I took a calabria for a short test ride. I liked it but would like some comments from others before I buy. I currently have a 9'5" beginner kayak. I like it but the calabria is easier to move will not be taking any sea paddles. Just large rivers and small lakes less than a mile long. There is some whitewater but very easy to get through possibly class two?

I just got one a week ago. I'm a newbie, but I live on a l5 mile long ake and wanted to take up kayaking. I wanted just a bit more than a stable barge and based on my research bought the Calabria. Got it at a steep discount, $710. If you're near Massachussets I can point you to a used one which I decided to pass on.

I've tipped it a couple of times getting into it off a dock, but I'm getting better at that. Once on the water it handle great, and I'm already getting into controlling it by leaning and with my hips. Looks to be a fun summer.

Here's a link to more reviews that I found during my research: http://www.paddling.net/Reviews/show....html?prod=547

Radu
"techrat" wrote in message ...
I took a calabria for a short test ride. I liked it but would like some comments from others before I buy. I currently have a 9'5" beginner kayak. I like it but the calabria is easier to move will not be taking any sea paddles. Just large rivers and small lakes less than a mile long. There is some whitewater but very easy to get through possibly class two?

Thank you. You have been a big help.
techrat
"Radu Tenenbaum" wrote in message ...
I just got one a week ago. I'm a newbie, but I live on a l5 mile long ake and wanted to take up kayaking. I wanted just a bit more than a stable barge and based on my research bought the Calabria. Got it at a steep discount, $710. If you're near Massachussets I can point you to a used one which I decided to pass on.

I've tipped it a couple of times getting into it off a dock, but I'm getting better at that. Once on the water it handle great, and I'm already getting into controlling it by leaning and with my hips. Looks to be a fun summer.

Here's a link to more reviews that I found during my research: http://www.paddling.net/Reviews/show....html?prod=547

Radu

"Radu Tenenbaum" wrote in
:

I just got one a week ago. I'm a newbie, but I live on a l5 mile long
ake and wanted to take up kayaking. I wanted just a bit more than a
stable barge and based on my research bought the Calabria. Got it at a
steep discount, $710. If you're near Massachussets I can point you to
a used one which I decided to pass on.

You ended up with a Calabria? It's a nice light touring boat though it
would be better if it had a forward bulkhead and hatch. A friend of mine
sells them so I've had a chance to try one out a few times. It should serve
you well and not limit the development of your skills. It's not the easiest
boat to learn to roll in but I've rolled it several times without a problem.
I also know of a used one for sale here in Ithaca.

I should add one more thing, this one a negative. I just got a spray skirt and it's very difficult to get on and keep on. It keeps slipping off. It would be nice if the lip around the cockpit was more pronounced so that the bungee could get a better grip.

Radu
"Radu Tenenbaum" wrote in message ...
I just got one a week ago. I'm a newbie, but I live on a l5 mile long ake and wanted to take up kayaking. I wanted just a bit more than a stable barge and based on my research bought the Calabria. Got it at a steep discount, $710. If you're near Massachussets I can point you to a used one which I decided to pass on.

I've tipped it a couple of times getting into it off a dock, but I'm getting better at that. Once on the water it handle great, and I'm already getting into controlling it by leaning and with my hips. Looks to be a fun summer.

Here's a link to more reviews that I found during my research: http://www.paddling.net/Reviews/show....html?prod=547

Radu
"techrat" wrote in message ...
I took a calabria for a short test ride. I liked it but would like some comments from others before I buy. I currently have a 9'5" beginner kayak. I like it but the calabria is easier to move will not be taking any sea paddles. Just large rivers and small lakes less than a mile long. There is some whitewater but very easy to get through possibly class two?

"Radu Tenenbaum" wrote in
:

I should add one more thing, this one a negative. I just got a spray
skirt and it's very difficult to get on and keep on. It keeps slipping
off. It would be nice if the lip around the cockpit was more
pronounced so that the bungee could get a better grip.

That's fairly common with plastic boats. It's hard to get fine edge on the
cockpit rim with a plastic layup. What kind of sprayskirt did you get? Any
chance of returning it and finding one that fits better? BTW, if your skirt
is neopreme try getting it wet before putting it on. If it's slipping off
on the sides, the skirt may just not be wide enough.

