Hey man, when I climbed…
…Price Glacier and the Coleman Headwall and…it was straight up and down! 
Thanks for the reply. I won’t bother you for a couple of days because it’ll take me that long to pick this apart to make sure I know what you mean! Thanks for your patience and advice.
Many Thanks to Otterslide
You put a lot of effort into explaining some good info here. I don’t recall seeing posts from you in the past, but these were well-done.
doesn’t matter
what your estimate of the wind was or what it was actually—sounds like you were having a hard time making it go into the wind. Whether it was 25 knots or 45 knots is immaterial(BTW the condition is called leecocking, the opposite of weathercocking)-
Your response to it was correct–bow rudders(or bow draws) after a forward sweep or two on the downwind side—with me it happens when there are two conditions—high winds and chop at least 2 to 3 feet. What occurs is the bow of the boat is lifted up on the top of the wave where the entire bow of the boat is exposed to the wind—pushing it(the bow) downwind If it is windy but little fetch and smaller waves the problem isn’t so bad. And as I said above the skeg should be up—leaving it down just exaggerates the problem–
The one thing you don’t want to do is try a stern rudder or a reverse sweep on the upwind side to turn the boat into the wind. This causes forward momentum to drop off and the bow to actually lift slightly when the stern goes down–and is counter productive.
I think what engenders the skepticsm with some of the posters here regarding wind speed is that very few of us would voluntarily venture out in 40–45 knot winds and can’t imagine others doing so(as opposed to being caught unawares by them) But if that’s your thing, then fine–If you go out in high winds often you will encounter this phenomemon more frequently.
50 mph or 50 knots?
Otterslide
Yes,
As stated above, thanks to Otterslide. His comments have been incredibly informative (he was the one to whom I was referring above with my positive comments)
Matt
40 knot winds ???
???
Cheers,
JackL
LV same cockpit placement
As I recall the Romany LV has the same cockpit placement as the standard. I have been told in the Romany S the cockpit is closer the the mid point of the boat (as far as fore and aft).
Clarification…
Okay perhaps I should clarify. Maybe I am in a minority here but I actually seek out the windiest days I can find to paddle.
Given that I am now fairly landlocked in MD I rely on the wind to create fun conditions in which to paddle.
I watch the weather forecast closely and jump on the opportunity to paddle on a windy day. Also will vary my paddling locatioun based upon wind direction, seeking to paddle in the location that has the longest fetch.
So…when there was a day with 40 knot winds I was quick to load up the boat and go out to paddle. To me that is a rare “opportunity.”
And since they were blowing from the west I headed to the eastern side of the Chesapeake to paddle to maximize fetch.
As a dedicated windy day paddler I paddle on the windiest days I can find. On the truly windy days (above 25 knots) I have found what I thought was an anomaly of boat handling where the boat no longer wants to turn into the wind but sideways to it or down wind.
I have wondered about this for a long time given that I always thought sea kayaks were supposed to turn into the wind. Wasn’t sure why I noticed the opposite when the winds were really high.
Now I understand.
Incidentally…I have also learned that despite the fact that I still will continue to paddle in high wind days, above 40 knots is pushing my abilities. Not because of the water conditions but becuase I just can’t get the boat to go where I want it to consistently.
Good to have established your limitations.
Honestly I had thought that I had no limitations in terms of wind as long as the water conditions were ones I could handle. I thought that just good plain effective strokes and technique would allow me to handle winds much higher; however, I now know that I have my limitations and that it’s more about just staying upright.
That may sound like BS but it’s not. I have always been absolutely amazed by the “sea worthiness” of a sea kayaks as a rough water craft. I also have read about paddlers such as Nigel Foster who have paddled in up to like 60 knot winds (or some ridiculously high wind speed).
I guess I felt unlimited in a kayak (especially in an Explorer!); however, now I know otherwise. You can’t do much good if you can only paddle in the direction the wind tells you to.
Good learning points. I learned more about boat handling traits and the mechanics of it, and established some good practical limitations which is important for safety.
Matt
So
Is that the right boat??
There are others that would have worked better for you I think…
You must be pulling my leg!
Salty,
You’re pulling my leg right? Are you actually suggesting that I go out and try ANOTHER boat? You of all people know the obsessive quest I have been on.
You may be somewhat serious though as I suspect you are implying that a shorter boat may have been better for me…Chatham 16, Romany, etc.
I actually really like the Explorer. I find it to be a great compromise. Unlike other 18 footers it seems to have enough rocker to make it adequate as a play boat. Also has more speed and tracking that the shorter boats, not to mention capacity.
I also find it a good boat for my size. Romany is too tight, Chatham is not comfortable to me, and I feel as though I am too heavy for the Avocet (debated by some but that’s how I feel).
