62 British boat mystique
Description
This article is from the Sea Kayaking FAQ, by Todd Leigh with numerous contributions by others.
62 British boat mystique
The Brit boats (exemplified by Frank Goodman's Nordkapp and Derek
Hutchinson's Baidarka Explorer) have a certain mystique among sea
kayakers. They are designs proven in rough seas and long expeditions,
and they have a number of features like built in bilge pumps,
waterproof hatches and bulkheads, and recessed deck line fittings that
were safety innovations when they were first introduced.
They are tippy, have small hatches and small cockpits, no rudders (see
#1 above), and a cadre of devoted paddlers who seem to the unwashed
masses to look down on other, lesser boats (gross generalization
alert!) Be cautious of being talked into a boat you may not like by
an enthusiast who will assure you that this is an 'expert' boat that
you will have to 'grow into'. Some are also quite old designs that may
not perform as well as some newer boats.
There is a definite character to British-designed boats, born from the
personalities that designed and built them, and the seas they were
meant to be used on. Choose wisely and well.
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