The PaddleWise Discussion on Ballast
From: K. Whilden
Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Ballast
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 1998 11:45:02 -0800 (PST)
Can somebody please remind why there is so much interest in ballast?
If this is for improving stability, then I consider adding ballast an
inferior approach. The best possible way to improve stability in your boat
is to improve your technique and your fit in the boat. For the latter,
there is a great article in the recent Feb issue of Sea Kayaker, for the
former, I can recommend several ways to improve your balance and edging
skills, from simple exercises to do while paddling, to a full-blown river
kayaking course.
I really hope that nobody is considering ballast as a substitute for
paddling skill. There is no better stability aid in a kayak than your own
body!!!!! (except sponsons of course, which are obviously not subject to
the law of gravity.)
Kevin
From: Kirk Olsen
Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Ballast
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 1998 16:16:48 -0500 (EST)
The interest started from adjusting trim.
My comments have been as "support" since the two boats I've
paddled with ballast had it added as support. Both boats
were roughly 19' with a 17" beam skin frame replicas.
I completely agree that skills are preferable to ballast.
kirk
From: Jackie Fenton
Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Ballast
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 1998 14:58:38 -0800 (PST)
Kevin,
If you consider sponsons a better stability aid than your own body,
why is this better than using ballast? Wouldn't this too, fall
in the category of not developing adequate skills according to your
logic? I don't understand the difference.
Have you paddled the Khatsalano (unsponsoned version)?
There are some touring boats that are much better paddled when they are
loaded. Would you consider that "extra comfort in paddling" a substitute
for good skills? And when I don't add some type of ballast to my boat when
I have my co-captain (see http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/poochyak.html ), she
can make the event turn into quite a workout. Actually, she's great for
practicing bracing :-) I can paddle the boat with her on deck while not
carrying ballast, but I just can't take pictures. Especially when a
pelican lands nearby.
Jackie
http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/
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From: K. Whilden
Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Ballast
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 1998 16:25:38 -0800 (PST)
Jackie,
The comment regarding sponsons is a joke referring to Mr. Unmentionable's
penchant for raping the laws of physics and logic in his defense. I do
not advocate any device as a substitute for skill, but rather I believe
devices should be a supplement to skill. Also, I do not expect all sea
kayakers to become class IV whitewater paddlers, but I do wish that sea
kayakers would consciously seek to improve skills whenever possible. There
are lots of simple little drills that can be done while paddling to
improve technique without undue effort. My personal favorite is paddling
with the boat on edge for an extended time (1-5 minutes). This does
wonders for edging and hip snap strength, as well as directional control
because boats turn easier when leaned.
I can believe that pooch_yakkin' does wonders for bracing skills. If you
want to increase the level of challenge, you might consider upgrading to
a St. Bernard. :)
Kevin
From: Jackie Fenton
Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Ballast
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 1998 18:57:26 -0800 (PST)
Hi Kevin,
> From: "K. Whilden"
> The comment regarding sponsons is a joke referring to Mr. Unmentionable's
> penchant for raping the laws of physics and logic in his defense. I do
> not advocate any device as a substitute for skill, but rather I believe
> devices should be a supplement to skill.
I think ballast fall into this category... a supplement. Sort of like
rudders (uh oh, she's brought up THAt subject!). Sometimes rudders are
useful depending on the boat, and sometimes, beginners use them for
steering rather than develop the appropriate skills. btw, you can say
"Mr. Unmentionable's" name on this list. It's safe :-) (looks both ways)
> Also, I do not expect all sea
> kayakers to become class IV whitewater paddlers, but I do wish that sea
> kayakers would consciously seek to improve skills whenever possible.
Agreed. Many do, but there seems to be an awful lot of rescues of
sea kayakers without appropriate skills from that recent coastguard report
(such as those who could not even re-enter their boats).
> There
> are lots of simple little drills that can be done while paddling to
> improve technique without undue effort. My personal favorite is paddling
> with the boat on edge for an extended time (1-5 minutes). This does
> wonders for edging and hip snap strength, as well as directional control
> because boats turn easier when leaned.
