No, I didn’t ‘finally’ shoot Mama-kat,,,, Stop thinking horrible things about me.
Took Lizzy out today for a quick spin on the lake. Other than no leaves in the trees, it felt full-on summer here. Except, that water,,,, BRRRRRRRRR. Eighty-four degrees air temp with 5kn winds gusting to 15 or so. but that water was frigid at fifty-one degrees. That level of difference means ‘system shock’ and system shock usually means a deep gasp of air (which when you are underwater is a death sentence,,,). So, no, I wasn’t going out far, nor long and I while I did dress the part in one small factor, I didn’t go whole hog. I had on my neoprene pants (5mm, winter garb) but just a quick-dry shirt and fleece long-sleeve over that. Did wear the PFD: I am hardcore about the use of those,,, NO SKIRT on the boat. If things went flakey, I wanted out in a hurry. (and to figure it was below 50 air temp until around 1pm,,, warmed up fast, and the temps are falling faster now with the sun down,,,)
and the whole point of this excursion was to test and see if my early diagnosis of ‘loose back-band equals better control’ was legit or just me trying to pin a tail on a strange-looking donkey.
There was no donkey in the mix, this is legit. Even shared it with a guy fishing; Just happened that I knew him, and he is a competitive swimmer for the local school. Senior, so not much longer in that role,,,, I’ve paddled support a time or two for him here on the lake when he wants to do distance training. ANywhoosss,, I shared what I found with him and he looked at me the same way I was thinking “that doesn’t make any sense,,,,” But I showed him how I could get Liz on edge and hold it and told him that before I couldn’t do even that.
And I did go out for a spin around the bay. Cold water, gusting winds, not gonna go out on the main body without a skirt or proper gear, but a little spin around the bay was no issue. (Near to shore, solid swimmer close at hand, and close to a warm truck if things got frosty on me.). I was even able to do the whole ‘pivot at the hip’ type of paddle that is supposed to be the most efficient.
and Liz lit the afterburners,,,,
Hot damn that boat is FAST,,, Dunno what speed I was doing, didn’t have any of my gear to indicate that kind of info, but damn, I FELT IT!!!
and never once did she feel twitchy,,, Loose, yes, but not TWITCHY. Our love/hate relationship is ending rapidly and becoming similar to that relationship I have with Blue Jean. Can’t say for certain since I haven’t had her out in open water with waves. BUT, I think we have found our channel of communication finally, and will be able to talk shit about the water we are in: just like BJ and I do.
So, tomorrow I am delivering Ghost boat to B and thinking, hit Laurel for a good run and see,,, There I can get wave action and I have access to a place I can change into and out of cold gear without tempting a lude and lascivious ticket. (and its near an active marina so dropping trou in public is NOT recommended,,, just sayin’,,,). (and it will be morning so the air will be cold and the internal dialogue won’t be so heated about NOT wearing it,,, )
But one thing I just do not understand: how the hell does removing some contact with the boat IMPROVE the handling and control,,,, It flies against everything I have learned about these boats over the last few,,,, I don’t know, but I am starting to think removing the back band from Duh!kee may help her too,,, Thats one that can wait though; Duh!k isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
I don’t have an snswer for that question, though I have a hypothesis; a tight BB pushes control up over the water line where without the BB the control is below the water line. and in some of my boats, like BJ or Viz, where the backbands are integral components, I would say the designers intended that control point in place, where the Nordkapps were built without any back support at all.
Anywhoos, last post of the day, has one in the pipe for delivery tomorrow morn, since I will be out and about all day, Talk atcha’all later tomorrow, early sunday
