Does it make a difference to wax the bottom of my kayak?
Would a boatwax, which racers use do the trick?
Or is it just a waste of time?
It's a Perception 17ft Eclipse (Airolite)
Thank a lot
Wim

On 8-Jun-2005, "Wim deVries" wrote:

Does it make a difference to wax the bottom of my kayak?
Would a boatwax, which racers use do the trick?
Or is it just a waste of time?

Waxing kayaks is a myth. The only wax paddlers use is for grip
on their paddles.

It's a Perception 17ft Eclipse (Airolite)

If you want more speed, get another kayak. The Eclipse is
average at speed and mediocre in handling.

Mike

Michael Daly wrote:
On 8-Jun-2005, "Wim deVries" wrote:

Does it make a difference to wax the bottom of my kayak?
Would a boatwax, which racers use do the trick?
Or is it just a waste of time?

Waxing kayaks is a myth. The only wax paddlers use is for grip
on their paddles.

It's a Perception 17ft Eclipse (Airolite)

If you want more speed, get another kayak. The Eclipse is
average at speed and mediocre in handling.

Mike
Wrong...
If you wax and polish the bottom of your boat it will increase the
speed but minutely. You won't notice the differance.
The wax will make the boat shiny and nice to look at. Depending on the
wax you use it may afford a little UV protection.

The Eclipse is not the fastest boat on the water but it is not the
slowest either. Handling is also a compromise. You won't find a realy
fast boat that handles worth a darn or a nimble rock hopper that will
rocket away.
My NDK Explorer for example is a fine boat for my purpose but if I
wanted to dust off a friend in his Seaward Quest I would have to work
pretty hard.
Now the same guy in the seaward would not want to follow me ito a cave
or rock garden.
All boats are a compromise except for pure racing boats. They are
wonderfull to racers but worthless to me and I expect you.

So Wax your boat if you want. It will make it more sliprery on the
beach, perhaps just a hair faster on the water, It will be clean as can
be, It will look good and you will feel good about that.
There is nothing wrong with Perceptions Eclipse. I don't like the seat
back and would replace it with a back band. We all have our own
prefferances.
My boats are a Capella , Plastic and slow but great for scooting around
rocks and a marvellous day paddler. My NDK Explorer is a good bit
faster and carries more stuff. I have a Sealution that is great for
introducing beginner paddlers to the sport , a couple of WW boats and a
couple of rec boats also grace my yard and trailer.
All these boats have a place, all have a purpose.
The eclipse is a nice boat and if you like it that is all that counts.
I preffer a Greenland / British design : That is only taste.
Good luck and welcome to a fantastic sport.
Alex McGruer
http://pages.ivilage.com/mcgruer

On 8-Jun-2005, wrote:

Wrong...
If you wax and polish the bottom of your boat it will increase the
speed but minutely. You won't notice the differance.

If the increase is minute and can't be detected, what makes my statement wrong?

Mike
PS - my info comes from a kayak designer that has designed and built
many racing kayaks and canoes and has experimented with various
speed-enhancing products.

On 8-Jun-2005, wrote:

There is nothing wrong with Perceptions Eclipse

The Eclipse, Shadow and similar kayaks from Perception
all suffer from poor perfomance in wind. I once took a
Shadow out in heavy wind and without the rudder, the
kayak was uncontrollable. There is something very wrong
with those designs - they are kayaks that shouldn't be sold.
If the rudder breaks, the paddler will be in serious trouble.

Mike

Alex McGruer wrote:
[...]
All boats are a compromise except for pure racing boats.

Helaas.. even 'pure' racing boats are a compromise
between racing rules, stability, tracking, etc.
One could even say that when two racing boats are equally fast,
the most stable one will win the races.

Dirk Barends

Thank you all for the info
Since my original posting I have been kayaking everyday between 10 - 15km
Live on 46 km long lake, dotted with islands etc ; retired so what do ya
want more?
Waxing came to mind, because I have been yachting for about 53yrs and
waxing, undercoating of my racer was an important item. So it seems then
Points well taken 'cause wax may keep the sides cleaner or easier to be
cleaned.
Have a good weekend and an enjoyable paddle with good company
c ya Wim

wrote in message
ups.com...


