you an evangelist! Winters and QCC should give you boats! Seriously, I admire their business approach, and think the boats are cool. I’m glad you like your kayak and have fun with it. It certainly matches the type of paddling you do, and that is key to being happy with kayaking. To me, if it doesn’t have fins and rails it’s just another log.
While I love my 700 - it's definitely not for everyone.
I just have one thing many of the die hard the Brit boaters seem to lack - I've paddled (and own) both. Their assumptions about the 700's performance just don't hold up. While they are right about Brit boats, they are not about boats like the 700 or Epic 18. Doesn't matter, we all enjoy our kayaks.
PS - Winter's himself just gets one free QCC a year. I would have to do a lot more than just pass on what I've experienced as a happy customer to get any perks like that! (though I have answered enough inquiries here and back channel to feel like unpaid outsourced customer service a few times *L*). I've also posted on what negatives there are many times and done and shared many modification they might not be so keen on me sharing. Not really a blind cheerleader for them at all. They simply have a great (and misunderstood) hull design, excellent quality, and really stand behind their product.
"The boat that dissapears under you!" Thank you Evan. That is the most articulated explanation of what is the “best boat.”
My choice of the Aquanaut came after paddling dozens of boats. The very first time I got into an Aquanaut I felt as if my butt was the center and control of the boat. It has continued to feel that way. In challenging conditions it feels as if the boat is an extension of my body.
That being said, for surfing I like my Romany. A number of its traits that I dislike in high winds and challenging seas make it an ideal boat for surfing.
Funny I paddled a Romany for some years precisely for it’s ability in high winds and coastal seas. Find the Aquanaut very boring. It’s very subjective stuff eh?
Don’t you read Coffee’s posts? I’m a yuppie gear head - only buy high end stuff just to impress all the other kayakers L.
I drive an Audi A3 because it’s fast, nimble, well made and a decent gear hauler - yet still reasonably efficient and not much more $ than something US and less than many other imports - just like my Q700!!!
Now for the really sick part - it’s “Ocean Blue” so when my kayaks are on top they are still cruising over the ocean - and the interior coordinates with my Q700’s colors (or maybe lack of colors!). Not intentional, I swear.
The Audi is a recent upgrade. First “nice” car. Before than I had a green Dodge Neon for 8 years! Sort of like the trust green Tarpon 160 SOT I used to have.
Could fit INSIDE all of 'em Except that for smaller folks like myself and, from what I’ve seen posted, Sing… we could add a couple of clones in there by the time you get to the Gulfstream.
Seriously - to go back to the size thing - a Silhouette is a much kinder boat for me in rougher stuff than it would be for a 6 ft 1 inch tall guy. That’s because I am the target size for the boaot and get the optimal waterline and balance.
On the other end, while I can operate a Gulfstream to get it from point A to point B in moderate conditions, the boat hardly disappears under me. Instead of feeling like it is at times an extension of my lower body like happens in low volume boats like the Vela, I feel like I have a bathtub-sized fiberglass object separating me from the water.
Boring in Antarctica? This is just what I was saying! We each find different boats work, but then again, for different conditions. When in certain situations we opt for non-boring. The Romany, Pintail, Greenlander Pro, all have this effect on me. And they have a purpose of helping me to learn more about myself and how to become one with conditions.
That said, when in the situations I describe, seasick, injured, etc. I want the boat I have allot of experience in of course, but I want a boat that is has the most predictable, linear, and smooth handling of as many conditons as possible. That might be a different consideration than the choices made for “exciting boat”. That is all. Perhaps for some these are not different boats, but to follow Tom’s idea, boring is not necessarily bad, and perhaps it may allow novice to expert to find new potential in themselves as well as getting them home.
Romany - Aquanaut I love my Romany. It is a ball of fun. There is no better boat for skills work and it is a blast surfing. However the loose bow and its skidding/sliding make me uneasy in truly challenging conditions such as 20+ knot winds, steep wind waves, and strong quartering, following, or storm seas.
For these conditions I feel more confident in my Aquanaut with its tighter bow and its carving rather than sliding.
For a 17’7" extremely well mannered boat in conditions, the 'naut is pretty lively.
Tsunami kayaks are specifically built for rough conditions: rock gardens, surfing, storms. Extra heavy kevlar layup, heavy stainless steel hardware, and washdeck design (can't be swamped like a SINK) with no drainage, make these kayaks serious rough water players. I saw this last Sunday, when I took my Heritage Shearwater (kevlar) out for a club trip. Our journey brought us close to rocks, and I couldn't resist. The Shearwater's first adventure into the rocks produced a small, leaking hole. And the hit wasn't even that hard. On the other hand, each of my Tsunamis have been out many times in the rocks, and have taken much worse hits. Never has any one of them suffered more than cosmetic damage, and that includes the time I surfed dead straight on into a rock at full surfing speed... I bounced backwards violently off the rock, and was sure the damage had to be bad, until I looked at it. Only some gel coat missing! (then I remembered that they pour epoxy into the bow, about 5-6 inches thick.
As far as handling is concerned, the hull shape is very efficient in real conditions.
Tony
It’s all good Different boats appeal to different people. Some think of 3 foot chop and 20 knot winds as rough. How does your boat handle 40 knot winds? They are all fine boats, and there is no “right”. Twenty years ago I thought a Nordkapp was the answer to all. My deal was all about covering huge distances, and a half a knot advantage was a big deal. Now I’d rather loaf along at 4.5 knots and play in the rocks etc. Some years back I broke my arm badly and ended up doing a trip in my 10 ft. surf kayak with a cast on. I kept up fine, and had way more fun that I’ve ever had in a touring boat. That was a real eye-opener for me. My future in coastal paddling will be in shorter boats if anything. I’d like to see more surf kayak influence on touring kayaks, but I’m sure the market, being VERY traditional, would reject such crazy thinking. Happy boating!
Rockhopper Earlier this year there was a short plastic boat advertised in the UK that would be fun for coastal touring in rocky areas and medium surfing. I can’t find the link sorry.
I agree about short boats in rough conditions. This year I have paddled my Mako surfkayak and my necky jive where I used to paddle my touring boat for coastal paddles and although slower it makes the trip a lot more fun because you have the confidence to go in close and play in the moving water. Although I would not want to paddle for miles in it in high winds, in really confused seas and boiling mess, I prefer the whitewater boat, very easy to keep it upright and if you tip over very easy to come right back up. If it was a test of survival in very rough seas I think an Ocean Kayak Frenzy might do a better job than a sea kayak.
Coaster I see a lot of the BASK people from the SF Bay area and some of the Tsunami Rangers love the Coaster. We don’t have a dealer in the Sacramento area, but I would love to try one. They are supposed to be great for all ocean conditions and great for surfing.