It's the WildWasser Baja Deck. It's made specifically for Prijon boats.
It's the cheapest model, though, at $56. Maybe I'll get better at getting
it on, but for now, a third hand would be handy.

Radu


"John Fereira" wrote in message
.. .
"Radu Tenenbaum" wrote in
:

I should add one more thing, this one a negative. I just got a spray
skirt and it's very difficult to get on and keep on. It keeps slipping
off. It would be nice if the lip around the cockpit was more
pronounced so that the bungee could get a better grip.

That's fairly common with plastic boats. It's hard to get fine edge on
the
cockpit rim with a plastic layup. What kind of sprayskirt did you get?
Any
chance of returning it and finding one that fits better? BTW, if your
skirt
is neopreme try getting it wet before putting it on. If it's slipping off
on the sides, the skirt may just not be wide enough.

in article , Radu Tenenbaum at
wrote on 5/7/04 6:52 PM:

It's the WildWasser Baja Deck. It's made specifically for Prijon boats.
It's the cheapest model, though, at $56. Maybe I'll get better at getting
it on, but for now, a third hand would be handy.

Radu


This is particularly problematic in Prijon boats. The Prijon coaming
undercut is the most shallow of all the plastic boats I've seen. I have a
Kodiak and use a Wildwasser spray deck made specifially for that boat. It
was hard to keep on. I cut off the neoprene flange that Wildwasser (used
to?) sew to the rand to reduce the amount of material that has to fit under
the coaming. Then I went to the hardware store and bought some Shoo Goo and
applied a thin layer all around the inside of the rand. Deck stays put now
and does not leak.

DV




"John Fereira" wrote in message
.. .
"Radu Tenenbaum" wrote in
:

I should add one more thing, this one a negative. I just got a spray
skirt and it's very difficult to get on and keep on. It keeps slipping
off. It would be nice if the lip around the cockpit was more
pronounced so that the bungee could get a better grip.

That's fairly common with plastic boats. It's hard to get fine edge on
the
cockpit rim with a plastic layup. What kind of sprayskirt did you get?
Any
chance of returning it and finding one that fits better? BTW, if your
skirt
is neopreme try getting it wet before putting it on. If it's slipping off
on the sides, the skirt may just not be wide enough.

"Radu Tenenbaum" wrote in
:

It's the WildWasser Baja Deck. It's made specifically for Prijon
boats. It's the cheapest model, though, at $56. Maybe I'll get better
at getting it on, but for now, a third hand would be handy.


Even the most experienced kayakers will need a third hand with a poorly
fitting spray skirt. A few years ago I took a forward strokes class with
Chris Duff. He was used a boat and skirt provided by the symposium and was
having a heck of a time getting the skirt on. He asked me for a hand so I
helped him by holding down the back while he got the skirt around and
adjusted. If you don't know Chris, he has probably paddled more long
distance solo expeditions than anyone in the world in the past 10 years.
His accomplishments include a circumnavigation of all of the British Isles
(including Ireland), the south island of New Zealand, and most recently,
Iceland (though that wasn't solo).

in article , Radu Tenenbaum at
wrote on 5/7/04 6:52 PM:

It's the WildWasser Baja Deck. It's made specifically for Prijon boats.
It's the cheapest model, though, at $56. Maybe I'll get better at getting
it on, but for now, a third hand would be handy.



Also: At the time I bought my Prijon and Wildwasser skirt, there were 2
sizes of cockpit in the prijon plastic touring line. Large and Super. It
is "possible" to get the large deck onto the super keyhole cockpit coaming
but it is a major struggle. The correctly sized spray deck that I have pops
on easily. Is it possible that you somehow got the wrong size skirt? A
skirt that is slightly too small, even if you get it on, will not stay on
well.

DV




Radu


"John Fereira" wrote in message
.. .
"Radu Tenenbaum" wrote in
:

I should add one more thing, this one a negative. I just got a spray
skirt and it's very difficult to get on and keep on. It keeps slipping
off. It would be nice if the lip around the cockpit was more
pronounced so that the bungee could get a better grip.

That's fairly common with plastic boats. It's hard to get fine edge on
the
cockpit rim with a plastic layup. What kind of sprayskirt did you get?
Any
chance of returning it and finding one that fits better? BTW, if your
skirt
is neopreme try getting it wet before putting it on. If it's slipping off
on the sides, the skirt may just not be wide enough.