John F comments:
==============
The obvious solution, of course, it to
buy a solo kayak. While the Necky Amaruk is fine affordable tandem,
it's
just not intended for solo paddling.
================

As I've just purchased the Amaruk, I'm quite sure a solo is not in the
budget.

Perhaps I'm too obtuse or don't want to get the message "don't do it"
if that's what people are saying. Or are they saying it's not ideal?

I'm willing to deal with less than ideal conditions in terms of things
like paddling harder and moving slower. What I really need, however, is
people with expertise to weigh in with input on the extent this becomes
a safety issue. For example, by way of comparison (if that's even
possible), would I be safer in a 13'7"x24" Necky Zoar solo kayak or the
17'10"x28.5" Amaruk tandem (paddling solo - with about 100 pounds of
weight foreward)?

As an inexperienced kayaker, I realise my fixation on simply putting
weight in the foreward cockpit or hatch may be completely nutty and too
simplistic and may be missing other important variables. That's where
I'd appreciate the veterans' input.

As an aside (don't let my wife see this), I'm not sure my wife would
constitute much more than just dead weight (although more than 100
pounds).

Supplementary question: on longer, group expeditions, would a tandem
kayak be used (solo) to freight provisions?

frtzw906

I think you just need to go try it out. With the knowledge that you have a
disadvantage in high wind or strong current. With these in mind I think you
will be able to enjoy solo time in your boat. I have seen a very large
double used solo to gather firewood and it worked quite well. While you may
be limited in the conditions that you may use the boat solo there should be
no reason not to go out to a nice protected area and see how it feels.

--- This disadvantage could result in not being able to get back to shore.
Please explore the boats operation someplace where this is not a problem.
i.e. - Lake not Ocean

Ken

"BCITORGB" wrote in message
oups.com...
John F comments:
==============
The obvious solution, of course, it to
buy a solo kayak. While the Necky Amaruk is fine affordable tandem,
it's
just not intended for solo paddling.
================

As I've just purchased the Amaruk, I'm quite sure a solo is not in the
budget.

Perhaps I'm too obtuse or don't want to get the message "don't do it"
if that's what people are saying. Or are they saying it's not ideal?

I'm willing to deal with less than ideal conditions in terms of things
like paddling harder and moving slower. What I really need, however, is
people with expertise to weigh in with input on the extent this becomes
a safety issue. For example, by way of comparison (if that's even
possible), would I be safer in a 13'7"x24" Necky Zoar solo kayak or the
17'10"x28.5" Amaruk tandem (paddling solo - with about 100 pounds of
weight foreward)?

As an inexperienced kayaker, I realise my fixation on simply putting
weight in the foreward cockpit or hatch may be completely nutty and too
simplistic and may be missing other important variables. That's where
I'd appreciate the veterans' input.

As an aside (don't let my wife see this), I'm not sure my wife would
constitute much more than just dead weight (although more than 100
pounds).

Supplementary question: on longer, group expeditions, would a tandem
kayak be used (solo) to freight provisions?

frtzw906

No spam said:
=================
While you may
be limited in the conditions that you may use the boat solo there
should be
no reason not to go out to a nice protected area and see how it feels.
==================

Thanks! That might be a good start. I'm within minutes of a bay where I
could paddle for almost 2 hours and never have to be more than a few
meters from the shore (and where the shore is lined with residential
neighborhoods). That seems safe enough.

When I've tried it, I'll report back.

Cheers,
Wilf
================

Back to my original "dead weight" question.

I tried paddling solo with 24 liters of water as dead weight in the
forward cockpit. The conditions were ideal for this experiment, and I
can report complete success. The rudder on the Amaruk is AWESOME.
Further, I did not feel that the bow was riding too high.

Trip Report:
C:\My Web Sites\pedalpaddleinbc\k050314buntzen.htm

Cheers, and thanks for the help
Wilf

Trip Report:
http://ca.geocities.com/pedalpaddlei...314buntzen.htm

Sorry for the earlier reference to my harddrive...

Wilf

Terrific glad to hear it worked out.

Ken.

"BCITORGB" wrote in message
ups.com...
Back to my original "dead weight" question.

I tried paddling solo with 24 liters of water as dead weight in the
forward cockpit. The conditions were ideal for this experiment, and I
can report complete success. The rudder on the Amaruk is AWESOME.
Further, I did not feel that the bow was riding too high.

