Jest DUH!kee did just fine

Sorry, no vid this round as I was unable to find anyone willing to go with me. Guess they figured that if they didn’t go, I wouldn’t either.

HAH!

I’m kinda crazy like that.

Did take a spill before I ever got in the boat, but that was the only spill I took. Was getting in and the section of bank I was on didn’t stay put. Feet high, ass in the muck, and I kept hold of the boat to make sure it didnt bootscootboogie on me.

Yeh, that water was cold! Not so cold as to call it off though. About 50ish, cold but manageable for short spurts.

Gear was the Astral PFD, Seals sprayskirt, and a ‘paddle jacket’ made from the top half of an old Tyvek hazmat suit I had from way back when and don’t recall why. Mice had ate out the feet, so I just cut it loose at the waist and made it my paddle jacket for now. Kept that cold water from trickling down my back, and I may find a set of froggtoggs for a temporary drysuit of a sort. As a paddle jacket, it worked damned good. It even has a hood! I needed it for the wind as well as the water as the air was moving pretty good across the lake.

There was some chop, though not when I was taking the pics. It did well as a windbreaker too. Strong winds, a wet ass, and I was actually comfortable while buttoned up inside the kayak.

This boat is EXACTLY what I had intended. I wish I had a pic of it sitting in the water with me in it, maybe next time, but while paddling, I didn’t see the wake I would see from the Perception. I didn’t see any wake forward of the cockpit at all until around 4.5 mph.

I had it up to 5.3 and could tell that was MY limit, not the boats: I haven’t been paddling much as of late, and things in me need more training, and I need more time getting familiar with her, before I will be able to break that limit. I may even need a wider paddle, at least for the racing thing. Thats a play point for later. The Greenlands do quite well, and my shoulders definitely prefer them. (Side note, I played with the storm paddle some, and know it will work, but its a completely different stroke and will take practice, but high performance it is NOT.)

I was out for about 45 minutes, didn’t quite do a mile, pushed it twice and did a lot of sitting, getting a feel for her. I went out on the main lake to expose her to wind to see how she responds: she is a bit neutral leaning towards weather helmed. For those not sure what that means; she shows a slight tendency to face into the wind. That’s great when your a hunter looking for seals, but means that she may want to track into unfavorable paddling conditions on open water. Not optimal, but not really a game changer for me. Chop didn’t phase her at all and waves on the beam were only a little goosey. Thats more my needing seat time than a boat issue.

She edges great, and I am really going to have to work on my end of that, as I am still not up to par there. Sweeps work well, as do braces and sculls. With the beam being so narrow (21″) I can really get the paddle close to me and dig in, so accelerating is easier. A couple guys out bank fishing made comment when I was loading out, to how fast she was.

So, in review; she is far better at being a kayak than I am at being a kayaker. I have LOTS of growing and learning to do, and I have about 9 months to get myself race ready. The boat is more than ready.

Now the long wait for spring and warmer weather,,,,😑 (or massive spending on cold water gear)