Cruise Control for first boat?
Peter Staehling
Go for the Cruise Control. It is a great boat
and is actually pretty forgiving. I started in
a more forgiving boat and wanted to switch in
about two months. I wish I had just started in
the CC.
Pete
>Does anyone have any advice on getting a first boat? I'm new to
>kayaking, and I'm thinking about buying a friend's New Wave Cruise
>Control. Though this seems to be a more advanced boat, with it's very
>asymetrical rocker, small stern, and concave decks, I know that I will
>enjoy the sport, am in very good physical shape, and will probably be
>able to progress fairly quickly up the learning curve.
>
>Will this boat help an agressive beginner like myself to progress more
>quickly, or will it actually impede my progress?
>
>My friend tells me that the smaller volume and concave decks help to
>make snappy turns, and that a bigger boat (like my other friend's 77gal
>boat) will just sort of skid around on top of the water without as much
>playfulness or turning ablity. Also, I would like to get a boat that
>I'm not going to grow out of in one season, and have a feeling that I
>will get tired of a bigger boat quickly.
>
>Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
>
>Mark
>
>--
>Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed
>citizens can change the world: indeed it's the only
>thing that ever has. -Margaret Mead
>
PGV
Well, steaking for myself, I didn't stert in a Cruise, but moved up to it.
Yes a CC is a much more snoappy boat, But is it the one you want? I
progressed to it quickly, but I still don't think I would have wanted it
for a first boat. You'll get spanked in it a few times most likely, but
on the other hand it is more forgiving than I thought it would be when I
got it. I resently ran the Indian river with someone who paddled a CC as
their first boat, he was upside down alot and got squirted all the way
through the rift , involuntarily. However, he was still smiling about it
at the end of the day. If you get it, work overtime on your form, or else
you'll spend alot of time struggling on eddy lines and such. The boat is
only as good as the boater, or is it the other way round?
Tyaker
On Mon, 12 May 1997 mro...@mho.net wrote:
> Does anyone have any advice on getting a first boat? I'm new to
> kayaking, and I'm thinking about buying a friend's New Wave Cruise
> Control. Though this seems to be a more advanced boat, with it's very
> asymetrical rocker, small stern, and concave decks, I know that I will
> enjoy the sport, am in very good physical shape, and will probably be
> able to progress fairly quickly up the learning curve.
Your size will be another (possibly more important) factor in deciding on
a boat. If you're larger (@170 lbs and over), the asymmetrical design and
(relatively) low-volume stern will most likely be a hinderance in your
initial stages. If you're smaller (@170 and under), then you pretty much
have your choice of boats...
>
> Will this boat help an agressive beginner like myself to progress more
> quickly, or will it actually impede my progress?
See above. Also, aggressive learning has less to do with boat design than
the paddler's attitude. You can learn to roll in anything, and
initially learning other skills like surfing, eddy turns, and ferrying,
truly have almost no difference among most beginner boats. Quick
progression is up to the paddler, not the boat.
>
> My friend tells me that the smaller volume and concave decks help to
> make snappy turns, and that a bigger boat (like my other friend's 77gal
> boat) will just sort of skid around on top of the water without as much
> playfulness or turning ablity. Also, I would like to get a boat that
Turning ability and playfulness have nothing to do with the concave decks.
It all depends on the hull design (underneath the boat). There was a
lengthy thread here on rbp a while back about ww hull design concepts, but
I suspect you aren't interested in that. The fact is, a boat that has
more rocker (front and back) will turn easily, as opposed to a
less-rockered boat. Coupled with a high volume design, like the Overflow,
this gives you a "corky" boat that has quite a bit of control and
maneuverability. Snappy turns have to do with the hardness of the edges
on the surfaces of the boat. A boat with a distinct rail, or side edge,
will turn (as in an eddy-turn) more quickly than a round-sided one. It
catches water and carves the turn quickly and easily. This is a quality
that will also help make a boat good at surfing (along with a low-volume
stern).
> I'm not going to grow out of in one season, and have a feeling that I
> will get tired of a bigger boat quickly.
