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   <title>René´s Kajakblog</title>
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<title><![CDATA[Second experience with Ed's Greenland paddle]]></title>
<link>http://www.zeekajaks.info/blog/r_weblog.php?subaction=showfull&amp;id=1277624640&amp;archive=</link>
<description><![CDATA[Wednesday-evening a week ago the wind was blowing NE at 5-6BFT: a perfect condition to try the paddle on my weekly 19km-trip tot the kayak-club.<br />Nice about this trip is that I have the wind from all directions on the different stretches.<br /><br />So let me summarise my trip<br /><br /><b>1. Getting used to</b><br /><div style="margin-left:30px;">Having paddled only one evening before, I was surprised that direct from starting my trip everything felt very normal. Just as if I use it for years already. <br />Probably that has something to do with my own kinetik wing because I noticed that I was paddling the Greenland paddle in the same way. Of course with the tilting of the blade while pulling.<br /><br />It was also interesting to notice that I did not have to think one second about NOT turning the paddle-shaft: All my paddling life I used a right-twisted shaft and you could expect that this deeply anchored habit is difficult to change. But no: It all felt very natural.<br /><br />When paddling in wind coming from aside you develop over the years the habit of leaning into the wind when you feel  a sudden gust of wind.<br />This evening there were certainly gust of winds and after a few gust a realised It was not necessary to lean into the wind anymore as the wind did not have any grip on the pushed blade in the air.<br />This felt very safe indeed because very strong gusts can capsize even an experienced paddle in a second of unawareness.</div><br /><br /><b>2. Speed</b><br /><div style="margin-left:30px;">In general I have the impression that 8km/h is a very natural speed you can reach with this particular paddle.<br />After having paddled for 45 minutes there was a protected area in which I easily reach 9km/h and I noticed  that when pulling faster results in more grip: the blade bits itself to the water without the plopping-noise that you normally hear when pulling hard with a "normal" paddle. Fact is that you paddling-frequency will increase while paddling that way but the grip of the paddle felt infinite; my muscles aching. When back home I thought I was more tired than normally. Which is a bit subjective observation of course and subject for further research.<br /><br />In general I still think that you paddle 1km/h faster with a non-greenland paddle using the same amount of energy, but I will make a better  comparison of course.</div><br /><br /><b>3. Technique</b><br /><div style="margin-left:30px;">As written above the way of paddling reminds me of paddling a kintik wing-paddle.<br />An interesting trial was to end a stroke with the shaft almost vertical. You can do this by rotating your trunk more and end your pushing hand at the other side of your kayak. Probably this has effect on the position of the pulled blade in the water and results in more grip. On longer distances much trunk rotation  seems very tiring to me. May be younger backs have  less problems with that. But may be it can be of use for shorter periods where you must go faster for some reason or another.<br /><br />I also tried to paddle with the blades high or low while pushing,  but it is all possible with this paddle.</div><br /><br /><b>4. Steering/manoeuvring</b><br /><div style="margin-left:30px;">Not using  a rudder I steer with paddle strokes. To keep course or the  change direction the sweepstroke is the answer. Sweepstrokes are easily  performed with the Greenland paddle. But not yet completely used to the blade shape I felt a bit uneasy performing an extreme sweepstroke in waves while leaning heavy on the blade. This could have something to do with the size of the blade but I also can imagine I need more practise in this.<br />Increasing effectivity could be done by slicing the blade back to the aft-deck at the end of the sweepstroke; in fact you make the stroke longer that way.<br /><br />Stern-rudder. While paddling downwind on the lake my kayak required some steering to prevent the kayak from broaching. The stern-rudder felt less effective as with a non-greenland-paddle. May be because of the smaller blade-surface on which you can not lean very hard but you cannot apply much force either. Although I will investigate this further the observation seems logical as the paddle gets it propulsion from the wing-principle in creating grip on the water . For a stern rudder I do not see a way to apply the wing-principle meaning that a smaller surface is less effective.<br /><br />Side-ways sculling: I fact I met some other paddlers on the lake and after some chatting one capsized. Trying to be of quick assistance I had to perform sideways sculling. This however was not very effective. I certainly will have to practise this, but I guess I have to scull faster to create more lift.<br /><br />There were enough waves this evening; ideal for performing low braces. Also for this brace I concluded that I will have to practise as I did not feel very at easy (yet) with the low brace. </div><br /><br /><b>5. Hands</b><br /><div style="margin-left:30px;">Every paddler will notice that, after some years of paddling, an area of hard skin is created on the inside of your thumb. In the beginning you get blisters as the spot but after a while this spot functions as a perfect cushioning for the paddle-shaft.<br />Having paddled always with a right-handed paddle-shaft with turned blades seems a different situation compared to paddling a Greenland paddle. Just next to my "bubble" of hard skin on the thumb of my left hand, a severe blister has grown. Probably the fact you do not have to rotate the paddle-shaft means another contact-point at th left thumb where you normally rotate the shaft.</div><br /><br /><b>6. Last note</b><br /><div style="margin-left:30px;">Yesterday-evening I spoke to Hans who made a Greenland Paddle himself some years ago. He enjoyed paddling it as a way of exploring our roots; the Inuit-way of paddling.<br />Hans however not used this paddle very often. Probably because it was not as effective as he wants it to be.<br />However, a few weeks a go he bought a carbon Greenland paddle from Freya. Since than he almost always used that paddle. He told me that this paddle has much more grip on he water than the paddle he made himself.<br />What we can learn from this is that the design of a Greenland paddle is very important regarding its effectiveness.</div>]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1277624640</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 27 Jun 2010 09:44:00 +0200</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Greenland paddles]]></title>
