MikeD wrote, "A Nordkapp is seriously pleasing to the eye. But it's the bastardised spawn of something intended to be used to stalk acquatic prey in calm water, NOT to be a tourer used in big seas to carry a load." This is hard to follow. If he is saying the Nordkapp is different from (albeit, the b...

Rainer said,"NDK Explorer is one of the few UK boats suitable for rough water and following seas". I must disagree. Almost without exception the British boats are highly seaworthy. As well as the Explorer, the NDK Romany and the Greenlander both handle well in rough water and a following sea. For Va...

Weather cocking (or lee cocking) results from a difference in lateral resistance between the part of the kayak that is forward of its pivot point and the part of the kayak that is astern of the pivot point. In other words, if the stern gets pushed sideways by wind & waves more than the bow, then the...

The phrase "Greenland style kayak" gets used loosely. I use it to refer to a kayak that is similar to those that have been used in Greenland. These were hunting boats, principally for seals. They didn't carry cargo. They didn't need much volume. They could be narrow (low stability) because those who...

I can't speak about how This is the Sea has affected paddling in Britain, but around here (Newfoundland, Canada) the videos are seen a lot like ski videos. Guys just watch them and say, "Hey, that's a cool move" or "What's so great about that?" It's fun, but no one pays a whole lot of attention. The...

I have a Nordkapp HS, a Nordkapp Jubilee and a Nordkapp LV. I used to have a Nordkapp HM. Bottom line: a Nordkapp is a Nordkapp is a Nordkapp. The HM is hard to turn. The ocean cockpit in the HS & HM are inconvenient. The Nordkapp Jubilee and the Nordkapp LV are almost indistinguishable. The differe...

MikeB wrote, "There are minor differences between the HS/HM and the other H variations - the Jubilee is a totally different boat, only sharing the name." I've read other reviews to this effect, and used to believe them. But, I don't any more. I have a Jubilee and an HS; this year I sold my HM. On se...

DominiqueS wrote, How can "I've sat in a Nordkapp RM, but never paddled one" lead to "In my view, any Nordkapp would be a difficult kayak to learn in"? The answer is that all Nordkapps are fundamentally the same. I've owned a Jubilee, an HS and an HM. They're all the same kayak, with minor variation...

I paddle a Nordkapp Jubilee and a Nordkapp HS. I've also paddled a Nordkapp HM and (one day) a Nordkapp LV. I've sat in a Nordkapp RM, but never paddled one. I've paddled (one day) both an Aquanaut and an Aquanaut RM LV. Lots of other kayaks, too. In my view, any Nordkapp would be a difficult kayak ...

My (Really) Simple "How To Surf a Sea Kayak" I'm talking about surfing at the shore, not in a following sea on open water. As well, this is the (Really) Simple version, with lots of important detail left out to keep things simple. (1) Toward the Beach Well, that's how it starts, anyway. Point the ka...

I have a Nordkapp Jubilee & a Nordkapp HS. I've paddled a Nordkapp HM on a 13 day trip. I've also paddled and have on order a Nordkapp LV. I am a tremendous fan of the Nordkapp. But, I cannot imagine starting to kayak with this boat. It is quite demanding (and also quite rewarding). Try something ea...

Why bother if you have an NDK kayak or a SKUK kayak? The boat should the same. The label is of no consequence. ("A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.") If it's well made, fortune smiles upon you. If not, then your problem is the kayak, not the label. P.S. I've had a Hydro-Skeg fitted on my...

I'm contemplating buying a Valley Rapier 18 or a Valley Rapier 20. It's rough water here (Newfoundland). That seems to point to the 18. But, maybe the 20 is do-able & faster. I'd welcome any & all advice.

Here's the web address for Ebb & Flow

http://www.kayakers.nf.ca/club_activiti ... b_flow.htm

Ebb & Flow is the magazine of Kayak Newfoundland and Labrador. It is both a local, club magazine and far more. First, it features both sea kayaking and whitewater. Second, paddling in Newfoundland along exposed coasts is high end paddling; the trip reports reflect this. Third, there are lots of tech...

