Swan Canoe Club's, Blackwood River Trip.

At least we were able to put the tent up in the dry. However, once it started raining, late on Friday evening, it didn’t stop.

The Saturday morning paddle from Sue’s Bridge to the Shep Road campsite, about 20 kilometres, was in really good paddling conditions, if a little wet as it rained the whole time.

The Start at Sue's Bridge

 

This is a picturesque part of the Blackwood River, with steep banks, so stopping is limited to a few areas only. There are long pools, a few small rapids and trees that reach down to the river.  The wild flowers were in bloom and provided a magnificent spectacle.

Geoff in his new Creek Kayak

Magnificent Scenery Through Out The Trip

 Our group of Gisela, Gail & Colin, Jenny, Geoff E, Gill and Geoff P had an enjoyable paddle, the river level was high and the rapids, as such, were fun. Apart from one unscheduled stop the whole paddle went without incident, and was quite fast. Mind you, it was difficult to find a place to stop due to the steep banks, and the spot we selected was very muddy.  The kayak ended up caked in mud by the time I got back into it. Sea kayaking just isn’t this messy!

The Portage At The Weir Was A Chance For Something To Eat

Hauling The Kayaks Up The Slippery Slope

  

Hysterical, is probably the best way of describing the scene at the Shep Road camp site, where we finished. With a steep bank and lots of rain, the bank soon became a mud slide and was very slippery. We had to pull the kayaks up to the camp with ropes. This wasn’t so funny, it was the attempts at climbing the slippery slope by the paddlers that resulted in the amusement. One paddler, who will remain nameless, managed a full frontal face plant, in slow motion, into the mud.

Winner of the Best Dressed, Rain Wear Division

 

We had a great Saturday night, drinking red wine, chatting and actually saw some stars, between the “Sucker Gaps” in the cloud cover.

Needless to say the rain was still descending on Sunday morning and no one had the appetite to put on sodden paddling gear for the final few kilometres.  So we started the pack up. Of course, once we had finished, the rain stopped and the sun appeared.

A great weekend, the first timed I’ve paddled moving water in many years, and I surprised myself with my ability to remain up right. However, some memories did return from the old Avon Descent days.  I hate long pools, they just seem to go on forever.

Apologies for the quality of the photographs, but I did say it was raining.

Rockpool Taran – A layman’s review. A contribution by James Chapman.

As you are probably aware if you follow this blog, two sea kayaks were recently delivered to Perth from Expedition Kayaks in Sydney.  

My choice was the Valley Etain and I have already posted a report. James Chapman, a paddling friend has taken delivery of a Rockpool Taran. Now, these are two very different beasts and it will be interesting in the coming months to follow our progress with our choices.  

James has very kindly put together his first impression of the Taran, and below are his thoughts.

Thanks James for your contribution.

Background

I have been paddling a composite Wilderness Systems Tempest 170 Pro over the past 2 years.   The Tempest provides a good blend of British style sea kayak movability and fun where the water meets land with touring potential.   However, it is a bit of a compromise.   Reasonably fast (starts to want to jump out of the water at around 9km/h) but not a screamer, carries lots of gear but a bit big for surfing and bouncing off rocks.  My plan is to specialise and get a small low volume skeg boat for play and a purpose built tourer to carry all my camping toys over large distances.  It just so happens that I have started with the latter, the Rockpool Taran. 

 Tempest 170 Pro

    

 Initial Impressions:

When I think of fast sea creatures the starfish immediately comes to mind.  Google tells me that Taran is Gaelic for Thunder.  Neither of these images capture my initial impressions of the Taran.  First thoughts are how wonderfully “she” is constructed and finished and how sleek she looks.  Normally sleek and narrow equates to tippy and swims but I was wrong here.  More on this later.    

I am happy with my choice of colours.   Having spent some 30 minutes consuming cake and coffee on the water front admiring my new toy I was happy to return to a relatively cool boat.  Understanding the impact heat and sun has on Carbon and Kevlar probably a wise choice for Perth.  

 A design element of note is the large flat section running probably over half the length of the kayak.  Untested so far but I guess this the secret to the Taran’s formidable reputation downwind particularly on following swells.

Flat bottom section minimal impact on resistance, maximum impact on downwind speed.
 

On the water:

Sitting in the boat the first thing I noticed was the lower primary stability when compared with my Tempest.  My body’s natural reaction was to try and balance the boat like I was delivering a tray of coffees.  Fortunately on experimentation beyond the threat of scolding coffee there is a predictable and solid secondary stability that I know will save me many times in the future.  The key will be to relax and let the boat do its thing.  In reflection this only took 3 or 4 paddles for me to adjust.  

Should I use the rudder?   There was no wind, the Taran was tracking beautifully and the slighted edge or sweep provided immediate response.  I paid for it so I better see what it does!  Like a skeg, on deployment, it does stiffen the boat up a bit.  However, at the slightest curl of the toe you are rewarded with an immediate response.     Will take a bit of getting used to.  Initially as I drove through my legs my toes moved which had me weaving like the V8s down Mount Panorama.  Not good for speed.  So I will need to train my mind, core and feet. 

The Taran slices through the water effortlessly.  Any feeling of apprehension as a small wave or chop approaches disappears as the Taran continues to track dead straight oblivious of the disturbance.   Not sure if it’s the rocker, the flat bottom or the starfish but the ability to maintain momentum is noticeable.  Within the speed range of my initial paddles (8-10km/h) resistance appears linear.  The Taran appears to glide between strokes, if you want to go faster just pick up the cadence.  In other words good reward for effort.  