I think paddling parallel to the beach in surf (not big stuff) is good
for developing bracing skills (besides being fun).
> I can believe that pooch_yakkin' does wonders for bracing skills. If you
> want to increase the level of challenge, you might consider upgrading to
> a St. Bernard. :)
__
(_( )_
( _ ( )
_ _ (__ (_ _ __ )
/ \O/ \ _ _
" / \O/ \
"
__ __
///\www/\\\
////|\\\\
____ /// Y \\\ ____
(____>======(((/-\)))======<____)
//"\\
_ ///|\\\ _
_ __/ ||\///"\\\/||
\\ _________________( /",o______\\\\||"||////__________
\\ .' (`y _(@__~_ v') "" "" "" "" `.
~~~"'~ ~~ ~~~~~~~~~ \\~/[|||||]\~//~~~ ~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~ ~ `~~~~ ~~~
~ ~~~~ ~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~ ~ ~~~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~~~~
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> @))
~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~ ) /_ ~~ ~~~~~ ~ ~ ~~~
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~~ ~ ~~ ~ ___[/ /__] ~~ ~ ~ ~~
\------------------------(@----'--`----------------------/
~~~ ~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ ~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~~~~~~~ jf~
~~ ~ ~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~~~~
"You ought'n to talk about open-water fetch when Tiny is along."
Jackie
http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/
From: Julio MacWilliams
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Ballast
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 1998 19:19:52 -0800 (PST)
You are right in that improving your skills and getting used
to rough conditions should compesate for stability, but there is
a difference between sea kayaking and white water.
In the river, if you get tired, you just pull out wherever is
convenient. At sea, getting to a place to take a brake may take
you more than half and hour, with the agravant that you have
to deal with the surf zone when you are at the limit of exhaustion.
For that reason, people who do transoceanic trips carry a good load
of ballast. You need to be able to stay upright when your arms
and torso refuse to move anymore and you are thinking "why did I do this?".
Also ballast cures other problems, like excesive weathercocking.
- Julio
From: John Winters
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Custom Cockpit update [lead shot?]
Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 08:50:47 -0500
Kenneth wrote;
(SNIP)
>
> For example, if you added 64 lbs of lead to a boat, you would need to
> add a 1 cu. ft. air bag to float that lead it if you swamped. It is
> just simpler to forget the lead and instead add a 1 cu. ft. water bag to
> get the same 64 lbs. of ballast.
Lead weighs aprox. 700 lbs. per cubic foot. Thus 64 pounds of lead will
only take up 157 cu. inches of space. Since this can be mounted much lower
in the boat and centralized fore and aft much less of it can be used to
achieve the desired increase in stability or change in trim. A simple
calculation of the moments involved will show that 50 pounds of lead
mounted on the bottom of a kayak will almost make it self righting. If
faired into the hull it will have no noticeable effect on hull resistance.
Kevin wrote;
>If this is for improving stability, then I consider adding ballast an
>inferior approach. The best possible way to improve stability in your boat
>is to improve your technique and your fit in the boat. For the latter,
>there is a great article in the recent Feb issue of Sea Kayaker, for the
>former, I can recommend several ways to improve your balance and edging
>skills, from simple exercises to do while paddling, to a full-blown river
>kayaking course.
This is true for those activities where one is always alert. However, if
one is sleeping in the boat or there is a prospect of being at sea for
extended periods of time in which one must rest, ballast can provide the
required stability and it is safer than increasing the form stability.
Also, we have heard from handicapped paddlers who might not have the
ability to roll. In this case added stability that actually prevents
capsize may be a requirement.
For most paddling stores and gear in a boat are a form of ballast that can
enhance stability. They can be stored in such a manner as to improve
handling and make paddling much less stressful when the weather gets
threatening. The obvious problem with stores is that they are consumable
and stability suffers with time (unless you have a holding tank aboard).