<link>http://www.zeekajaks.info/blog/r_weblog.php?subaction=showfull&amp;id=1276947829&amp;archive=</link>
<description><![CDATA[Some time ago Ed wrote on my weblog the question: "What's going on, why no new tests on your website?"<br />I mailed back that I was just starting up again after the winter-period. May-be a weak excuse because I could also write in winter time: reviews about f.i. AnasAcuta and Nordkapp as I have these kayaks in my fleet.<br /><br />Anyhow, after exchanging some mails Ed asked if I was interested in testing a Greenland paddle; he made 3 paddles himself and offered one of those for testing<br /><div  align="center"><div style="padding:5px; border:1px solid gray; width:450px;"><img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/grlp/IMGP0156_ed.jpg"><br>Ed</div></div><br />At first I felt a bit reserved because the few times I tried such a paddle from a fellow-paddler it did not give me much confidence for heavy weather. But: after some thinking I concluded that this was the opportunity to evaluate a Greenland paddle in a better way than paddling one for 15 minutes.<br />So I proposed to Ed having an evening paddle together to try and to choose one of his creations.<br />Last Wednesday we crossed "het Hoornse Hop"; starting in Schardam and accompanied by 3 greenland -paddles. <br />Just in case I did not feel at home, I also took a "normal" paddle with me. Although this paddle could be handy to compare well.<br /><div  align="center"><div style="padding:5px; border:1px solid gray; width:450px;"><img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/grlp/IMGP0160_3p.jpg"></div></div><br /><ul type="disc">The 3 paddles were significantly different :<br /><li>A paddle with a somewhat tapered end and rather big blades<br /><li>A paddle with rounded tips, widening till the tips<br /><li>A similar one but 25% narrower and a bit longer. It felt awful narrow in your hands; like a skewer.<br /></ul><br />The challenge of the evening was to determine which paddle I liked most, but also to get an impression how to paddle with them.<br /> I dare not mention the underlying question if I could have confidence and feel safe: that question feels rather unnecessary as lots of people are using Greenland-paddles. Not to forget our "ancestors", the Inuit, who survived with these paddles. So why couldn't I?<br /><br />First I concentrated on learning how to paddle.<div style="float: left; margin-right:20px;padding:5px;border:1px solid grey;"><img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/grlp/IMGP0155-fdeck.jpg"></div><ul type="disc">Although Ed advised to turn the blades a bit while pulling this felt quite strange and I started also to experiment with other strokes :<br /><li>Just pulling straight backwards, as with  a "normal" paddle was no option as the blades started to flutter.<br /><li>I sliced the blades outwards while pulling; just as with a wing-paddle. This functions quite well; at least I could keep up with Ed at 8km/h. However, it required quite a lot of trunk-rotation. More than was convenient to do that for miles.<br /><li>Than I started slicing the blades towards the kayak, having dipped the blades in the water approx. 50cm aside of the kayak. This worked as well; and with much less trunk-rotation. I could reach easily 8km/h but was not able to any faster<br /><li>Then a combination: slicing outwards while pulling and at the end of the stroke slice inwards. A kind of double stroke. This felt quite relaxed at slower paddling-rate, reaching again 8km/h<br /><li>At last, when feeling more familiar with the paddle, I tried the turn the blades as Ed mentioned. This requires a rather precise way of paddling as the blades like to slice under the kayak, and that's not what they should do. Here the design of the paddle shows having effect in being more or less sensitive to slicing.</ul><br /><div style="float: left; margin-right:10px; padding:5px; border:1px gray solid;"><img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/grlp/IMGP0159_dload.jpg"></div>Having  paddled with the biggest blades until now, I started switching. I now only paddled with the blades a bit turned, with only a bit of trunk-rotation, as this turned out having the most powerful propulsion of the tested strokes.<br />The big blade was not very sensitive to under-kayak-slicing but has a rather thick- and a bit square shaft. This caused my hands to cramp a bit. <br />I felt rather surprised how this paddle bit itself in the water and how much force could be applied. It was possible to reach 10km/h with it. Paddling my AnasAcuta that speed is not bad at all.<br /><br />Than the paddle with the round, wider tips: this felt very natural in my hands but could slice away more easily. This paddle also bites itself to the water when pulling. <br /><br />The narrow paddle, with which Ed was paddling until now, gave also enough propulsion. More than that: using it Ed could keep up with 10km/h.<br /><br />So, for propulsion the size of the blades does not make much difference. Amazing, isn't it!! The only thing is : the narrower the blades, the less convenient they felt when making sweepstrokes. And also when making a brace the smaller blades gave less confidence.<br />But this is something I will have to investigate: will confidence grow when getting more familiar with these kind of paddle.<br /><br />At the end I took my ordinary paddle. This felt very, very strange after having paddled a few hours with Greenland-paddles. <br />Of course it is not a honest comparison yet, because I am much more used to my conventional paddle, but now I easily ran out on Ed while using less energy. If a Greenland paddle is less  or equal or more effective, I can not conclude yet. That's what I will have to find out.<br /><br />I guess that, having read my comments above, you will not be surprised that I chose the paddle with the middle-size blade for testing.<br /> <br />Other strokes, like rolling, I did not try yet and will write about that later.<br />But therefor it is nice to have the paddle for some time at my disposal.<br /><br />More will follow.]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1276947829</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 19 Jun 2010 13:43:49 +0200</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Testing the Tiderace Xplore ?]]></title>
