John Fereira wrote:
Brian Nystrom wrote in news:0K8rd.76575$7i4.55243
@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net:


Vee wrote:

I am buying my first kayak but have been renting and demoing for a
couple of years. I have narrowed my choices to 3 similar boats. I am
very interested in hearing from those that own or have used these
boats for a period of time.
The boats are VCP Skerray RMX, CD Sirocco, and P&H Cappella 166 RM.


The kayaks on your list are very different boats.

The Passage is at the crossover point between recreational boats and
true sea kayaks. It's pretty capable in rough water, but it's a too
short, too wide and a bit too stable to be optimum. It's also rather
slow, which can be a real handicap on longer days. It tracks moderately
strongly compared to the others. It's a great boat for what it is and it
served me well. If its size and capabilities suit your needs, it would
be a good choice.


Good description of the Passage. It's also worth mentioning that it's
probably the shortest boat on the market that comes equipped with a skeg. I
found that it tracks reasonably well without the skeg deployed but improves
considerabled when dropped. Unlike another boat I won't mention the Passage
is a boat that has been made better with the addition of the skeg.


The Skerray is a very maneuverable boat, essentially a "plastic
Pintail". It's very confidence inspiring in rough water and seems to be
a bit faster than a Pintail. It's definitely faster than a Passage and
feels far more "spirited". I like the boat a lot. I would own one for
teaching and rock play if I could justify buying another boat.


What a terrific assessment of the Skerray, though the Skerray RM is actually
essentially a plastic Skerray. "Spirited" is a very good description of how
it paddles. It's just a fun boat to paddle. Do you really think the Skerray
(I assume you mean the composite version) is faster than a Pintail?

Actually, I was referring to the Skerray RM and yes, it seems a bit
faster, but perhaps it's just that I consider my Pintail to be a real
pig on flat water. It's the best rough water boat I've ever paddled and
I wouldn't want to be without a pre-'95 Pintail in the "fleet", but it's
drudgery to paddle when it's dead-flat-calm and I'm trying to keep up
with other paddlers in higher performance boats. As you know, it pretty
much "hits a wall" at around 4 knots. I have to admit that I've never
paddled these boats back to back, so perhaps I'm mistaken about the
speed difference.

I have
used mine for teaching and it's a good fit for that, although when I'm
demonstrating sweep turns or low brace turns I often feeling like I'm
cheating because it's so easy. I often have to explain to students that my
boat has a lot to do with how effective the turning strokes are.

Fun, isn't it? That's why I use my Pintail for instructing. My first
instructor (when I was paddling the Passage) paddled a Skerray and I
just assumed that the difference in our abilities was all a matter of
skill. Little did I know that he was cheating...

Would you be interested in a fiberglass version with an ocean cockpit? I've
considered selling mine (but always change my mind when I get out and paddle
it again) and might consider selling it to someone I know would appreciate
it.

I should hate you for tempting me like that! ;-)

Actually, there wouldn't be much point in my getting a 'glass Skerray,
since it wouldn't be much different from the Pintail. I would like to
have an RM for teaching and rock bashing, and had a line on one a while
back, but I just can't swing it right now.