:-)
If you are carrying water anyway then it is important to store it as low as
possible and outboard to reduce rolling. The containers should be
collapsible so the water will not slosh. Of course, the containers should
be fastened tightly enough to prevent movement. We used the cheap folding 2
gal. jugs in Labrador. They worked but I never really trusted them and
covered mine with duct tape to prevent wearing holes in it.
Returning to the origin of this thread, adding ballast specifically to
adjust the trim of a boat may not be the most efficient way to do the job
but it does work. A sliding seat is much more effective plus it provides
flexibility to adjust for less than perfect gear packing. I have used
ballast myself on sprint kayaks. We build the boats ten lb. under weight
and then shift the lead blocks around to get the best trim. We don't move
the paddler because the seats are rather tightly fitted into the best
paddling position for control and stroke efficiency.
The important thing to recognize through any of these discussions is that
circumstances alter needs. One can alter stability in several ways and each
method has its virtues and vices. The wise paddler and boat designer will
recognize this and use each method in the appropriate manner. To
arbitrarily adopt one over the others is to invite problems.
Cheers
John Winters
Redwing Designs
Specialists in Human Powered Watercraft
http://home.ican.net/~735769/
From: Michael Neverdosky
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Ballast
Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 07:56:07 -0500
juliom wrote:
>
> You are right in that improving your skills and getting used
> to rough conditions should compesate for stability, but there is
> a difference between sea kayaking and white water.
Actually several differences, but they do complement each other.
> In the river, if you get tired, you just pull out wherever is
> convenient. At sea, getting to a place to take a brake may take
> you more than half and hour, with the agravant that you have
> to deal with the surf zone when you are at the limit of exhaustion.
There are other ways.
One problem I had with Tim's sponson push is his failure to advocate a
complete system. The really useful item to have at sea (which Tim also
sells) is a sea anchor. A properly sized and rigged sea anchor will keep you
bow into the wind, and nearly stationary on the water. Even a kayak that
is only moderately stable will be easy to keep upright in this position and
you can improve your stability by sliding down into your cockpit, this
lowers your center of gravity, and reduces you exposure to the elements.
You can add sponsons if you like (or need them) and even get some sleep.
> For that reason, people who do transoceanic trips carry a good load
> of ballast. You need to be able to stay upright when your arms
> and torso refuse to move anymore and you are thinking "why did I do this?".
The gear I would be carrying for a ocean crossing is more than enough
ballast.
:-)
> Also ballast cures other problems, like excesive weathercocking.
If the boat is shapped right and the ballast is in the right place.
> > Can somebody please remind why there is so much interest in ballast?
To get a large boat that can be used for expiditions to sit down on her
lines properly so that a smaller paddler with little gear can paddle
comfortably.
Every boat has one condition of load (total displacement) that is optimum
for handling and performance (this does change some with conditions), it
is part of the paddler's skill to know what this is and to load the boat
to as nearly the optimum condition as possible for any given conditions.
> > If this is for improving stability, then I consider adding ballast an
> > inferior approach.
Stability is only a small part of the puzzle.
> > I really hope that nobody is considering ballast as a substitute for
> > paddling skill. There is no better stability aid in a kayak than your own
> > body!!!!! (except sponsons of course, which are obviously not subject to
> > the law of gravity.)
I met a lady like that once. :-)))
michael
From: Robert C. Perkins
Subject: [Paddlewise] Re ballast
Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 10:44:38 -0500
I've followed the thread on ballast with interest. When I paddle my Dagger
Meridian without the gear that I normally carry, I can feel the increased
sensitivity to wind and waves. In early January, I paddled at the coast
(NC) under conditions in which all I needed in my rear hatch was my
emergency dry bag. A week later on a lake I carried my regular winter kit:
2.5 liters of water, emergency dry bag, tarp, fuel bottle, and cook kit.
All of these items, except the tarp, go in the rear and pushed up against
the cockpit bulkhead. My Meridian was noticeably more stable. I'm
accustomed to paddling with my winter kit or the equivalent and I'm
comfortable with it.