What is perhaps an obvious point, with a deck-mounted tow line it's important to keep the rear deck clear of objects in which the tow line could become entangled. Thus, when I went from a waist-mounted tow system to a deck-mounted system, I moved my spare paddle from the rear deck to the fore deck. ...

You need a kayak that has (1) a cockpit with a adequate depth, width & length. (2) a hull with adequate volume so it doesn't sit too low in the water I like British kayaks (I usually paddle a Nordkapp), but they're not well suited for bigger guys. The Valley Aquanaut HV looks to me to be the best ca...

The Wilderness Systems Tempest comes in three sizes: 165 (16 feet 6 inches), 170 (17 feet) and 180 (18 feet). The larger boats are also slightly wider and deeper. The 165 is for smaller paddlers/day use. The 170 can be used for day paddling or light touring. The 180 is for larger paddlers/touring. T...

The Nordkapp RM is only slightly smaller than the Jubilee (the "full size" Nordkapp). It has carrying capacity roughly the same as an NDK Explorer. The forward bulkhead in the cockpit is very far forward. In my Jubilee, there's about 2 inches between my feet and the bulkhead; in the RM it's about 7 ...

I find the Paddle Canada classification useful. Flat Water Enclosed and sheltered with easy landing options immediately present. Calm winds (less than 8 knots), Sea state: calm to rippled. Level 1 Conditions Sheltered waters with uninterrupted easy landing options. Light winds (0-11 knots), Current:...

Eagerly I await the DVD in North American format. There's NOTHING made in North America about rough water. That said, I agree with Robert Craig, what's missing is paddling on the ocean. (The only time I've seen that is in "Amphibious Man"; storm conditions are a small part of this video about Greenl...

I owned an NDK Explorer. I have an NDK Romany, an NDK Greenlander Pro, a Valley Nordkapp and a Valley Anas Acuta. I have paddled (and have on order) a Valley Nordkapp LV. In my view, these are all very good kayaks. The NDK Explorer is the most versatile; it does everything well, even if it does noth...

Water temperature where I paddle ... Newfoundland ... is 2-5 degrees this time of year. (It's the Labrador Current, water flowing down from between Baffin Island and Greenland; even in summer, the water is cold.) We dress for immersion, because if things go wrong and you end up in the water for more...

So, one of these days Mac will figure out how to use his camera.

Malcolm

P.S. We're East of Cape Spear, the most easterly point in North America. http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2 ... 4886fnNHIB

"The Jubilee differs considerably from the original Nordkapp - the former has secondary stability but the latter doesn't (much)." I have a Nordkapp Jubilee (in North America an H2O). I also have a Nordkapp HS, the original design. They are different from the waterline up, e.g. ocean cockpit vs. keyh...

I have removed the factory back bands from my Valley & NDK boats and replaced them with whitewater back bands. These help maintain a snug (but not tight) fit in the cockpit. The back band support is behind my hip bones; this helps especially with efficient power transfer on the forward stroke. The b...

http://image58.webshots.com/658/8/9/62/2067809620099344886ZSnPWL_fs.jpg This photo was taken May 4 off Cape Spear, the most easterly point in North America. I'm looking back toward the entrance to St. John's Harbour (aptly named the Narrows). On the right is an iceberg; plenty of them this year. P....

I have paddled the regular size Aquanaut and the LV; I haven't paddled the HV. The difference among these boats is depth. I weigh 175 pounds and am six feet tall. I found the regular size Aquanaut to be an easy fit, while the LV is a snug fit. I'm sure I'd find the HV a loose fit. Beyond fit, there ...

I have a pouch containing my tow line attached with velcro to the rear deck. I have been hit by a two metre breaking wave and the pouch stayed put.

In my case, even if the velcro failed to hold the pouch in place I wouldn't lose it because the end of the tow rope is run through a jam cleat.