Do Androids Dream of Electric Kayaking Rabbits?
Published March 21, 2005 | 
“Now I’ve been happy lately, thinking about the good things to come” – Cat Stevens
Oddly I don’t plan kayaking days, (as disjointed as this post is you can see I don’t plan them either) at least not within a 30 mile radius. It’s just impulsive. In the summer I’m often working on the computer by 6 am or so and by 1pm I have to get away. So I’m either out on a hiking trail or out on the water. I’ve found those spontaneous paddle days are always the best for my head.
When Mary and I first heard Leon Somme comment in an interview that he and Shawna got along better on the water in that there was no bickering about “car keys” and the like, we could relate to that. However, the fact that you have to plan, organize and pack for the trip means there are a lot of “car key” issues coming up before you actually launch. It often takes us an hour or so on the water to get back in touch with our other selves and find that free easy flow again. Some days I think we would be better off to just toss the car keys in the lake and be done with it!
What got me thinking about planning surprisingly was not the summer. Yes, there is much to plan. Over the weekend I received an Instructor Survey from the West Michigan Symposium and I have to think about what I would like to teach. You can tell it’s my first time ’round with this stuff. I never thought before about what I would “like” to teach. That’s a little more democratic than I’m used to. Usually in standard classes you just pack everything into a half day stew. It will be nice to be able to take a little more time on a subject. Time to be sure you are actually teaching and not just “giving overviews”. Hmmmm, what subjects do I want to teach? That will take some doing. But that’s another story, as Owl said to Pooh on a rather blustery day.
We actually planned a kayaking day at Lake Columbia, our only liquid water play spot this time of year. Spending the first day of spring on the water seemed like a good idea. First it was just us, then another couple then another. Great! Then we had a ton of snow, life conspired and soon it was back down to just us. Then again the tables turned and my oldest son decided to come. When we got to the launch there were other kayakers on the water and in the time it took to unload our gear other paddling friends we hadn’t expected joined us as well. So we were back up to a group again. Pretty darn cool!
We paddled about 50% of the horseshoe lake and rolled back into the rocky launch all feeling a bit out of shape as spring tends to always point out. I took a bit of time to roll and play. (Just for fun I added a sloppy roll video from the day to the gallery. See the bottom of the list) In fact this was the first time I had tried a scramble recovery in full drysuit and winter gear. Well, the first time I was right over the back side. Second time I found I could get up easily but sliding back into the cockpit in my normal way was not happening with all the extra gear. I bailed. Third time I moved more more forward than usual and just plopped it. That worked. Now, how would you approach that in an ocean cockpit? Something to try someday. . .
So I want to get a playboat. Mainly for surf & local rivers but who knows where it will go. . . So I think I’m leaning to either liquidlogic “Hoss” or “Gus”. At the moment the Gus is in first place, but who knows what I’ll think a week from now. 
So there’s my hackneyed post. Oh heck, spring is coming and I’m just happy to be getting back out on the water in 40+ degree days. Everything else is CAKE!
-dm
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6 Responses to Do Androids Dream of Electric Kayaking Rabbits?
Hey the roll looked like a fine c-to-c to me. The only thing was that your left arm came up a bit at the end but aside from that it was a nice smooth looking roll. That’s cool that you were able to video tape it. I would love to get some of my rolls on tape so that I could see why sometimes I rolled successfully and why othertimes I failed. I think I have good form but it would be nice to see it from an objective camera’s perspective. Same goes for my forward stroke which I KNOW is pretty bad. Maybe sometime this spring/summer we can have a video session!
As for those two boats you mentioned, I would definitely pick the Hoss over the Gus. The Gus is more of a creeker while you are more in the market for a river runner/play/surf kayak. The Hoss would be a lot more fun on a wave than the Gus and better suited for the rivers you would be on.
Hey Alex,
You noticed exactly what I did. That’s the nice thing about video it does not lie. This is something I want to spend time on too. We will have to get together and do it. When I did my ACA cert they video taped us as we modeled everything. It really helps. In the video I posted I was not really thinking of modeling the roll but after I saw it I certainly want to do a proper model of each roll for the camera and then go back and review.
If there is a Sunday you want to get together either up there or down here at Columbia we can do it any time. I want to try to get out each week again now.
The only thing that had me leaning to the guss is speed. I want good acceleration down the wave to get back up, and given that Lk. Mich does not have the “big” waves to get up speed I am hoping to get a fast playboat. Have you paddled the guss?
I paddled the hoss yesterday. Seemed like a nice boat. Maybe a little big. I’m going to try the lil’ joe (I think that’s the name) too.
Later!
I’d definitely like to get together with you at some time and video tape our various rolls, strokes, braces, etc and then go back and analyze what we did right and what we could improve upon. My Valkyrie is still in Connecticut at a kayak store waiting to be picked up by the shipper. Hopefully I’ll have it in a week or two. If you’re interested, we are having open pool on 4/3 at the Appleton YMCA followed by our rolling class. That might be a good time to tape rolls and stuff in the pool. If not, I would definitely make some time to head over to your neck of the woods once my kayak arrives.
As for the Gus, I have not paddled it. I’m sure it is faster than the Hoss but I doubt that it would be that much better in the surf as creekers tend to have softer chines which does not allow the kayak to “carve” as well on the wave. I haven’t paddled the Hoss either but I have paddled it’s little brother the Lil’ Joe. I found that to be a very nice kayak and if you fit in a Lil Joe, it would definitely be a more playful kayak which could be a good or bad thing depending on what you’re looking for. My guess is that the odds are greater of you running whitewater rivers more often than getting out to Lake Michigan for surfing (due to proximity) and you should make your purchase choice reflect the primary use of the kayak. Also unless you are getting a killer deal from Rutabaga, I would highly recommend getting a used whitewater kayak as the turnover rate is extremely high for whitewater kayaks. I would look at the GearSwap section of http://www.boatertalk.com. Of course Bear Paw still has that used Hoss available for $650 as well.
Hey,
Yep, I’ve talked to Bear Paw about that boat. Just have’nt commited yet.
I will see if we can come up on the 4th. .
Later!
Wow, I didn’t know you were that close to purchasing already!
If you don’t end up liking the Hoss, I would also suggest the Wavesport Diesel 75 or the SuperEZ. Now hurry up and post another blog. I need something to read!
Ha ha! Isn’t that funny, I do a search under “cowboy rescue ocean cockpit” and look where I end up. Surprise, surprise.