<link>http://www.zeekajaks.info/blog/r_weblog.php?subaction=showfull&amp;id=1275940025&amp;archive=</link>
<description><![CDATA[Last Saturday I planned to test the Xplore (Tiderace). <br /><br /><div  align="center"><div style="padding:5px; border:1px solid gray; width:554px;"><img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/xplore/K-XPLORE-C_2.jpg"></div></div><br /><br />I could borrow Wiegers' and planned to use it on a crossing of the IJsselmeer from Stavoren to Andijk vv. <br />A distance of about 2x15 km .<br />Thx Wieger.<br /><br />I enjoyed the thought of paddling the Xplore as I heard some good references about her. And the weather during the planned crossing was ideal with a predicted 5Bft wind from the south; meaning lots of waves at the spot<br /><br /><div style="float: left; margin-right:10px;padding:5px;border:1px solid gray;"><img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/xplore/sit.jpg"></div>However, life not always chooses what you expect it to do:<br />The evening before I picked up the kayak at the club to adjust the seat at home to my leg-length.<br /><br />It's a comfortable seat and foot rest. The interesting thing is that it offers the comfort of a built-in front bulkhead while being adjustable to suit other paddlers leg-lengths.<br /><br clear="left"><br /><br /><div style="float: right; margin-left:10px;padding:5px;border:1px solid gray;"><img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/xplore/bolt.jpg"></div>After adjusting the footbrace  I checked if the four nuts were tight enough and to my astonishment 2 of the adjustment-bolts just popped of the kayakhull.<br /><br clear="right"><br /><div style="float: left; margin-right:10px;padding:5px;border:1px solid gray;"><img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/xplore/broken.jpg"></div>The bolts, mounted on a metal plate of about 3x2cm, were mounted with an (inferior?) glue or kit. After removal of the complete footrest-/seat-combination I checked a third bolt which popped off as easily as the other two.<br /><br />While having borrowed a kayak, this is a very embarrassing thing: breaking down someone's kayak.<img style="border: none;" alt="sad" src="http://www.zeekajaks.info/blog/data/emoticons/sad.gif" /><br /><br />On the other hand: it is better this happens on shore. I dare not think of the seat popping off in heavy weather or in surf. <br />May be you end up somewhere under the foredeck after making a pop-out.<br /> <br />Of course Wieger will sort this out with Tiderace, but I would like to warn all Tiderace owners to check whether the bolts are fixed properly and not removable by hand.<br />And if you are picking up your new-bought Tiderace, just check the bolts before you pay.<br /><br />You understand I didn't paddle the Xplore on the trip. <br />I just took my good old Nordkapp HM and enjoyed  the waves. It's only that her integral-fixed skeg causes the kayak to leecock in the conditions with short, high waves combined with a head wind; and leecocking is something I hate. <br />After continuously correcting for leecock over 12km in 5 Bft, I can say I enjoyed an hour of rest on the island De Kreupel very much.<br /><br />It would have been interesting to know how the Xplore behaves under these conditions. The Xplore has a stern, functioning like an integral skeg, but because she is rather manoeuvrable, as the story tells, you cannot compare her with the Nordkapp. So later when the Xplore is repaired, may be Wieger is still willing to let me paddle his Xplore <img style="border: none;" alt="wink" src="http://www.zeekajaks.info/blog/data/emoticons/wink.gif" /><br /><br /><div  align="center"><div style="padding:5px; border:1px solid gray; width:600px;"><img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/xplore/meeting.jpg"></div></div><br /><br />Anyhow, the paddling-day was very nice especially because of an unplanned meeting with other paddlers at "De Kreupel". After chatting a bit, we took off to touch land at Andijk before we started the return-trip. <br />A bit frustrating was that the wind almost completely died away so we did not have the benefits of being blown back to our starting point. I think we should have earned this after having worked ourselves against the wind in the morning.<br /><br />René]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1275940025</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 07 Jun 2010 21:47:05 +0200</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Technical views on the Cetus]]></title>
<link>http://www.zeekajaks.info/blog/r_weblog.php?subaction=showfull&amp;id=1264348557&amp;archive=</link>
