Necky Narpa
LarryM1001
novice. Thanks for the input.
larry
Marcus Doherr
Outdoor Adventures at University of California, Davis, is using the Necky
'NARPA', and it's shorter (but a bit wider) brother 'KYOOK' for
their Sea Kajaking classes and trips. Both kajaks are equipped with
bulkheads, hatches and hatch covers, rudder and adjustable footpegs.
The KYOOK is more stable and turns a bit better than the Narpa, but, as to
be expected, is somewhat slower.
If you have a chance, give several kajak's you are interested in a good
test run (guided tour, day rental, trip with a friend etc.);
once in a while it is not the boat type but nonexplainable preferences or
pure anatomy (fit of your body to seat, backrest,footpeg position, cockpit
size and shape) that leads to liking one design or another....
Having a choice between the Narpa and the Kyook, I would go for the
Narpa, but only because I like faster good tracking seakajaks - and have
enough paddling experience to compensate for their decreased initial stability
and turning ability....
****************************************************************
Marcus G. Doherr, Dr. med. vet.
Graduate Group Epidemiology
VM: Medicine & Epidemiology
UC Davis, CA 95616; USA
Phone (916) 752 6409 (Office 1136 MS1A)
(916) 753 0816 (Home phone)
FAX (916) 752 0414 (Med&Epid. Department Office)
email: mgdo...@ucdavis.edu
David Etter
(LarryM1001) wrote:
Hi Larry:
At 5'8", if I were you I would look for a smaller boat. Of course I
don't know your weight, but if average, then seek a craft with a tighter
fit. This boat is great for a larger person , stable, easy to maintain,
inexpensive, the rudder system is less than I care for but is easy to use.
Overall a good boat for a novice of larger size. Rather, a boat such as a
sealution II (not the new XL) would better suit you, IMHO. Good Luck!
David E.
> Does anybody have anything good or bad to say about this kayak? I'm 5'8"
> novice. Thanks for the input.
> larry
--
David Etter
Mahone Bay Kayak Adventures
Box 360,Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia
Canada, BOJ 2E0
seak...@fox.nstn.ca
Al Goldberg
>>Outdoor Adventures at University of California, Davis, is using the
>>Necky 'NARPA', and it's shorter (but a bit wider) brother 'KYOOK'
>>for their Sea Kajaking classes and trips. Both kajaks are equipped
>>with bulkheads, hatches and hatch covers, rudder and adjustable
>>footpegs.
>>The KYOOK is more stable and turns a bit better than the Narpa, but,
>>as to be expected, is somewhat slower......Having a choice between
>>the Narpa and the Kyook, I would go for the Narpa, but only because
>>I like faster good tracking seakajaks - and have enough paddling
>>experience to compensate for their decreased initial stability and
>>turning ability....
I acquired a Kyook as my first boat, used it most of last season then
traded it for a Narpa which I still have. I'd agree with the above,
and add the following comments.
The Narpa has a good solid feel, has good sea handling, tracks well
but needs moderate leans in order to manuever, and is neutral to winds
except those from a rear quarter which cause some weathercocking. I
don't have a rudder, managing to compensate by altered paddle strokes,
but probably would advise someone else to get one. I haven't used it
for touring yet but expect it will perform very well for that purpose.
My boat had rough usage in its earlier life, has a well scuffed hull
but otherwise is sound with bulkheads and hatches that are still
tight. While the Narpa is neither as fast nor as lively as a narrower
boat I think it's a good choice for one learning the game.
There are some negatives. I found the seat-back disastrous and
replaced it with a backband - it's much too high, doesn't let you lean
backwards, interferes with a sprayskirt. The cockpit is quite large
for my 5' 8" size. Hip pads at the seat and also thigh braces,
available from Necky as bolt-on options, are strongly recommended to
improve the fit.
Chris Holtz
AG>>Does anybody have anything good or bad to say about this kayak? I'm
AG>>5'8" novice....
I just recently acquired a Narpa w/rudder at the Chesapeake Paddlefest.
My other boats have all been Greenland style GRP boats so I wasn't
expecting a lot from the Narpa other than a nice "guest" boat. After
paddling it a few times, I'm becoming happier and happier with it. I'm
5'-7" and 180lbs and though I as yet have no padding in the cockpit, I'm
able to lean agressively and roll the boat without falling out. It does
track very well and, as mentioned by others, needs a rudder or a solid
lean to turn easily. I've paddled Chinooks, various Hydra's, and other
plastic kayaks before, and the Narpa seems a good step ahead in my mind.
Chris Holtz
Cambridge, MD
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