I find the Explorer to be a really good match for my size and weight.
I also find it to be a great surfer believe it or not. Unlike the shorter boats it does not want to broach on a wave. Easy to catch long rides.
While I love to play in rough water, the majority of my paddling is in relatively flat water given that the Chesapeake is flat more often than not so the Explorer is nice for distance paddling.
Also find the Explorer to be one of the most capable rough water boats I have paddled…along with the Aquanaut. I prefer them in big water over the Avocet and Romany.
Matt
Nope
You’ll think differently a year from now. We’ll see…
A whole year?
Matt has certainly been able to change his mind in less time than that!
But seriously, whatever happens later on remains to be seen.
Matt, I am glad that you seem to have settled on a boat for a bit anyway. With a baby on the way, I doubt that lots more boat swapping would be convenient for you.
how high were the waves?
I think you’ll find that most sea kayaks will weathercock in high wind, low-no waves. As there is nothing to guard the tail from skidding out in terms of water texture. My silhouette without the skeg in a beam wind and no waves will skid out pretty bad. But with an edge or a skeg it will track just fine.
That’s what skegs are for
Glad to hear you got out paddling 
Alternatives?
How about common sense? VF
More salt in the wound
You wrote: “While I love to play in rough water, the majority of my paddling is in relatively flat water given that the Chesapeake is flat more often than not so the Explorer is nice for distance paddling.”
Reminds me of something a furniture salesman said to me once when I was shopping for a hide-a-bed for a small apartment (seemed to make sense being just myself). He said: What you’ll get is a really heavy and poorly made sofa and a terrible bed that will be hell to sleep on. You’d be much better off with separate pieces that will work much better and be MUCH easier to move around. If it’s a price issue, we have some very reasonable used stuff…"
To what Salty is getting at regarding their being better options for the rough stuff, I’d add there are much better options for the majority of our calmer distance paddling as well!
But if you need one kayak that does most things OK, and don’t mind heavy - I’d certainly agree the Explorer fits the bill.
Agree and disagree…
Better boats for rough water: more playful maybe. Better…not really. The Explorer is a superb rough water boat. More playful WOULD be nice, but you can’t have it all. However, despite not being as playful as shorter boats like the Avocet and Romany I find that for me it surfs better. Not as likely to broach.
Better boats for flat water:
Okay this is true; however, I don’t like boats with rudders so that rules out a lot of boats. And despite the fact that the Explorer is not the most efficient hull, the boat fits me so well I get a very efficient full-body stroke that is powerful and efficient so I can paddle the boat as fast as many “faster boats” that I have owned. Also just feels good to paddle given that it fits me so well.
More than one boat:
Yes, good in many ways, but I always hated having to figure out which was the perfect boat for the day and the adjustment it took to get used to the different fit, characterisitics, etc.
I think there is a lot to be said for having one boat that works well for everything and that you become intimately familiar with.
They say that you can be the jack of all trades but the master of none. True; however, the Explorer comes as close to being the master of all as I think is possible. It’s pretty darn good at most things really, and given that it fits me perfectly it is very well matched to me so I feel confident that I could hang with the fast boats on flat water and maneuver and surf with the shorter ones in rough water and not feel disadvantaged.
Last thought…if the Explorer is not maneuverable enough then spend more time refining your strokes. If it’s not fast enough then spend more time working on your forward stroke technique, strength and fitness. There are a heck of a lot of top paddlers that paddle this as their one and only boat and do so quite well.
One day I may expand my fleet. For now though this is good for me. Also may depend on where I move to (being in the Army I move a lot).
Matt
Hell, I can’t even settle on a paddle!
– Last Updated: Feb-22-08 12:09 AM EST –
Damn happy I don't have to!
I'm mostly using 3 very different ones lately that I love equally - and that's in the same kayak! A lot works well in the QCC 700 - which seems to be up to whatever I care to do on a given paddle. In other kayaks it's a bit easier to pick - as some things just work better: GP with SOF, Wing with ski, Euro with surf SOT...
I currently have 14 paddles and am looking at ways to make a LOT more so I can share some of them.
Just one kayak? I'd have to build that one myself (and swear off interests outside of day touring to be happy with even such a custom one).
I'd rather build two quite different ones. One for open water soloing and ticking off miles (rough or flat), one more for socializing and play (also in mixed conditions). I only have these in my head and in simple sketches so far...
Nah…
It’s a great boat, but you’re already thinking about what would be better…you aint foolin me at all with this full circle diatribe!
well…
One day it might be nice to ADD a Romany HV / Posseiden or Romany Surf.
16 foot play boats are fun. Romany is too small for me though.
We’ll see, but the Explorer is a keeper for me (at least for now)!
Matt
14 paddles???
I’m afraid to ask–a paddle fetish maybe?