Bob
--------------------------------------------------
Robert C. Perkins, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Research and Planning
Methodist College, Fayetteville, NC 28311
910-630-7037
From: rdiaz
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Re ballast
Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 13:32:35 -0800
I have been following this ballast discussion with great interest. It
makes me feel pretty dumb. I keep asking myself why anyone would want
to add 30 pounds or more of dead weight to their boat that needs to be
hefted with every launching or takeout as well as propelled through the
water with every paddle stroke. Wouldn't it be better to get a boat
that is sufficiently stable by design for your paddling skills and you
individual sense of comfort regarding touchiness and stability of the
boat? If one can't handle paddling a certain boat comfortably and
within one's skills then adding weight seems a weird approach. I can
see it if you bought the boat, find it too tippy and then rather than
buy another boat pasting in some lead, tying down water bags, whatever.
There is a tendency for many paddlers to feel they have to get into
elite boats, which usually means longer, skinnier, Greenland style
boats, while not having the skills, experience, etc. to make the most of
what those boats offer. You don't see a person adding ballast to an
Arluk IV. It strikes me as weird getting an Arluk 1.8 and then, when
finding it too much boat to handle, pasting in lead. Get the Arluk IV
or whatever the equivalent is today; I don't keep up much on the
zillions of hardshell models out there any more but I do see it with the
Feathercraft Khatsalano.
People who should not be in the Khats buy it on the belief it will make
them faster or make them feel they will become a better paddler. But
often, some of those people might be better off, if they want to stay in
the Feathercraft family, to go with a K-1 or even, for many of them, the
K-Light. I know of one fellow who has a Khats but paddles it only in
the summer and in fairer conditions because he has been know to tip over
in the Khats and doesn't want to do it in rough conditions or cold
water. More power to him, it seems to make him happy, but I find it a
bit strange.
I guess an analogy might be running shoes. There are some sleek, real
light weight models meant for fast running and racing. But would you
buy a pair if you are a plodding, overpronating jogger and heavy on your
feet? Sensibly not, I would hope!!! Of course, there is an argument in
boats that goes like this "I want to buy a boat I can grow into rather
than one that I will outgrow in skills." I guess a jogger could argue
the same to convince himself (I am being gender specific; women tend to
be smarter on this) to start with a lightweight racing pair of running
shoes.
Paddle wise & pick wise in the first place when choosing a boat
ralph diaz
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Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
Tel: 212-724-5069;
"Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
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From: Michael Edelman
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Re ballast
Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 16:53:22 -0500
Ralph has a very good point, to which I'll raise two exceptions. You may have a
boat that's perfect when loaded with gear, but just too tender when you're in
it alone. Or perhaps your double rides too high when you're soloing it, or
maybe you need ballast to balance that double when one cockpit is empty.
The other is the point Hutchinson makes, that ballast may be useful if you want
to pursue a lot of hands-off activity, like photography or fishing. In that
case some lead may just make sense.
Beyond that my interest is entirely academic ;-)
-- mike, practicing a low brace with a 4# 7' flyrod...
----------------------------------------
Michael J Edelman
http://www.mich.com/~mje
http://www.mich.com/~mje/kayak.html
http://www.mich.com/~mje/scope.html
From: "TomTotem..."
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Re ballast
Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 15:10:14 -0500
Thank you Michael for saving me the embarrassment of posting a much longer
version of what you have said.
*My* interest in ballast is for use during short paddles. I have yet to
leave without flares, p.f.d., p.f. dry/wet suit/top, radio, spare paddle,
knife, etc... They just don't weigh that much, and neither do I...
I like my bigger boat! Frankly it's the most beautiful thing I own and
that in its self is worth taking the effort required to allow it to perform
at it's best. True I consider "big water" to be Lake Washington for now,
and some might say my boat is over-kill Harley riders didn't like
my CX-500 either...
FWIW, I *do* have different boats [Caspia, Loon, Pirouette S
Katahdin [canoe] and the Pursuit-the one I'm fondest of all, I also gave my
Kyook Plus to my S.O. for X-mas] and am not really willing to part with any
of them as they each serve their own purposes.
snip------->
Thanks y'all...