Trip Report:
C:\My Web Sites\pedalpaddleinbc\k050314buntzen.htm

Cheers, and thanks for the help
Wilf

"BCITORGB" wrote in message
oups.com...
John F comments:
==============
The obvious solution, of course, it to
buy a solo kayak. While the Necky Amaruk is fine affordable tandem,
it's
just not intended for solo paddling.
================

As I've just purchased the Amaruk, I'm quite sure a solo is not in the
budget.

Perhaps I'm too obtuse or don't want to get the message "don't do it"
if that's what people are saying. Or are they saying it's not ideal?

I'm willing to deal with less than ideal conditions in terms of things
like paddling harder and moving slower. What I really need, however, is
people with expertise to weigh in with input on the extent this becomes
a safety issue. For example, by way of comparison (if that's even
possible), would I be safer in a 13'7"x24" Necky Zoar solo kayak or the
17'10"x28.5" Amaruk tandem (paddling solo - with about 100 pounds of
weight foreward)?

As an inexperienced kayaker, I realise my fixation on simply putting
weight in the foreward cockpit or hatch may be completely nutty and too
simplistic and may be missing other important variables. That's where
I'd appreciate the veterans' input...

I can only speculate about kayaks, but I've done this many times in a 17
foot aluminum canoe. On occasions when I couldn't conveniently find enough
weight (I tended to rely on whatever I could find where I launched) the bow
would ride high and could get squirrelly in wind, otherwise it worked
beautifully. Obviously, it helps to get the weight as far forward as
possible. I'd guess I typically used about 60-75 lbs. or so forward of the
front seat.

Here's the speculation part: From what little I've seen of them, the seats
in two seater kayaks appear to be closer together and nearer the center of
the boat than is typical in a canoe. In theory, this means anyone soloing
from the back seat would have less affect on trim than in a canoe, and it
should be easier to balance. Unfortunately, the other seat is also closer
to center which means it would take more weight to counterbalance there. On
the other hand, if there is a forward hatch or some other way to get weight
up near the bow, it would take considerably less to do the job.

I can't think of any reason that dead weight should be a safety issue. I've
never paddled one of these boats, so I have no idea whether paddling alone
is a safety issue........but I wouldn't hesitate to try it myself.

Wolfgang

Wolfgang says:
==============
In theory, this means anyone soloing
from the back seat would have less affect on trim than in a canoe, and
it
should be easier to balance. Unfortunately, the other seat is also
closer
to center which means it would take more weight to counterbalance
there. On
the other hand, if there is a forward hatch or some other way to get
weight
up near the bow, it would take considerably less to do the job.
===============

Wolfgang, that was pretty much my thinking as well, but I thought,
given the wealth of experience around this forum, that I'd ask.

It would be just like me to have given this a theoretical one-over,
only to have missed some fairly obvious practical variables. As a
lifetime klutz, I speak from experience. If it can be screwed up, I'll
be the one to do it (reality NEVER correlates with my abstractions!).

Wilf
=============

"BCITORGB" wrote in message
ups.com...
Wolfgang says:
==============
In theory, this means anyone soloing
from the back seat would have less affect on trim than in a canoe, and
it
should be easier to balance. Unfortunately, the other seat is also
closer
to center which means it would take more weight to counterbalance
there. On
the other hand, if there is a forward hatch or some other way to get
weight
up near the bow, it would take considerably less to do the job.
===============

Wolfgang, that was pretty much my thinking as well, but I thought,
given the wealth of experience around this forum, that I'd ask.

It would be just like me to have given this a theoretical one-over,
only to have missed some fairly obvious practical variables. As a
lifetime klutz, I speak from experience. If it can be screwed up, I'll
be the one to do it (reality NEVER correlates with my abstractions!).

So, what's the worst that can happen? You die, right?

Wolfgang
um.......you won't sue me, will you?

Wolfgang opines:
=============
So, what's the worst that can happen? You die, right?

Wolfgang
um.......you won't sue me, will you?
====================

On the second point, my name's neither Tinker nor Weiser.

On the first point, in light of the reaction you got on the Florida
accident thread, I'll just leaving sleeping dogs lie. My theoretical
abstractions never include death, but, with reality, you can never be
sure.

Wilf