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Jeff Potter (of OutYourBackdoor.com) Jeff Potter (of OutYourBackdoor.com) is offline
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First recorded activity by BoatBanter: May 2007
Posts: 26
Default Better for a Straits tour: Seda Glider or Valley Pintail? : )

I'm going with the Pintail on this outing. (A few days kayak-tent-
touring in the Straits of Mackinaw---hooking up with folks who are
doing much of the cooking...)

My comfort curve in this boat is doubling every day. What fun!

Yeah, it's a pain to cartop but I'll deal---I'm not complaining about
a sweet boat like this that we got for $300! Sure, it's heavy but
whatever. Our local pals call it the "Lead Sled" but it's fun on the
water. I hope to find grass for dragging it to the water.

I think this boat is gonna love any kind of swells that come our way.

Today I was rolling both ways lots of times and practicing no-set-up
rolls and random tip-over rolls to either side and coming up on either
side---what fun! I couldn't do this last year---but then I'd been
practicing in my Glider! (And not practicing all that much. I'm
finally putting in some time---and finally have the mental picture
down.)

I did bail out once but then got back in easily with my paddlefloat.
Then I rolled a few times with water-heavy cockpit, no prob.

I was also doing highbraces to the point of overturning the boat and
righting again readily. It's fun putting my torso/head in the water
and coming up again. I like the semi-immersion aspect of these low
volume boats. (After spending most of my summer outdoor time on road
bikes, getting wet is a joy.)

Seems like a nice boat for a couple day semi-supported jaunt---in the
moderate conditions that I'll let myself go out in.

Onward! --JP
outyourbackdoor.com