Practice. You should be able to feather or ease the tension on the retrieval line as the rudder kicks up. The rudder will still hit the deck but you should be able to reduce the force of impact.

There is also a V shaped fitting that can be installed on the deck that centers the blade.

When I was playing at racing canoe slalom during the late 80s-early 90s it was common to paddle upstream as part of training. If I remember correctly it was called attainment.

I do not have a specific reply but this video may provide some inspiration. Girls go Round: Corsica

Good one

There are two ways I know of that will apply friction in the skeg system to allow adjustability in deployment. 1. Introduce a slight bow in the stainless wire within the slider box. The wire runs through the aft end, through the ball pinched by a set screw, and through the forward end. 2. If you are...

I have owned four ocean cockpit kayaks since the late 1980s, two Nordkapps, one Anas Acuta and a Pintail. Having let many paddlers try these boats over the years, the single most frequent complaint was of a claustrophobic feeling from being in the smaller cockpit opening. If that is a prevailing min...

You could search used listings and post your findings here for advice on specific kayak models. There is a broad base of knowledge on here regarding kayak models, also in the almanac there is a great deal of information on many models. In these evaluations it is also helpful to describe yourself. Yo...

All good comments, the only thing I would add is to look for second hand kayaks. You’ll save money over new prices and won’t loose much when it is time to upgrade and sell.

I am also cursed with long legs. Another factor to consider besides the overall coaming length is the position of the seat and back band. When shopping for a kayak from afar, and if in doubt, I ask for a measurement from the back of the seat to the forward edge of the coaming. I also ask for a measu...

Please do, I love seeing old kayaks brought back to life.

Are you able to post pictures? As you mentioned Valley gelcoat is quite thick. You may be able to get away with a proper gelcoat repair in the damaged areas and then do a light sand, buff and polish to the rest of the kayak. I have never been a fan of flow coating an entire kayak or hull.

These are the closest I have found. A bit big but may be able to modify or use larger cord or bungee.

https://sealectdesigns.com/groups/3486- ... k-w-sleeve

Are you talking about the little black plastic hook which is attached to the deck lines via a short tether/line?

You could try these three things. Adjust squelch, this will create more static noise but may bring out distant broadcasts. It does require careful listening through the static. Check and clean antenna connection. Try listening later at night. When I used to work aboard ship, long range communication...

It would have been nice if the video presenter showed more detail of the kayak; features like the skeg/slider, cockpit and seat arrangements.

Gorgeous!!

I finally saw a new Tiderace built by Nelo, an Xceed XS in carbon/epoxy construction. I know there is more to a kayak than appearance but this example was pretty remarkable in the qualities of fit and finish. The Nelo build quality seems a big step up from my Cobra built Xtra.

This thread needs pictures.

I have not owned a surfski for roughly five years, so I will not comment on the latest and greatest but will mention that if your local river has underwater hazards not easily seen then a surfski with an over the stern rudder option may be worth considering. Regarding your option 3, you mentioned yo...

Being cursed with long legs my shins and knees certainly do not miss the ocean cockpit.

I forgot to mention, the Aqua-Bound Bilgemaster is 17 3/4” long.

My seat is all the way back so I can't fit anything behind my back band. Also, my pump is too long to fit cross-wise in the kayak. I've tried several friends pumps to see if a slightly shorter pump will fit any better but so far nothing. What brand and length are your pumps that you're able to fit ...

I am not 100 percent sure but believe 5mm.

I too store the pump behind the backrest in a pre-Forti Nordkapp with no problem.

I have the same outlook as pugwash, I too have both wood and carbon and cannot decide which is preferred. I was lucky to buy both from a local shop that had them on closeout.

That is unfortunate, and possibly a bit odd, they do not have any demo Rockpools available

Someone above mentioned the Rockpool GT. Rockpool makes excellent kayaks and I see they have a dealer in Belgium. If the Cetus does not work Rockpool may be worth a look.

Down toward the bottom of the first page there is a thread about sea kayak for big guys. If you have not seen it, you may find a few ideas there. It may be helpful if you post which brands of kayaks are available in your area. I have an older Valley Nordkapp from 2010 that has extra room for my size...

It may be helpful to provide more information.

What is the right boat?

What is suitable?

Found it and here is the video link.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=we ... ORM=VRDGAR