<description><![CDATA[After my experiences with the Cetus in the second half of 2009, it's about time now to describe some technical details about her before finishing my testperiod with the Cetus.<br /><br /><b>The hull</b><br />The Cetus has a rather rounded underwatership with flat midsection and a sharp bow. Furthermore the hull is given a swedeform shape which helps making it a fast kayak.<br /><br /><b>Deck layout</b><br /><div  align="center"><div style="padding:5px; border:1px solid gray; width:450px;"><img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/cetus/Cetus.jpg "></div></div><br /><br />The decklines are not very thick, but thick enough. They start and end close to the cockpit: also aside of the day-compartment, which is rather remarkable as most modern kayaks have the decklines never aside of the hatch. This feature gives full access to decklines in whatever situation and wherever you grab for lines. :-)<br />Elastic shockcords are available at the required places.<br />And, very tidy, the toggles are held in position by a  shockcord; standard!<br /><br />The compass is recessed nicely in the deck just before the front-hatch. This position is nowadays rather common, but for me as wearer of glasses a bit more close by is welcome.<br /><div  align="center"><div style="padding:5px; border:1px solid gray; width:460px;"> <img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/cetus/Pic00008.jpg"> <img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/cetus/Pic00007.jpg"></div></div><br /><br />The fourth hatch is handy for direct access during trips. But it has also consequences as described below under "cockpit".<br /><br />The hatches are round and big enough to put your head (mine fits) inside.<br /><br /><div style="float: left; margin-right:10px; padding:5px; border:1px gray solid;"><img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/cetus/Pic00015.jpg"></div>Just behind the cockpit P&H constructed, as on most of there other kayaks, a groove wherein your paddle-shaft fits to form a  paddlebridge.<br /><br clear="left"><br /><br /><b>Cockpit</b><br /><div style="float: left; margin-right:10px; padding:5px; border:1px gray solid;"><img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/cetus/Pic00010.jpg"></div>The seat is very comfortable and has a separate liner offering some isolation and elasticity. <br /><br clear="left"><br /><div style="float: left; margin-right:10px; padding:5px; border:1px gray solid;"><img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/cetus/Pic00011.jpg"></div>One drawback is that after some time this liner moves a little while edging the kayak. This can be fixed with some velcro like on the picture left. <br /><br clear="left"><br />When you like perfect hip-contact and your hips are not wide enough to contact the seat, you will have to do some creative work to make the seat a bit narrower. May be it is possible to add some filling underneath of the seat-liner next to your hips. Remember it is important to have good hip-contact in a large kayak like this.<br /><br />Because the seat is positioned quite aft in the cockpit and the deck being rather high, it is not easy to do a layback while rolling. <br /><br />The knee grips are comfortable and provide good grip and control over the kayak. It is however advised to improve the grip by adding a thin layer of foam like you sea underneath:<br /><div  align="center"><div style="padding:5px; border:1px solid gray; width:460px;"><img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/cetus/Pic00014.jpg "> <img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/cetus/Pic00013.jpg "></div></div><br /><br />Furthermore the cockpit is, with its 87 x 51cm, big enough for easy entrance and exit.<br /><br /><div style="float: left; margin-right:10px; padding:5px; border:1px gray solid;"><img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/cetus/Pic00004.jpg"></div>The footrests are easily adjustable even when seated by means of a stick you can turn. They are more comfortable than the former (type J&R) small adjustable footrests because now the surface, where your feet rest, is much bigger which results in better spreading out of the forces on your feet. <br />As I had the experience that one footrests moved by itself out of reach of my foot, I would like to advice to check always if you locked them properly. My fault was, may be, having done the locking wrong.<br /><br />When you want to install a foot-operated pump inside the cockpit, the bad news is that this will be impossible once the kayak is ready: the 4th-compartment, just in front of the cockpit, makes it impossible to work inside the cockpit. You will have to order your Cetus with a factory installed footpump on a front bulkhead positioned at your leg-length<br />But be aware: When you have rather short legs there is a chance that you will not be able to operate the pump because the compartment prevents to move one feet behind it. But also when you have longer legs be careful in your decisions.<br /><br /><b>Variable skeg</b><br /><div style="float: left; margin-right:10px; padding:5px; border:1px gray solid;"><img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/cetus/Pic00001.jpg"></div>The skeg is operated by a newly developed system which makes the system not vulnerable anymore to cable-cinking when you forget to retract the skeg while landing.<br />The natural position of the skeg-blade is down: lowered by means of an elastic shock-cord pulling at it all the time. The skeg-blade position is operated by a rope from a system where the operating button is locked by a rattle-device and a pinching button.<br /><br />The operating if the skeg is not that simple. OK, of course you have to get used to the different way of operating: first squeeze the button and move  it. But that is not the problem: sometimes you have to squeeze too hard and then it is hard to move the button. This was the case with both Cetus' in the club. On internet you can find a lot of comments on this. Having read some I understood that  it could well be that it has something to do with the rope-material.<br />Some stories report perfect operation after replacement by P&H. Others are less lucky.<br />As P&H uses this system on other kayaks as well its not a specific Cetus-problem. May be this helps P&H in finding quickly a good solution for everyone.<br /><br />Furthermore I observed that the skegblade is very flexible; may be too flexible. I would like to refer to my experiences in following waves where a bigger skeg blade or else may be a stiffer blade could improve the kayaks performance.<br /><br /><b>Quality</b><br />I can be very short here: Quality is outstanding.<br /><br /><b>Compartments</b><br />When you look at the total volume of the Cetus, you know it already: this is a kayak with an big capacity for carrying loads<br /><br />As you know watertight compartments are vulnerable for over- and under pressure because of temperature changes. Until now kayakkers drill small holes in the bulkheads to normalise the pressure in the compartment.<br />In the Cetus P&H finally introduced another solution for this problem: <br />pressure valves.