After several years of renting, I purchased a tandem [Necky Amaruk] a
couple of weeks ago. I figure either my wife or my daughter will
accompany me most of the time. However, I anticipate that I'll be more
fanatical than they. So, on those days when I'm alone, are there
recommendations re weight distribution? Is it much of an issue? Should
I place dead weight on the forward cockpit? Should I place dead weight
near the bow? Any good ideas re dead weight; I'm thinking of bottled
water in a mesh bag.

Thanks in advance.

frtzw906

On 2 Mar 2005 10:16:46 -0800, "BCITORGB"
wrote:

After several years of renting, I purchased a tandem [Necky Amaruk] a
couple of weeks ago. I figure either my wife or my daughter will
accompany me most of the time. However, I anticipate that I'll be more
fanatical than they. So, on those days when I'm alone, are there
recommendations re weight distribution? Is it much of an issue? Should
I place dead weight on the forward cockpit? Should I place dead weight
near the bow? Any good ideas re dead weight; I'm thinking of bottled
water in a mesh bag.

A friend does this with his smallish 2 person canoe going solo, but
with just him in it he reverses the bow and stern to get better
balance with less ballast, and a better position for paddling.

Obviously easier with two pointy ends. ;-)

Just be clear which bottles have known drinkable water, and which have
river water.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
--
At the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

hi frtz
i always load my boat thean shove it out( holding a long line) and
look at it's attitude . if you do this enough and know your boat
,lading will become a breeze. shooter

shooter:
============
i always load my boat thean shove it out( holding a long line) and
look at it's attitude . if you do this enough and know your boat
,lading will become a breeze. shooter
==============

Thanks. Nice, practical approach to levelling out. I'll give it a shot.

Cheers,
Wilf

I do it all the time. I don't usually add weight to my boat just to get
the trim right, but if I have camping gear, etc., then I will try to use
it to trim the boat level.

I paddle the boat backwards, sitting on the "front" seat. When the
situation merits, I kneel and move forward to the center thwart, which
gets me close to the center of the boat.

Be aware that when the wind is strong, trim is critical, and the high
end of the boat will tend to point downwind. You may need to change
position (trim) if you have high wind. The classic error is sitting in
the rear of the boat trying to go against a headwind. It can look
pretty comical, if you are on shore. Better to turn around and put the
high end of the boat downwind.

Richard


BCITORGB wrote:
After several years of renting, I purchased a tandem [Necky Amaruk] a
couple of weeks ago. I figure either my wife or my daughter will
accompany me most of the time. However, I anticipate that I'll be more
fanatical than they. So, on those days when I'm alone, are there
recommendations re weight distribution? Is it much of an issue? Should
I place dead weight on the forward cockpit? Should I place dead weight
near the bow? Any good ideas re dead weight; I'm thinking of bottled
water in a mesh bag.

Thanks in advance.

frtzw906

==========
I paddle the boat backwards, sitting on the "front" seat. When the
situation merits, I kneel and move forward to the center thwart, which
gets me close to the center of the boat.
=======================

I'm thinking this suggestion will be difficult with the rudder in the
stern GRIN. Is your suggestion canoe-specific?

The Necky Amaruk is a tandem kayak.

frtzw906

"BCITORGB" wrote in message
oups.com...
==========
I paddle the boat backwards, sitting on the "front" seat. When the
situation merits, I kneel and move forward to the center thwart, which
gets me close to the center of the boat.
=======================

I'm thinking this suggestion will be difficult with the rudder in the
stern GRIN. Is your suggestion canoe-specific?

===========================
The classic error is sitting in
the rear of the boat trying to go against a headwind. It can look
pretty comical, if you are on shore.
=============================

I'm thinking that this statement, as it appears, is pretty comical. g

--riverman

Sorry guys, I was talking about a canoe.

Richard


BCITORGB wrote:
==========
I paddle the boat backwards, sitting on the "front" seat. When the
situation merits, I kneel and move forward to the center thwart, which
gets me close to the center of the boat.
=======================

I'm thinking this suggestion will be difficult with the rudder in the
stern GRIN. Is your suggestion canoe-specific?

The Necky Amaruk is a tandem kayak.

frtzw906

BCITORGB wrote:
After several years of renting, I purchased a tandem [Necky Amaruk] a
couple of weeks ago. I figure either my wife or my daughter will
accompany me most of the time. However, I anticipate that I'll be more
fanatical than they. So, on those days when I'm alone, are there
recommendations re weight distribution? Is it much of an issue? Should
I place dead weight on the forward cockpit? Should I place dead weight
near the bow? Any good ideas re dead weight; I'm thinking of bottled
water in a mesh bag.

Paddling a tandem solo is generally a bad idea, as it can become
completely uncontrollable in any significant wind and waves, due to poor
weight distribution.

Brian says:
=======
Paddling a tandem solo is generally a bad idea, as it can become
completely uncontrollable in any significant wind and waves, due to
poor
weight distribution.
===============

Are there any recommendations then about adding weight, distributing it
appropriately, and ensuring that it doesn't shift?

Wilf