WTB Mid-Weight Tandem Tripper

Took it out yesterday morning & mocked-up our tripping gear to get an idea of how it packs & where we can lash them. Also to test the short paddles it came with. It has no aft thwart so may need to add something.

Less than ideal conditions with a 35MPH sustained wind out of the NW which is now snow & 17 degrees. Yuck. Did get spun around during a particularly strong & sustained blow channeling through the narrows which I was unable to fight but we had only pillows in our packs so runnin light & tall.

I s'pose a UL of the same model would've been even more difficult to get heading in the right direction? And possibly my straight-tracking Sunrunner would've been impossible to get corrected?? Who knows.

Whatever the case we LOVE the boat and will relegate the Sunrunner to weekend picnic paddles.

mwaalen said:

I s'pose a UL of the same model would've been even more difficult to get heading in the right direction?

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I've heard this claim made many times but I've never tried to compare the same boat of different weights to directly compare.

But, to me, it doesn't really make sense. Obviously a 40 pound hull is going to feel much lighter than a 50 pound hull and if the hull is floating on the water empty (no load or people in it) it will probably get blown around easier.

But if that same hull has 300 pounds of people and gear in it I would not expect +/- 10 pounds to make any difference. Imagine you and your paddling partner each losing 5 pounds. How much effect do you think it would have on boat handling?

What I feel is more important is trimming the boat for different conditions. If the wind is blowing the bow around I'm going to want more weight in the bow. If it's blowing the stern around then I'm going to want more weight there.

Changing paddling style can make a big difference too. If the bow is being blown around the bow paddler can add a draw component to their forward stroke to help counteract this.

Kudos for getting out in the boat in this weather! We're having the same weather here in NW Iowa but it's a bit warmer. I certainly did not feel any desire to go out for a paddle this weekend.

Enjoy the new ride!

Alan

I'm glad you like the boat. I never owned one but have enjoyed paddling and tripping in one.

As far a getting turned around in the wind, the extra leverage of a longer paddle could have saved you. I take a six foot paddle and use it in a strong wind. When my bow does get blown past the point where I have to fight to keep on track I don't usually fight it. I use the momentum created by the wind and bring the boat back on track by doing a 360 degree turn. It's usually easier.

I think you are right about your straight tracking Sunrunner being harder to get corrected. I think most of the resistance when spinning a boat is from the water and not the wind. It's one reason I like a bow light trim.

Loved our Explorer. Comfortable, predictable, durable. Not what most would call a high-performance boat, but getting you there without any worries I would call performance.

Alan Gage said:

But if that same hull has 300 pounds of people and gear in it I would not expect +/- 10 pounds to make any difference. Imagine you and your paddling partner each losing 5 pounds. How much effect do you think it would have on boat handling?

What I feel is more important is trimming the boat for different conditions.

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Agreed. Trimming is much more paramount and it seems each trip I forget to do so for a day or two as the food pack lightens.

lowangle al said:

I take a six foot paddle and use it in a strong wind.

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I would like to try this but not packing one for a long trip. Heck...I've given up packing fishing gear as of last year in trade for pouched tuna.

stevet said:

Not what most would call a high-performance boat, but getting you there without any worries I would call performance.

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That is a great way to look at it. I've been hyper-focused on putting on the most miles as possible up until now.

mwaalen, I take the six foot paddle as my spare, so it's not much extra. It's usually the beefier of my two paddles so I can use it as a walking aid for stability on uneven or slippery ground. It also comes in handy for holding up the tarp. And don't forget about its' original purpose, standing to paddle. This is good for getting a better view ahead or just to give your butt a break and stretch your legs. I don't leave home without it. One more thing is that it gives you a very effective low brace.

lowangle al said:

six foot paddle as my spare, so it's not much extra. . . . It also comes in handy for holding up the tarp. And don't forget about its' original purpose, standing to paddle. This is good for getting a better view ahead or just to give your butt a break and stretch your legs.

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The Kevlar Explorer is an excellent stand up and poling canoe. Harry Rock, the national champion poler for decades, mostly used a Kevlar Explorer.

Copy that. 6' paddle for standing. I stand as often as reasonable & certainly sketchy with something much shorter. However must confess it's been over a decade since I've brought a backup paddle Please don't tell my mom.

Tonight will be spent searching competitive poling as I was not aware there was such a thing. I'll have to search the crawl space at the cabin for my old duck hunting gear. The waters around here are concerningly low.