<br /><div  align="center"><div style="padding:5px; border:1px solid gray; width:460px;"> <img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/cetus/Pic00009.jpg"> <img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/cetus/Pic00009zm.jpg"></div></div><br />I was not able to test the functioning of them, but I certainly embrace the idea. Maybe you, reader and Cetus owner, can add your experiences.<br /><br /><b>Dimensions & size</b><br />Length: 17&#8217;10&#8221; # 5,43m<br />Max. Width: 22.5" # 57 cm<br />Max Deck Height: 12.2" # 31 cm (front coaming)<br />Total volume: 100 gal. # 379 litre<br />Cockpit: 34.25"x20" # 87 x 51 cm<br />Material/weight:<br />- Carbon/Kevlar  # Weight: 57lbs # 25,9 kg<br />- fiberglass/diolen  # Weight: 64lbs # 29 kg<br />Optimum Total Load (approx.): 143-297 lbs # 65-135 kg]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1264348557</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 24 Jan 2010 16:55:57 +0100</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Cetus in a following sea]]></title>
<link>http://www.zeekajaks.info/blog/r_weblog.php?subaction=showfull&amp;id=1257115560&amp;archive=</link>
<description><![CDATA[Today I attended a tour, organized by Hans Heupink for the Dutch Kayak Association. Due to the expected 7Beaufort-winds the planned surf-session was canceled and instead we made a nice tour in the Voordelta; to say hallo to a lonely seal.  <img style="border: none;" alt="wink" src="http://www.zeekajaks.info/blog/data/emoticons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />I did not take a testkayak with me today, but paddled Willem's Breeze (a clone from Plasmors' Ligue de Bretagne) a trustworthy kayak I did not use frequently yet. Given the wind 5-6Bft, I felt very secure in the stable kayak giving me plenty of opportunities to watch my companions.<br /><br />Thus I noticed that Govert paddles his new Cetus. Having tested the Cetus myself, this was an opportunity for me to interview him and to record his experiences.<br /><br />In fact his former experiences did not differ much from mine; written down on this website earlier. <br /><br />First of all he was very happy with the stability, the great maneuverability, the responsiveness to edging and the big loading capacity.<br />Less positive he was about the new skeg-rope control because it requires too much force to operate it.<br />He also mentioned the bad habit of the Cetus to broach quickly in following, surfable, bigger waves.<br /><br />At the end of the tour I asked him how it was in the following waves today. His experiences were a bit different , more positive, in today's smaller waves of approx. 50cm height. He mentioned he  could, in these waves, anticipate well for broaching by just edging the kayak. It takes a moment, but than the kayak responds and kept course well. Probably, paddling in a following sea in a Cetus is something you have to learn.<br /><br />If the Cetus will respond like that in bigger waves is the question. <br />I expect that edging in rough(er) conditions can help. <br />But because most kayaks responds well to their skegs in a following sea, I think that the skeg of the Cetus also is part of the issue. As her skeg is very flexible and because the high forces on the blade, while it works on preventing for broaching, it bends away sideways significantly. As a result, the effective surface of the bent skeg is reduced and while the skeg is a bit small already, I think that the explanation for the behavior in following waves can be found there.<br />So I think it is a good idea to experiment with a stiffer skegblade. Even better it would be if Valley increases the surface of the skegblade.]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1257115560</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:46:00 +0100</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Cetus in surf]]></title>
<link>http://www.zeekajaks.info/blog/r_weblog.php?subaction=showfull&amp;id=1255293540&amp;archive=</link>
<description><![CDATA[Today I played in the surf near Bakkum at the Dutch coast. We were there with club-members of the <a href="http://www.kanovereniging-uitgeest.nl/"><u>KVU</u></a> and two guests: <a href="http://www.seakayaker.nl/Journal/2009/09/surfing-at-katwijk.html"><u>Axel</u></a> and <a href=" http://kajakwoerden.blogspot.com/2009/10/finally-surf.html"><u>Hans</u></a>.<br /><div  align="center"><br /><div style="padding:5px; border:1px solid gray; width:400px;"><img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/cetus/BILD0077.jpg"></div></div><br />During the day the westerly wind increased to  6 Bft, offering good conditions with waves up to 1,5 meter for kayaking in surf. The only drawback was that the tide was going down at the time that the wind was OK. The low tide produces, in combination with the wind, steep and powerful dumping waves which made it a challenge to break through them in order to reach surf-able waves.<br /><div  align="center"><br /><div style="padding:5px; border:1px solid gray; width:400px;"><img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/cetus/PA110019.jpg "></div></div><br />I thought that it was about time to paddle the Cetus in surf. Today I could use Leo's. Thx Leo.<br />And again I was impressed with the stability of the kayak in the confused, hissing sea.<br /><br /><div style="float: left; margin-right:10px;padding:5px;border:1px solid gray;"><img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/cetus/20091011rene04.jpg "><br><br><img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/cetus/20091011rene05.jpg "></div>My paddle friends all used short manoeuvrable WW-kayaks, except Axel who brought his surf-shoe-kayak. Normally a seakayak is superior to the short kayaks where it concerns breaking through cresting waves with a kayak. I was surprised however that in the conditions of today the Cetus had definitely no advantage in this. On the contrary, some WW-kayaks could break easier through waves. Whether it was the 5,5 meter length of the Cetus or the high volume of the front-ship I don't know, but the Cetus rose to steep angles when I "climbed" a wave. Probably it was this angle being responsible for the waves pushing the Cetus backwards on every passage.