"(PeteCresswell)" wrote in message
...
Per Dave E:
There are times when I would like the convenience of a smaller craft when
on
my own and have considered a surf ski (otherwise known as a wave ski here
in
Oz) for training. I guess my thoughts were to have something which would
fit inside my sedan on the folded front passenger seat, limiting it to
about
7 to 8 feet.

Surf Ski Wave Ski.

Surf skis are long and thin with displacement hulls.

Wave skis are short and fat with planing hulls.

Hi Pete,

many thanks for your response. I guess I've had some dodgy advice and have
had the terms used interchangeably by surf shop salespeople lately.

For inside your car, you're definitely talking "Wave Ski" unless you have
a
really big car or van and then you might look at the 10' version of Hunt
Johnson's WaveWitch.

Certainly it is the wave ski option that I'm considering - my car is not a
Cadillac (or a Hummer)! Just had a look at the Wave Witch online - I wonder
if/where these are sold here in Oz? Wonderful little craft.

Sadly, the word here in Australia is that such craft have been in demise
since the mal came back into 'fashion' - older guys (excluding myself of
course...) could now put aside their cumbersome surf/wave skis and opt for
the higher street cred of a mal. Last week in Port Macquarie (coastal town
in NSW, Aust - noted for its surf community) I could find not a single shop
that didn't ask me "why?" when I made enquiries.

snip
Rotation isn't an issue. Hull speed is the issue. The diff between an
honest cruising effort and a flat-out sprint is 4.8 mph vs 5.6 mph. That
.8
mph just doesn't satisfy in terms of rewarding more effort with a feeling
of
acceleration and more speed.

I haven't paddled a wave ski yet (got one on order though). Ping me in
late Feb.
But I expect it to have significantly less glide than the Wave Witch.

I'll try to remember to ask!

So, not sure where to from here but will try out a few items and will see
what happens!

Again, thanks for your help.

Cheers,
Dave E (Sydney)