I do learn a lot here...
Tom Weese
Kirkland, WA.
Three left turns often make a right...
From: "Larry Bliven"
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Re ballast
Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 22:29:50 -0500
>From Tom, and
>and the Pursuit-the one I'm fondest of all,
---------------------------------------------
who makes the Pursuit and what are its general specs?
i wonder if the discussion is leading towards a removable seat with a
weighted bottom. mass of wt selected for the particular day's
conditions/needs. it will be interesting to read how you outfit your
boat... and how it feels on the water.
bye bye bliven
in the woods today, frogs were singing... spring is coming... i can't wait.
in the trees, 8 eagles... 4 adults...4 yearlings... on the ground... owl
pellets.
From: "John Winters"
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Re ballast
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 07:22:40 -0500
Ralph wrote;
> I have been following this ballast discussion with great interest. It
> makes me feel pretty dumb. I keep asking myself why anyone would want
> to add 30 pounds or more of dead weight to their boat that needs to be
> hefted with every launching or takeout as well as propelled through the
> water with every paddle stroke. Wouldn't it be better to get a boat
> that is sufficiently stable by design for your paddling skills and you
> individual sense of comfort regarding touchiness and stability of the
> boat? If one can't handle paddling a certain boat comfortably and
> within one's skills then adding weight seems a weird approach. I can
> see it if you bought the boat, find it too tippy and then rather than
> buy another boat pasting in some lead, tying down water bags, whatever.
(SNIP)
This ties in with what Dana wrote regarding boat size. Boats simply aren't
sold well and the bigger is better (and sometimes, narrower is better)
philosophy is pushed because it is so easy to sell to customers.
For the vast majority of paddlers, a boat with enough designed in stability
to provide comfortable stress free paddling is far better than a less
stable high performance boat but they have a down side too.
If we consider just the stability issue it is easy to see that people will
feel more comfortable in a properly loaded kayak due to the added stability
of gear etc. The problem arises when they venture out lightly loaded and
unaware that the characteristics of their boat are now significantly
altered. If the critical conditions are encountered the mix is right for an
accident and the paddler, is unaware that he or she has done something
wrong.
>From a strictly design standpoint the problem is that boats are not sold
with a displacement range. i.e. a range of displacement at which stability
and performance are optimized. Few sales people and even fewer paddlers
understand or even know about the concept. For years I have argued with Sea
Kayaker Magazine that they should test boats at the designed displacement
but they persist in doing a full range. How many can read the stability
curves and recognize that a boat is either under of over loaded for a
specific type of paddling.
Because so many people buy the "wrong" boat it is probably worthwhile
knowing how to improve things even if it does mean doing something that
isn't really optimal.
There is a parallel with ships. Occasionally a ship has to move in ballast
condition i.e. unloaded and with water pumped aboard to provide stability
and proper trim. Works pretty well until they pump the filthy water out.
Cheers
John Winters
Redwing Designs
Specialists in Human Powered Watercraft
http://home.ican.net/~735769/
From: Richard Culpeper
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Re ballast
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 07:40:25 -0500
For my canoe I use a set of self-adjusting ballasts. Each moves
separately, and will move lower in the boat and more toward the centre
of the boat in rougher water.
Each weighs about 8 lbs. One's name is Merlin, the other's name is
Morrigan, and they purr quite a bit.
Richard Culpeper
www.geocities.com/~culpeper
From: Philip Wylie
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Re ballast
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 07:53:56 -0700
Cats on board a kayak are a cool thing to have, especially if you
also have rats on board. Now that would present an interesting
scenerio of shifting ballast. %^)
Cheers,
Philip
Richard Culpeper wrote:
From: rdiaz
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Re ballast
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 10:33:42 -0800
Philip Wylie wrote:
>
This reminds me of an experience I once had. I was paddling on the
Hudson just north of New York City and waiting on a beach for the
currents to shift to favor me. An old fellow in a canoe came by,
spotted me and came ashore. He had a cat with him which he carried on
to shore. The thing didn't seem too happy. I noticed the cat was a bit
wet and I asked the fellow what happened to the poor creature.