<br />Looking at the slender bow and the speed of the Cetus I expected the opposite.<br /><br CLEAR=LEFT><br /><div style="float: left; margin-right:10px;padding:5px;border:1px solid gray;"><img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/cetus/PA110005.jpg"><br><br><img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/cetus/DSCN1190.jpg"><br><br><img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/cetus/DSCN1188.jpg"></div>That the Cetus did not surf easy wasn't a surprise to me after the last trip on the Hoornse Hop. When catching a wave the Cetus broaches quickly and that was also what I expected. But it goes further than that because she turns very quickly further until she completed a 180&#61616; -turn letting me face the wave again. Normally when something like that happens the power of the wave is decreased already but because the Cetus turns so quickly it happened that, once turned, the wave steeped further with me backwards on its face and let me flip backwards. <br />It could be an option to drop the skeg to improve on this broaching behaviour, but because the forces in surf are high I didn't dare to drop the skeg, being afraid the skeg would break.<br /><br />Of course today's waves were steep and powerful but I expect this quick-turn habit also to happen in smaller waves only without the backward-flip in that case.<br /><br />Honestly I did not like the flip because I hit the sand bottom very hard. Knowing that boats can split because of this, I feared the worst for Leo's kayak. However the Cetus was well built  and did not show any sign of deterioration.<br /><br />By the way, the flip was a natural occasion to test rolling in the Cetus. Apart from the washing-machine underwater, rolling was no problem and I was upright at the first attempt, still being on the front of the same wave, which was being scaled down a bit in the meantime.<br /><br />After that I did a series of high braces and rolls. Rolling was OK but felt, as it did also after the capsize, a bit laborious. It could well be that this observation was caused by being a bit tired. So later I will do some more rolling in quiet water to compare.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 11 Oct 2009 22:39:00 +0200</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[A Cetus in wind and waves]]></title>
<link>http://www.zeekajaks.info/blog/r_weblog.php?subaction=showfull&amp;id=1254601920&amp;archive=</link>
<description><![CDATA[Today I paddled the Cetus on the IJsselmeer in a 6-7Bft SW-wind.(gusts up to 8Bft)<br />A perfect area for testing in the conditions of today was the "Hoornse Hop". We choose to start at Wijdenes and paddle against the wind in the direction of Edam. Doing so we could plan our trip better. As you never know how fast you can go in these winds, you can always turn back once time is over. With this crossing we challenged the heaviest part of the area.<br /><br /><div style="float: left; margin-right:10px;padding:5px;border:1px solid gray;"><img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/cetus/mp0310209hp.jpg"></div>As said, our first leg was against the wind  and the second the same way backwards promising some nice surfing.<br /><br />Normally I count with an average speed of 3 km/h against strong winds, but today we paddled near 5km/h , which is not bad at all. The Cetus, but also Wieger's Exite accompanying me,  was not hold back in speed by the steep, short waves when we worked ourselves against the wind.  On the contrary: she just glided over the waves only occasionally getting water on the front deck.  The only spray I got into my face was caused by the kayak slamming down on the water after particular steep waves. <br /><br />While paddling against the wind the Cetus behaved a bit nervous because she tried to follow the mixed, disturbed waves and wandered of course quickly. At first I tried to calm her by dropping the skeg a bit, but that was a mistake because this caused leecocking when a wind-gust  blew the bow aside. Bad idea, so I hauled the skeg up again. After a while I got used to this behaviour of the Cetus. Actually  I was quite happy with her manoeuvrability as this made it easy to bring the Cetus back on track once a wind-gust blew the Cetus of her course. So probably it is not fair to call the Cetus nervous; therefor I think it is best to change that in manoeuvrable.<br /><br />The stability of the Cetus was outstanding. This is best illustrated by the fact that I could easily take pictures and eat something without support: In this wind with one hand on my paddle.<br /><br />After 12 km we turned back and we tried to surf as much waves we could. Surfing the Cetus is not very easy because she quickly broaches to a side, even with the skeg dropped completely, when the waves are a bit irregular: She just follows the disturbances in the wave-surface. However: in a very big smooth wave she surfs very well. Fast she goes ;-))<br />Wieger's Exite just surfs better and he had to wait several  times for me, to prevent disappearing after the horizon.<br />After some time I became tired/hopeless of getting swept 90&deg; of course frequently and turning back on course again and therefor I stopped trying to surf. Instead I just tried to keep the Cetus going on our desired course. This worked quite well as the Cetus did not come to surf on her own. You can mention this as a good and safe characteristic because when you don't get into surf it is easier to control the kayak. <br />I thought this strategy of not trying to surf being the most convenient way to paddle the Cetus in following waves. Of course I did not reach the speed the Wieger's Exite  reached while surfing.<br /><br />When we approached the headland near to Wijdenes, the wind increased to 7Bft with gusts up to 8Bft. This spot  is normally the most turbulant of the area, but now the water grew wild and the waves were somewhere between 1,5-2 meters high. Fascinating! <br />But: in the middle of this circus my footrest on the right side suddenly move forward out of reach of my foot. The adjustment system of the footrest, as I saw afterwards, just released the blocking mechanism. Probably the continuous slamming down waves during the trip made it turn a bit. OR, I just did not block it correctly.