josko

This is my 3th year in the Bahiya, I had a Nordkapp before it. The Bahiya was my go-to boat before buying a Romany Surf a year ago. Interestingly, i was more comfortable in the Bahiya a year ago than I am now with ~70% of my paddling in the Romany. I weigh 190-200 lbs, 6'1", and typically have < 10 lbs of gear in the boat. On camping trips with ~50 lbs of gear, the boat is much more stable. I used to paddle with my thighs braced up hard, but last month took the guide course from Carmody and Wright, and they convinced me to move the footpegs out and have no contact between the knees and boat. I'm now adapting my new stance to the Bahiya, and it's looking very promising.

I'm trying to get used to my Bahiya, and I'd appreciate feedback from those with time in it. Overall, I love the boat for distance paddling, calm water, current and downwind surfing, but it's giving me a hard time in confused water, clapotis and stern-quartering chop. In those conditions I seem to lose all primary stability and have to rely on bracing to stay afloat. I'm working on relaxing my stance, and it's helping, but to me, it seems like a very twitchy boat in confused, rough water. It's pitched me off more than once. Is it me, or is it a boat design feature? What can i do to accomodate this twitchiness? Thanks in advance

Curious where you're hiking. I've hiked most of the Croatian coastal range.

Pete is an NDK sponsored paddler. I'd try to reach him via info at seakayakinguk dot com. John is at john at seacliffkayakers dot com. The Elafiti tend to be a 'dumping ground' for cruise ship passengers who want to do a 'kayak activity' while their cruise ship is docked in Dubrovnik. I've seen as many as six large cruise ships at anchor between Dubrovnik and Lokrum. The resulting zoo is not to be underestimated. When are you going? Crowds are at their peak in July and August; September and October are probably the nicest months to kayak, with May a close second. Crowds start to build in June.

Hi, I am Croatian and intimately familiar with the Adriatic, although I've never paddled it. I do encounter large groups of paddling tourists being generally herded around various destinations with mediocre or poor gear and guidance, and would agree with your need to search for references. John Carmody was just mentioning a contact in Croatia with a store of high end (NDK?) kayaks and what seemed like a competent outfitter. Last fall at the Gales, Peter Jones was also telling me of a collaboratioon with a Croatian outfitter that sounded top notch. I know Pete has gone to Croatia to guide trips. I'm sorry I don't remember the names of either outfitter, but would suggest following up with John and Pete. Meanwhile, I'd be glad to answer any questions about the area. You might know the area around Dubrovnik is a bit 'boring' and exposed. Dubrovnik itself is a mega tourist trap. However, Mljet national park is <50 miles away and a stupendous paddling destination. As far as I'm concerned the best paddling destinations are the Kornati national park and the area near the island of Vis. Mljet, Kornati or Vis will all take your breath away.

John Carmody had one in stock for me.

Thanks Guys, I'd love to buy the Reed Chillcheater if i can find one in stock somewhere this weekend. So far, I found the Kokatat Tropos version at KTP and will pick it up tomorrow unless I can find the Reed or Kokatat Gore Tex version somewhere. Can anyone comment on the differences between Tropos and Gore Tex in the Kokatat line?

Would anybody know of a store in New England that carried Kokatat Gore Tex Cags in stock?

Is there any definitive information on whether the Portland ferry will be running by then?

BCU 4* sea

I think this is all about the paddle slipping through the water. For each stroke, the amount of work done moving the boat forward is force(of the paddle) * distance the boat moves during that stroke. The work done by the paddler is force * distance that the paddle moves. During mormal paddling (and let's forget wing blades) the paddle slips through the water, so the distance travelled by the paddle is greater than the distance travelled by the boat. So the paddler is putting work both into moving the boat forward and into making the paddle slip through the water. If we assume a pole is same as the paddle with zero slip velocity, then using poles will be more efficient than using paddles. Now if we are paddling downcurrent, (and pole slip is less than the current) then the current is doing work to help the paddler along, and using a paddle is more efficient than using a pole anchored to the bottom.