>
That depends on what kind of paddling you're going to be doing. I
followed the "smaller is better" philosophy on boat design, because I was
mostly interested in playboating and tricks. So, (in order of ownership)
I went Dancer-PirouetteS-Sleek-Kinetic. But you know what? I spend hours
playing at a hole alongside guys and gals in Dancers, Overflows,
CorsicaS's, Crossfires, Cruise Controls, etc. My point is, you can
get "tired" of a boat easily, but if you can expand your paddling
abilities in a single design (I'm a little disappointed that I got rid of
my Dancer) then you're probably better off than continually upgrading
designs just because you get "bored" of a particular boat.
Some of the above is fact, but most of it is my humble opinion.
You can email me with any more questions or remarks. SYOTR!
Tyaker
Chip Mefford
mro...@mho.net wrote:
>
> Does anyone have any advice on getting a first boat? I'm new to
> kayaking, and I'm thinking about buying a friend's New Wave Cruise
> Control. Though this seems to be a more advanced boat, with it's very
> asymetrical rocker, small stern, and concave decks, I know that I will
> enjoy the sport, am in very good physical shape, and will probably be
> able to progress fairly quickly up the learning curve.
I don't really have any advice, but I do have some opinions. If it's a
friends boat and you can get a really good deal on it, I say go for it.
If not, then you may wanna look around for an older more beat-up first
boat. I am of the opinion that it really doesn't matter what you start
in, you will outgrow it in a year. You start with a hi-performance boat,
and you should quickly, once past the basics, learn to rely on the boats
performance and your form will suffer for it, you will plateau quickly
and have a more difficult time moving beyond it.
I'm not saying get a piece of junk, I'm advocating getting a decent and
tough all around boat, Dancer, Corsica, T-canyon or such with a few
seasons on it, and paddle yer butt off for the first season. Then worry
that your superior native ability is being retarted by the antiquated
design.
> Will this boat help an agressive beginner like myself to progress more
> quickly, or will it actually impede my progress?
>
I am of the impression that it will to some extent, impede, but thats
just my opinion.
> Also, I would like to get a boat that
> I'm not going to grow out of in one season, and have a feeling that I
> will get tired of a bigger boat quickly.
>
If you are going to get tired of a bigger boat quickly, than this may
not exactly be your sport. Nothing wrong with outgrowing a boat. I
don't know anyone who actually has been paddling for a while that
doesn't have a slew of boats laying around. Its part of the deal. For
myself, Last year at this time, I had only one, no thats two, boats, if
you don't include that one that's behind a friends shop on NC. I was
trying to get rid of all my boats, and I was somewhat successful. This
year, I've månaged to accumlate 5 and have sold 1, so thats, , , hmmm 6
in "inventory" right now. Its just that way.
> Mark
>
chipper
Mr. Smartypants
Of course the above only applies if your a big person (190lbs+)
otherwise the CC acts more like a really stable creek boat....
sp
Jimisnyder
The Cruise Control IS a cruising/creeking boat but the small stern is
primarily there to help achieve sustained surfs on fickle waves. If you
are not at the point where sustained surfs on fickle foamy waves are an
issue the stern becomes of questionable value- especially for heavy class
4 creeking. Also it is important to run with a trace of speed to keep
from getting clipped by faster currents. Often beginners prefer to
float and see what happens- not a good recipe in a CC. It is also not a
rodeo boat by any means and would prefer to blast than ender. I don't
see any advantages it would bring to a beginner unless they felt they
would advance to surf fun quickly. I think beginners should get a
"normal" boat with a big stern- like the Mongoose or Attitude (did I leave
any out?) until they are good at reading and running tougher waters and
have the appetite for enhanced dynamics..
Jimmy the S
Malcolm Daly
mro...@mho.net wrote:
>
> Does anyone have any advice on getting a first boat? I'm new to
> kayaking, and I'm thinking about buying a friend's New Wave Cruise
> Control. Though this seems to be a more advanced boat, with it's very
> asymetrical rocker, small stern, and concave decks, I know that I will
> enjoy the sport, am in very good physical shape, and will probably be
> able to progress fairly quickly up the learning curve.
The CC was my first boat. Got it in July of last year. No regrets. It's
fun, stable and still surfs better than I do. It also gave me a good
feel of what I could do in a hole re:enders, side surfing and squirts. I
now own a Kendo as well, but it will be while before I get rid of my CC.
If I have any complaints, the hul is slow and there is no storage space
for self contained trips.
Malcolm Daly