<br />However: without footcontact it is difficult to make fun in these conditions.<br />If you have a P&H-kayak with this new easy-adjust-footbrace-system, I would like to warn you to adjust and lock the footbraces properly to prevent for the experience I had.<br /><br />With only 1 footbrace left, I had to switch to a survival-strategy in the big waves, meaning that I prevented coming into a surf, preventing on broaching and keeping the kayak on course while bracing if a wave started cresting and letting the wind blow me further. I was very happy with the stability of the Cetus at this moment because this surely helped in controlling the kayak while having insufficient contact in the cockpit. I am not sure if I could perform a roll with only 1 footbrace.<br />That this last part had been a tiring way of paddling became clear to me when I entered the little harbour of Wijdenes. I had to turn left into the wind to enter it and I hauled up the skeg to make this turn easier, using of the weathercock-tendency of the kayak. Only a few sweepstrokes were necessary to make the turn, but doing so the delta muscles of my back cramped and I had to stretch them between strokes. This cramping was new to me; never experienced this before.<br /><br />Nevertheless this was a very interesting trip with the Cetus and I can appreciate her under these circumstances: I felt quite safe during the trip.<br />]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 03 Oct 2009 22:32:00 +0200</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Greenlander in more wind. (continued 4)]]></title>
<link>http://www.zeekajaks.info/blog/r_weblog.php?subaction=showfull&amp;id=1253209140&amp;archive=</link>
<description><![CDATA[Yesterday, on Wednesday-evening, I paddled the Greenlander from home to the club in a 5 Bft wind including a longer course on the Alkmaardermeer.<br /><br />Until now I paddled her in less or no wind. But now it was becoming more serious and I think it gave me much more confidence for using her at sea later. <img style="border: none;" alt="smile" src="http://www.zeekajaks.info/blog/data/emoticons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Until now I did not yet work on the customising of the cockpit, except that I removed the knee-tube which did not fit me at all and also made entering the cockpit a dangerous exercise for my knees.<br />Customising will be very important as the deck is quite high and gives no grip for my knees at all at the moment.<br />So, I was paddling in 5Bft with no hip-contact and no knee-contact with my knee-position in the middle of the cockpit.<br /><br />Nevertheless I was very happy as the Greenlander could be steered perfectly with hip-movements. Stability was also good under the conditions with waves up to 40cm. Which is quite good, taking into account that I had no contact in the cockpit at all.<br />The only moment a missed knee-contact was when steering around a little headland away from the wind, where edging was necessary to turn the kayak more professionally.<br /><br />While running for the wind and waves, with the skeg down , the Greenlander behaved quite course-stable.<br /><br />The Greenlander weathercocks a little bit, but this was perfectly trimmed with the variable skeg.<br /><br />Paddling against the waves made a wet ride is the bow splices the waves. Comparing with the Explorer, paddling next to me, learned me that the Explorer had a complete dry ride under these conditions.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:39:00 +0200</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[An unusual journey with the Cetus ]]></title>
<link>http://www.zeekajaks.info/blog/r_weblog.php?subaction=showfull&amp;id=1252783620&amp;archive=</link>
<description><![CDATA[When I asked Henk if I could borrow his Cetus, he asked me what I was going to do. After unfolding my plan to paddle on 12 Sept. towards our club members, who were paddling back from their instruction-camp on Vlieland, he was enthusiastic and liked to go with me.<br />That is nice, I thought, but now I can't paddle the Cetus. Fortunately Leo, also a Cetus owner, offers to use his Cetus.<br />So now we were a nice pair: both in a Cetus.  <img style="border: none;" alt="smile" src="http://www.zeekajaks.info/blog/data/emoticons/smile.gif" /><br /><div  align="center"><div style="padding:5px; border:1px solid gray; width:500px;"><img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/cetus/pict05.jpg"></div></div><br />To be able to paddle to Vlieland we must catch the tide early: launching at 7.00h. Which was a bit late really. But otherwise we had to rise even earlier than the 3.30h we had to rise today. It's in the middle of the night. How awful! <img style="border: none;" alt="sad" src="http://www.zeekajaks.info/blog/data/emoticons/sad.gif" /><br /><br />In the timing was included the finding of a suitable launching-spot, as well as a parking place for the car nearby.<br />That wasn't too easy and for not to loose too much time, we launched from a kind of pontoon two meters below street level.<br />Nevertheless our timing was perfect and we managed to launch at 7.00h sharp. <br /><br />Once out of the harbour we met a condition with the wind causing slight weathercocking, combined with current coming from the same direction, from our right side, as the wind.  An irregular sea was the result. I had to be alert to hold course. It could be that I had to get used to the Cetus, but I got the impression that the current played tricks with the skeg; gripping it and  pushing it aside.<br />But after a while, when the current came from behind, the Cetus kept course perfectly, being helped by the variable skeg for weathercocking.<br /><br />Paddling the Cetus from Leo made a small difference with my experience last Wednesday: while edging the kayak, the seat-lining  moved a bit left-rigth. Henk and Leo both used Velcro-tape (hook and loop fasterner & klittenband) to fixate the seat liner, but obviously there was a small difference between both seats as I did not experience this "seat moving" in Henk's kayak<br /><br />Paddling at ease we easily reached 10km/h; being helped by the current of course. I also tried of course paddling without using the skeg. That was not difficult while edging a bit and using a sweepstroke now and than. But all without too much effort under the conditions of today. Of course the manoeuvrability of the Cetus helps quite a lot with this.