It seems he always keeps his cat tethered to his canoe. the fellow
hadn't noticed the cat had fallen overboard and was being dragged along
underwater by the tether! No, John, Dana, et al...he was not trolling
for catfish.
ralph diaz
--
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Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
Tel: 212-724-5069;
"Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: rdiaz
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Re ballast
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 09:46:36 -0800
John Winters wrote:
> If we consider just the stability issue it is easy to see that people will
> feel more comfortable in a properly loaded kayak due to the added stability
> of gear etc. The problem arises when they venture out lightly loaded and
> unaware that the characteristics of their boat are now significantly
> altered. If the critical conditions are encountered the mix is right for an
> accident and the paddler, is unaware that he or she has done something
> wrong.
What I am getting out of all this discussion is the following. Unless
you are absolutely certain that you will just about always use a
particular kayak loaded with lots of gear for camping or other uses
(e.g. beer runs, smuggling Canadian ballast rock across the 49th
parallel, etc.), it is best to buy the boat as if it were intended for
day use only.
You will always be able to take just about any day boat for at least a
one-week camping trip. That is unless you weigh near the maximum
payload for the boat, which in itself is not a good idea anyway. Even
the smallest of good day paddling kayaks, I am thinking of the
Feathercraft K-Light, can be used for a long camping trip by the average
weight paddler. There is plenty of room underdeck for storing camping
gear, food and water. I know I have done it and written about it and
heard from others who have done the same.
ralph diaz
--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
Tel: 212-724-5069;
"Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: John Winters
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Re ballast
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 15:58:30 -0500
Ralph wrote;
(SNIP)
>
> What I am getting out of all this discussion is the following. Unless
> you are absolutely certain that you will just about always use a
> particular kayak loaded with lots of gear for camping or other uses
> (e.g. beer runs, smuggling Canadian ballast rock across the 49th
> parallel, etc.), it is best to buy the boat as if it were intended for
> day use only.
(SNIP)
I think this is a reasonable approach. Performance evaluations show you can
exceed the designed displacement by more than 10% without any noticeable
difference in performance. After experimenting with this a bit in real life
I concluded that most boats were too large for most paddling.
It is, however, difficult to convince customers that they really should
have smaller boat.
Cheers
John Winters
Redwing Designs
Specialists in Human Powered Watercraft
http://home.ican.net/~735769/
From: Nick Schade
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Re ballast
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 1998 19:28:55 -0500
>What I am getting out of all this discussion is the following. Unless
>you are absolutely certain that you will just about always use a
>particular kayak loaded with lots of gear for camping or other uses
>(e.g. beer runs, smuggling Canadian ballast rock across the 49th
>parallel, etc.), it is best to buy the boat as if it were intended for
>day use only.
I realize that the above may have been said in jest, but I think it may be
worth making perfectly clear: SMUGGLING OF CANADIAN BALLAST ROCKS IS
ILLEGAL. The US Coast Guard wants to be able to take their cut on all
ballast rocks imported into the states. Furthermore the narcs consider
genuine Canadian ballast rocks to be control substances. Appearantly when
ground to a fine powder and inserted between the cheek and gums the rocks
can induce a feeling of invulnerability to capsize. This halucination of
the presence of sponsons has caused at least one known death and temporary
insanity in many others.
Nick Schade
Guillemot Kayaks
c/o Newfound Woodworks, RFD 2 Box 850, Bristol, NH 03222
(603) 744-6872
http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/
>>>>"It's not just Art, It's a Craft!"<<<<
From: Keith Kaste
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Re ballast
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 1998 17:27:14 -0800
Well I guess I can tell my story now. Last summer coming back from a trip to
Canada we were held at the border for hours while the border guards searched
our vehicle for Canadian ballast. Their suspicions were probably aroused by
the kayaks on top of the car and the smug looks on our faces. Luckily, the
dogs missed the cleverly disguised false gas tank (I misted it with just a hint
of pepper spray).