Today it was very foggy. When Jos asked me if I was interested in a Sunday-paddle I thought this to be an ideal opportunity for wet-exercises with the 18XS. May be even a last opportunity before weather and water turns nasty cold.
For today Jos organized hot chocolate-milk and I a film-camera.
For a test I usually try the following wet exercises with the testkayak:
the high brace
In fact I have no comments: the high brace is easy to perform in this kayak
scullingIs also easy
rolling Probably thanks to her high volume the 18XS floats high and is easy to roll
re-entry & roll
The big cockpit allows for easy entrance and my knees found instinctively the correct positions for rolling up. Rolling up was easy in spite of the waterlogged cockpit.
X-rescue
The cockpit was easily drained by lifting the stern: the bulkhead was positioned directly after the seat thus allowing almost all water to be drained. Once the kayak is emptied it is, thanks to her low weight, easy to pull her on deck and through to the other side.
My rescuer did not miss any decklines although they miss directly behind the seat and even a small part is elastic. He compensated for this to grab the cockpitrim.
Entering the cockpit was also easy: a big cockpit and a backrest which is stabilized perfectly and does not flip over when you let yourself glide into the seat.
Except for this wet exercises we made a tour n the Alkmaardermeer. Although this was not the first time I paddled in of course, I felt a bit unstable in this world without horizon. Funny: it must have something to do with the primary stability. And yes, when we had a break in the middle of the lake where the surface looked like a mirror, I noticed that I made often hip-corrections. So: primary stability is not very high. The secondary stability is much better. And that is may be the reason that I did not notice before that the primary stability is low. Because of waves you come instantly in the secondary stability not depending on the primary stability.
Other observations are that the retractable fin does not reach its lowest position anymore. May be because of some pollution: I will have a look later.
Furthermore I noticed some starting corrosion at the pivot-screws of the levers which close the hatches.
And: these levers are difficult to open when your fingers are cold.