J-180

[RBourg]

I am seeking any advice, hints, tips etc. for outfitting and successfully racing an older j-180. I picked it up last year and struggled through one race, I am sure that I need more time in it and I am most interested in seat,foot placement and seat height mods that may be effective. I have not swamped it yet, but nearly did so in the frenzy of my first race start.

 

[Alan Gage]

I used to have a J-180. I swamped it plenty of times. I never did get used to it. The part that drove me nuts is that I never felt unstable. The primary stability feels pretty good. It's just that there seems to be no secondary stability after you dip the wing. I'd be paddling along just fine until some light boat wakes would catch me from the rear and next thing I knew I was swimming.

I spent a little time intentionally swamping in warm weather and shallow water to try and get a better feel for it. I think more of that would have helped.

I think seat time is the key. Plenty of people paddle/race J-boats without issue so it must be something you get used it. I used to have a racing kayak as well. It seemed almost unpaddleable when I first sat in it. But I put in the hours and eventually felt very comfortable, even in chop.

What's your weight? As I recall it was made for lighter paddlers. 180lbs used to be tossed around as the max weight.

I assume you already have a foot brace in it?

Alan

 

[RBourg]

I used to have a J-180. I swamped it plenty of times. I never did get used to it. The part that drove me nuts is that I never felt unstable. The primary stability feels pretty good. It's just that there seems to be no secondary stability after you dip the wing. I'd be paddling along just fine until some light boat wakes would catch me from the rear and next thing I knew I was swimming.

I spent a little time intentionally swamping in warm weather and shallow water to try and get a better feel for it. I think more of that would have helped.

I think seat time is the key. Plenty of people paddle/race J-boats without issue so it must be something you get used it. I used to have a racing kayak as well. It seemed almost unpaddleable when I first sat in it. But I put in the hours and eventually felt very comfortable, even in chop.

What's your weight? As I recall it was made for lighter paddlers. 180lbs used to be tossed around as the max weight.

I assume you already have a foot brace in it?

Alan

Yes, it does have a foot brace and I have moved both it and the seat around seeking whatever is ideal and trying to find what works best between the two. I weigh about 160 plus my life jacket, water bottle, 2 paddles and race required phone. I find that it takes very little to affect the balance fore and aft with too much forward it seems to track uncontrollably and too much back feels like I am dragging.
As far as weight ratings, I find a little conflicting information online and since this boat was made in the infancy of the internet as we know it there seems to be very few resources.
I have been using a camelback for hydration but soon I will move a bottle to the floor to lower my center of gravity.
I found an online site that offers seat risers in differing heights that I am curious about, but maybe I should just leave that alone until I develop my skill level and figure out my best seat/foot brace position fore and aft. I removed straps that the previous owner had on the foot brace but may be adding them back now that my comfort level has improved.

Everyone is chasing surf-skis and outrigger canoes for racing and there is less interest in C-1, which I prefer to learn at the moment.