Michael Daly wrote:
On 8-Jun-2005, "Wim deVries" wrote:

Does it make a difference to wax the bottom of my kayak?
Would a boatwax, which racers use do the trick?
Or is it just a waste of time?

Waxing kayaks is a myth. The only wax paddlers use is for grip
on their paddles.

It's a Perception 17ft Eclipse (Airolite)

If you want more speed, get another kayak. The Eclipse is
average at speed and mediocre in handling.

Mike
Wrong...
If you wax and polish the bottom of your boat it will increase the
speed but minutely. You won't notice the differance.
The wax will make the boat shiny and nice to look at. Depending on the
wax you use it may afford a little UV protection.

The Eclipse is not the fastest boat on the water but it is not the
slowest either. Handling is also a compromise. You won't find a realy
fast boat that handles worth a darn or a nimble rock hopper that will
rocket away.
My NDK Explorer for example is a fine boat for my purpose but if I
wanted to dust off a friend in his Seaward Quest I would have to work
pretty hard.
Now the same guy in the seaward would not want to follow me ito a cave
or rock garden.
All boats are a compromise except for pure racing boats. They are
wonderfull to racers but worthless to me and I expect you.

So Wax your boat if you want. It will make it more sliprery on the
beach, perhaps just a hair faster on the water, It will be clean as can
be, It will look good and you will feel good about that.
There is nothing wrong with Perceptions Eclipse. I don't like the seat
back and would replace it with a back band. We all have our own
prefferances.
My boats are a Capella , Plastic and slow but great for scooting around
rocks and a marvellous day paddler. My NDK Explorer is a good bit
faster and carries more stuff. I have a Sealution that is great for
introducing beginner paddlers to the sport , a couple of WW boats and a
couple of rec boats also grace my yard and trailer.
All these boats have a place, all have a purpose.
The eclipse is a nice boat and if you like it that is all that counts.
I preffer a Greenland / British design : That is only taste.
Good luck and welcome to a fantastic sport.
Alex McGruer
http://pages.ivilage.com/mcgruer

I wrote a lengthly reply to Mike Daly then deleted it.
The Shadow and Eclipse are fine boats. I still preffer my NDK and
Capella but I paddled an Eclipse in a 20 knot breaze a month ago
without using the rudder and it was just fine.
The wind works on it more than it does on my boats but it is built for
a larger paddler.
If you want to check out my credentials just type Alex McGruer on any
search engine.
You have a fine boat and there are brilliant people on this group. Not
all enjoy the same opinions, it would be boring if we did.
Have a good one
Alex

I understand ;-) I've been on other groups
I qualify for larger and older. I'm 6ft 2 and 195lbs and pushing 70yrs.
It keeps me fit, on the water, but I had to get used too its width 25'.25".
I kayaked a shortwehile a beamy one, nearly 29". Especially in high wind
(35km)and waves I had to retrain my brain to balance the boat right. I think
I got it under control now.
Wim
wrote in message
oups.com...
I wrote a lengthly reply to Mike Daly then deleted it.
The Shadow and Eclipse are fine boats. I still preffer my NDK and
Capella but I paddled an Eclipse in a 20 knot breaze a month ago
without using the rudder and it was just fine.
The wind works on it more than it does on my boats but it is built for
a larger paddler.
If you want to check out my credentials just type Alex McGruer on any
search engine.
You have a fine boat and there are brilliant people on this group. Not
all enjoy the same opinions, it would be boring if we did.
Have a good one
Alex

On Wed, 8 Jun 2005 12:22:30 -0400, "Wim deVries"
posted:

Does it make a difference to wax the bottom of my kayak?
Would a boatwax, which racers use do the trick?
Or is it just a waste of time?
It's a Perception 17ft Eclipse (Airolite)
Thank a lot
Wim

After a day paddling on the muddy rivers and lakes around here,
having wax on the boats seems to make it easier to wash off the
brown stain that builds up around the waterline.

Of course, waxing the boats a couple times a year probably expends
as much or more energy than is saved in slightly less scrubbing
after a trip.

Mike Soja