I have not had a chance to get out in some decent swell yet but have been playing in some small runners.    The Taran accelerates easily onto any semblance of a wave and to my surprise just tracks in pretty much any direction I want to go.   Just rotating the body in preparation for a stern rudder and a slight inside edge is enough to have it running across the line.  Even before I get to put the blade in the water.     The opposite brings it back in line.  

This could easily become addictive and have me searching for large following seas.

On flat water I guess that wave resistance starts to catch up with you and go exponential around 10.5km/h.    I managed a short sprint to 11.5 km/h on my Sunnto but would not be sustainable.  Using my Werner Cyprus touring paddle and pushing into an 8-12 knot head wind with small chop the boat tracked well and I don’t expect it had a big impact on speed.  Although it did drive my heart rate up.   

Sunnto Ambit Trace http://www.movescount.com/moves/move19893860

Have rolled several times with no problems.  I think it likes being the right way up more than upside down.  This is always a good start.  In fact the only issues I have had were rolling too fast necessitating a hasty low brace to avoid going over the other side.  Probably a nice problem to have.  Will see how she like rolling full of gear.  I guess the same physics applies..

Comfort:

                          Simple but very comfy cockpit – Rudder deployment cord in foreground

I had ordered the wider seat to accommodate my sturdy base…  Untested this was a risk but fortunately it fits my ass like jelly in a mould.  Not sure about that analogy.   The cockpit setup relies on a performance moulded seat with well positioned thigh braces and a very low back band.  I am used to pads along side my hips to provide support and lock me to the boat.  Initially I found the lack of lateral support in the Taran disconcerting but now realise it frees up my legs for driving and the close fitting thigh braces provide more than enough support.   I didn’t have any of those falling out of the boat moments when rolling.  

The SmartTrack rudder and footpeg system works wonderfully.  Fixed footpegs for drive and toe peddles to move the rudder.  Very small peddle movement is needed to initiate surprisingly tight turns.  Not quite low brace turn tight but probably tighter that edging.    Probably the best part of the rudder is the ease and design elegance for retracting and deployment.    The blade is spring loaded and hence wants to be down.  The single cord only really comes into play to pull it up.  Very smooth.   A proper foiled blade shows that someone understands hydrodynamics.

SmartTrack Rudder

Conclusion:

In only 4 days, and 4 paddles I am sure I have found the right kayak for me.  Fitness boat, grand tourer, slightly quirky and confusing to the slappy ski paddlers and just the challenge I needed to push my paddling skills.  Just need to think of a name now…..

Valley Kayaks Etain 17.5: First Impression.

I must start by saying that the Etain looks terrific.  It has classic British lines, with up swept bow and stern, and clean hull lines (no rudder). For me, it is the epitome of a classic expedition sea kayak. 

Please note that this is not intended as a review, I’ll leave that to more qualified kayakers, it is purely my personal impression.

From the moment I climbed into the cockpit, I knew it was going to be a good ride. In fact after about half an hour, I forgot all about the kayak and just enjoyed the trip. The fit is like a glove, everything is in the right place.

What really impressed me about the Etain:

* The hull and deck finish are excellent. The bulkheads all fit the hull and the hatches are all water tight.

* Edging the kayak is a dream; there is just so much stability. It holds the edge well and doesn’t feel twitchy or unstable.

* The knee braces fit well, although initially I was disappointed they didn’t have padding, it soon became apparent that they weren’t necessary.

* The skeg works!!!! So easy to deploy and adjust.

*The hull tracks well, and the skeg, when deployed is excellent at correcting weather cocking.

* There was little sign of broaching in the following sea, albeit only one metre high.

* Rolling was just so good, plenty of low rear deck for those lay back rolls, it just popped up.

* Speed, well this is an unknown, as I paddled solo on this occasion. It is impossible to judge accurately, but I certainly appeared to be tracking along with ease and I didn’t feel tired after the paddle. The hull appears to be easily driven.

My thanks go to Mark Sundin of Expedition Kayaks, Sydney, for his advice. We spoke at some length about what I needed and what I’d paddled in the past, also I indicated that I wanted a kayak that would get me home, if I was caught out in bad weather. From that he narrowed the choice down to the Etain. I bought it unsighted and untried. Even though all the reviews were favourable, until you paddle it you never know.

Well, overall I am very pleased with the Etain 17.5, it’s just what I’m looking for in a sea kayak. The Etain appears to be without vices and ticks all the boxes. Does that make it boring? Well no, it makes it a kayak that you can do lots with and push your own envelope, knowing that it won’t let you down.

I’m looking forward to a summer of sea kayaking ……………….

Expedition Kayaks Deliver The Valley Etain To WA .......(Plus The Rockpool Taran)

It's here !  The Valley Etain arrived today, only a few days after the provisional delivery date. Well wrapped in bubble wrap I'm pleased to say it is in one piece.  Well done Expedition Kayaks you managed to do what the local kayak shop couldn't, deliver the product. And thanks also to Richard who drove across the Nullaboor and got both the Etain and the Taran here without damage.

Tangerine deck with white hull, the Etain just looks awesome!  Needless to say I can't wait to get it on the sea.

James was heading off this afternoon to paddle his Taran, but I will have to wait until tomorrow. The forecast looks good so I may well head for Woodman Point for "sea trials". I will be posting my first impressions in a day or two.

One happy paddler with new toy!

The Taran looks superb ( not quite as awesome as the Etain, of course. But I'm biased) the stars set off the white hull and deck and the whole kayak has been really well finished. More in a later post about James's first impressions.