Hi Charlie,

In the absence of any more learned contributions (I am _not_ a top notch
playboater):

An RPM is going to be huge on you. I think you need a boat that you can
get to fit you very snug and with a flattish bottom and rails. Whatever
you do you will want to change it in a year - it's the deal! I always do
.... Not sure of exact boat - I've been out of touch this year and that is
all it takes. I like Eskimo boats myself and paddle a Quadro (as I am
over 80 Kg). Some will laugh but I love this in the UK (I paddle up to
sort of grade 4 fairly solidly and can flat spin and loop on a very good
day. I have been known to land a cartwheel...) In the Alps when I last
went a year or so ago I paddled a Dagger GTX which definitely got me over
some holes that would have eaten me in the Quadro. It is bigger volume
but pretty responsive (I don't think you could do any complex moves in it
rodeo wise). They do (did?) a smaller version, the GT. In a perfect
world I suspect you would have a boat for sea surf, another for Hurley, a
third for the Alps and a creeking boat for rushing out of the house when
it is raining hard (if you live in Wales, Scotland or the South West of
England.

Playboating - I recommend getting hold of "Playboater" - Heather Gunn's
mag (it has a website). My personal definition is enjoying yourself on or
going down a river doing things other than nailing solid eddies etc - so
almost anything goes with respect to "moves". In competition though the
moves have got more and more complex and frankly astounding as far as I am
concerned.

Keyhole decks - they all are these days. It is a comparison with tiny
round cockpits you see. You had to perform an odd manoeuvre of basically
feeding the boat forward off your legs. I used to surf an old GRP slalom
boat with one in the seventies and very frightening it was when you blew
the roll and had to get out in the soup!

Whatever you do I hope you have a blast!

David




In article , AMorg
..uk (Charlie) wrote:

Started kayaking a few months ago and am now wanting my own boat (I got
the