Brian Nystrom wrote in message ...
Alex Horvath wrote:
Is there anything that compares to a NDK design wise? The skeg, day
hatch, compass, pump, reccessed fittings are very useful features. I
was planning on buying an NDK this summer.

OK here is the deal.
NDK Explorer and Romany are the best boats I have ever paddled. They
spin like a top when you want them to , have OK initial stability and
spectacular secondery stability. When the sea goes to crap you have
the finest boat in the water. The covers for the hatches DON'T leak,
They are from Valley anyway.

P & H Capella is every bit as good ( but no better ) in the water as
the Romany.

Now here is the problem. NDK skegs are not as reliable as say the
Capellas'. The NDK lay up is rough: Mine had a bubble in the recessed
fitting for the day hatch and it leaked almost filling that hatch
soaking my walking shoes and floating my emergency kit in a dry bag.
It filled well past the water line in a three or four hour paddle.
NDK sent new hatch covers but when we found the leak they ( NDK the
manufacturers ) were useless. The local dealer ( Base Camp Outfitters
) were great. ( It was a flaw in the lay up ) A bubble in a recessed
fitting opened a way for water not only to be funneled in but with the
contraction of cooling air in the compartment it sucked water in and a
very high rate and remained a bugger to find. I had to epoxy it myself
.. ( Thanks NDK! )
My skeg cable has failed twice, once because of a flaw in the wire
when I got it and once because it was jammed and the weak set up
allowed it to buckle. The string operations are no better. perhaps
worse. You hardly need a skeg anyway on the explorer. I have not fixed
mine and though I paddle twice a week on the off season it remains
unimportant.
In hind site I could ( Should ) have done without one. It would have
saved no money but I would have ad a little more room for stuff.
The story that the boat is heavily laid up for expeditions is sort of
lost on me. There are resin runs on the inside of the boat. They add
weight but no strength. I have the odd star crack and fixed a large
one that I have no idea how I got . I deserve all the scratches and
the two chips on the bow.
The Day hatch is not usefull in a loaded boat or in any waves. ( When
you are going to want it. ) It is too close to the water. It is
something you just don't need.
It would be nice to have another bungee over the area behind the seat
for a paddle float rescue brace , for those of us not into Yoga. Oh
yes ,, I have a roll and a reentry roll but amongst Ice Bergs I want
my head out of the water as much as possible.
The NDK 's are heavy, The outfitting is OK , Price is the same as say
CD's Gulf Stream ( Which is comparable ) the NDK lay up is 1970's
technology, the cockpit is a little larger than need be, ( Not all my
spray decks will fit. ) the hatches are tiny ( Tent and poles must go
in seperately and my down sleeping bag has to get stuffed into the dry
bag inside the hatches.) That said they don't leak.
I have a plastic P & H Capella , P & H are great at service. A good
friend has a Capella in glass and she loves it.
CD has the Gulf Stream , That deserves a look, the finish is CD
quality.

Now remember what I said about the NDK in the beginning??
Once in the water it is the best boat likely on the planet: But on top
of your car it is a quality control nightmare. You have to paddle it
to like it and you either love or hate it. ( Perhaps like a Harley )
I would not swap My NDK for any other boat; but I would not subject a
friend to a diatribe of how wonderfull this thing is and have someone
who does less paddling than me look closely at their very expensive
boat and spot flaw after flaw.

Oh IMPEX , I had one of those once. I still own the NDK!

Good luck, Valley has fine boat as does P & H . Watch the CD line up
as well. The WS Tempest is an unknown quantity to me but it is another
attempt at a UK / Greenland design.
NDK does lead the way once it its in the water though.