I've had my Taran since before the 16 was designed and I wouldn't swap it for anything, so I haven't actually tried a 16.... Taran is a long distance fast cruiser, it doesn't really need to be manouevrable, I'm just not sure why manoeuvrability is a consideration for this kind of boat? If you need m...

Gaping Gill may have been possible over the weekend, which would be a contender for the WORLD record, as Hull Pot, which is 3OOft long x 6O wide x 6O deep, filled to the top. GG gets a plunge pool when the chamber starts to fill - obviously this reduces the height of the drop from 3OOft... I can se...

Much easier to apply seam tape if you have a proper machine to set the temperature and pressure right. I probably wouldn't bother trying to do it myself again.
Also if you pay for proper re-seaming they usually test the seam afterwards, but that might depend on how much you pay.

Davie, I think there is hidden metalwork on the weir at the put in for the Ness Glen. I'd forgotten about that, it slices boats up well (not mine).

That's how I started, now addicted to racing! :)

Sliced through the hull on sharp rocks (x3) Creek boats or slalom boats? I lose track of the damage I have done to my slalom boats - but all with me in them (my C1 has had some lucky solo runs, but pretty sure all the damage was done with me in the driving seat, if not in control), mostly running o...

Muncher and the section immediately below can be a bit heavy/pushy, depending on what moves you are practicing but if you build up progressively you shouldn't have any real problems at HPP. As an illustration of how the moves affect how pushy the features seem: Typical moves in div 1 are into layby ...

If it is a relatively modern boat, it should sit with the lowest part of the stern just above the water when stitting still - this may be the tip, but a lot curve upwards so it may be about 2/3 of the way back, and if you turn around to see for yourself you will probably alter the trim so need to ge...

I use the peak racer for racing, so I usually don't have it done up very tight (free movement over flush fit) but it is nice and thin and should be OK for what you want, however I would also suggest checking out the sandiline racer / racer pro, they are a bit better contoured and possibly less snagg...

Probably easier to list the woods that are not toxic... or at least harmful.

www.hse.gov.uk/pUbns/wis30.pdf

I don't know any outfitters in Idaho I'm afraid, have a great trip!

Two of the main comments in the article were referring to the lack of a crotch strap for kayak- PFD AND the wide arm pitches. After some 10-15 minutes the writer noticed he started to get tiered and dropping out of the PFD... And now so many years later we see a variety of PFD's in all kind of colo...

Which part of the US?

I kayak a lot and have tried loads of different drybag brands. Last year I scrapped them all in favour of Ortlieb - I reckon you can't beat them. All of the (countless) Lomo bags I've had leak except the heavy red ones but they are inflexible especially when cold so very hard to stuff into the boat...

All buoyancy aids including race types on sale in Europe have to meet ISO 12402-5, in the US they have to meet USCG rules I think as type V (I have one somewhere, GCNPA require you to have a BA with USCG label to run the grand canyon). Most racing rules, where BAs are required, state that they must ...

Pioneered by lakes paddling legend Richard Evans. Certainly ran everything he published. Mostly in prijon probe or latterly an RPM. Anyone ticked all his becks? The probe was from eurokayak. The Probe was a prototype for the plastic version of the Topolino - they basically got the shrinkcage wrong ...

If you take the passenger seat out you can get an 18' sea kayak in, but the bow has to go under the glove box, so realistically only 1. The internal dimensions are fairly easy to find online, there is tumblehome to the sides and there is a narrow point between the wheel arches, but given the load ba...

A second hand one.

Even after trying a few boats before you choose one, there is a significant chance that after living with it for a few months you will start to wish you had chosen something slightly different - second hand boats depreciate less than new ones.

Yes, as long as you seal the foam properly when you are happy with your shape.
Some manufacturers use CNC routered foam as the basis for plugs and prototypes.
You will need to sand and polish the sealer to get the actual surface of the plug.

Seal Line, not sure which range though, I thought the ones I like were called river bags, but that isn't currently a product line, could be Discovery or Baja? Don't bother with their clear bags or viewing panels, they may have changed the clear plastic but in the past it used to stiffen and crack in...

If a "follower" is not co-operative or lacks the skill to participate, the responsibility still lies with the leader to address the problem, if necessary by refusing to let the person paddle. Taking this to it's conclusion, a bad follower should be excluded from a group? Is this not a round about w...

I think we might be in danger of overthinking this.... If you are an experienced paddler already comfortable with the way your peer group operates, then there is really no need to be thinking about any of this at all - you almost certainly are doing it all well and instinctively. If you are involve...

I think inherent in the proposition, is a concept that leadership is harder than followership, therefore you need to be able to follow in more difficult conditions than you can lead in. I disagree with this notion, especially in paddling where leadership and followership roles are complex and intert...

Where abouts on the Tees? None of the sections I know would be suitable for a boat of that age and construction even after restoration. I would take an old chisel (sharp) and try to see it it will get under the edges of the pathches and lift them off, much quicker than sanding them right down. The b...

I wondered that, it was from the era when Prijon were moulding Eskimo boats and I can't really remember which were which.

Aye that as the problem with spud-u-likes, they all missed the point that the real spud had loads of rocker making it way superior.

Mind you the Gambler was also much longer with an almost pointy bow which tended to turn inside out if you hit a rock with it.

I guess my point is if you could paddle a river youve not seen or heard of before, would you rather see a vid of it to get an idea or heat that its a grade x of whatever character? I've pretty much given up paddling new rivers and rarely paddle the ones I know any more so I don't say this with any ...

The grade gives you an idea which videos to bother watching.

I kind of agree, grades 1-4 are still useful for new paddlers.

Probably, it has sold already though and I'm not sure it is a design worthy of rescuing. Apart from the obvious split the gel coat looks pretty good, the inside is mucky and the thwarts have rotted but probably just needs a good pressure washing and a bit of polyester and chopped strand mat, and som...