<br /><br />Later when the wind increased to 5 Bft. blowing up the waves against the current, it became much easier to hold course without using the skeg and from that moment I did not use the skeg anymore. And the Cetus, she danced nicely over the sea. <br /><br />Occasionally ships and ferries passed by and the waves in their wakes were a welcome intermezzo to look at the stability of the Cetus in waves. Honestly the Cetus is so very stable that that the waves did not require any extra attention from me. She just glided gracefully and in a very natural way over the waves.<br /><br />We thought he Cetus to be quite fast. When paddling towards the approaching group of paddlers, the current had changed direction already and while paddling fast against wind and the 2 knot-current we were still able to reach a 5km/h. Not too bad we thought.<br />After turning back we paused a bit to eat something and as the other paddlers went on, we had to push hard to join them again. The current helped a bit and made us reach 13km/h. <br />While pushing hard with wind, waves and current from behind, it was a bit difficult to keep course as the Cetus wandered of course to both sides. I saw Henk having the same difficulty while making powerful sweepstrokes.<br />Having the skeg lowered to its maximum helped a bit. We still liked the Cetus and could overcome this characteristic, but I think that a beginner might have to struggle a bit under these conditions.<br /><div  align="center"><div style="padding:5px; border:1px solid gray; width:500px;"><img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/cetus/pict11.jpg"></div></div><br />While paddling in the group again I compared with other kayaks and I think the speed of the Cetus is a bit above average. She is matching the good old Baidarka. Henk and me were also matching very close. Strange huh.. with two Cetus'es <img style="border: none;" alt="wink" src="http://www.zeekajaks.info/blog/data/emoticons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />Although the deck compartment can be quite handy, it made it impossible to stretch my legs a bit farther away that the footrests because the compartment blocked the way. This also means that it is impossible to mount a foot-pump in the Cetus.<br /><br />Although I was a bit stiff after 6 hours of non-stop paddling, I do not complain over comfort: the seat is comfortable, thigh-trips are excellent  and the footrests are much bigger than usual. These footrests feel much better under your foot sole because they support a bigger part of your feet. <br /><br />Being back in Harlingen I felt a bit embarrassed <img style="border: none;" alt="crying" src="http://www.zeekajaks.info/blog/data/emoticons/crying.gif" /> as we got out of our kayaks at a very nice launching spot being no more than 80 meters away from our launching spot where we had been struggling a bit this morning.<br /> <br /><i>Conditions:<br />Wind - NE 4-5 Bft.<br />Wave height: approx. 20-50cm<br />Distance: 46 km</i>]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 12 Sep 2009 21:27:00 +0200</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Exploring the Cetus]]></title>
<link>http://www.zeekajaks.info/blog/r_weblog.php?subaction=showfull&amp;id=1252602420&amp;archive=</link>
<description><![CDATA[Yesterday evening I borrowed Henks's Cetus as a preparation for a tour at sea on Saturday: just to get a bit used to her. <br />I paddled out of the harbour to the Alkmaardermeer and in the protected waters of the harbour the Cetus felt very manoeuvrable; the bow even yawning a bit at every paddlestroke. Dropping the skeg partially compensated for this.<br />Strange enough I did not recognise this the first time a paddled the Cetus for 15 minutes because I than concluded that the Cetus was only manoeuvrable when edged. That's how it is with testing: sometimes you have to change opinion though.<br /><br /><div  align="center"><br /><div style="padding:5px; border:1px solid gray; width:495px;"><img border="0" src="http://www.zeekajak.info/blog/images/cetus_group.jpg"></div></div><br /><br />Once on the lake  I felt quite at home in the Cetus. There was not much wind anymore but there will still waves from the stronger wind earlier this evening.<br />With the wind from aside the Cetus started weathercocking already at the 2Bft-wind. It could easily be corrected with paddlestrokes or the variable skeg; what you like best. I think that I can understand the weathercocking as the aft ship is quite wide and is, because of this, more shallow than average when compared to the bow. As a result the wind can blow the aftship easier away; which is called weathercocking. Contradictionary is the kind of integral skeg integrated in the stern: you could expect that this could prevent for weathercocking a bit.<br />This was the first occasion I could use the new skeg system with the locking ratchet. At first I fumbled a bit around to adjust quickly, but I think it is just something to get used to. If its easy to do in winter with cold fingers I don't know. But we'll see.<br /><br />I paddled several courses in the waves and experienced the Cetus being comfortable and stable under the conditions as they were. I cannot imagine any, more or less advanced, seakayaker having stability problems in this kayak..<br /><br />After an hour or so I turned back for going home, now paddling  with wind and waves coming from behind. Under those conditions the Cetus was not very directive-stable and wandered to both sides. Dropping the skeg completely helped a bit but attention in keeping course was still required.<br /><br />Being back I concluded that I could take this kayak safely with me at sea because the contact with seat, knees and feet was perfect. Finally a kayak that fits me without having to customise the cockpit. <img style="border: none;" alt="smile" src="http://www.zeekajaks.info/blog/data/emoticons/smile.gif" />In fact quite amazing as this is a high volume seakayak and I am not too big myself.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:07:00 +0200</pubDate>
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