November 1, 2001

Changing Gears

I dropped the backpack on the ground about 50 feet from the water at Leesylvania. Forty minutes later the K1 would be assembled. Not a single mistake - not a single glitch. It went together like I had done it a thousand of times before.

The reality is I've only assembled it about a dozen times. I've always made a mistake or two, and never done it in under 45 minutes. It had been early spring since I had been in her. The frame easily centered in the skin - I didn't forget to put the foot pegs on or fasten the Velcro along the keel. I didn't forget to rotate the pop rivets away from the skin. It felt like the K1 was trying to be my friend after a rocky start months ago.

I wasn't going far. I only wanted to try to get past this nagging feeling I had about not being able to roll the K1. This is a boat I always felt like I sat too high in - that it tipped over much easier than I thought a bag boat should - and was impossible to roll. The last pair of thigh braces I had in her I bent - evidence that it was going to take more than hip snap to get her upright. Today I left the replaced thigh braces out. I didn't want to bend another pair.

I extended my paddle out to one side and sculled my body down to the water. I could tell the K1 wanted to roll upside down. She was trying her best to push my body below the surface and rotate inverted - but I wouldn't let her. I fought back with a strong scull and finally hip snapped back upright when I felt her getting the upper hand.

But I knew I wouldn't be able to roll her.

The center of gravity felt too high. The boat leaned and submerged the sponsons to easily. I beached and took the seat bottom and placed it under the sling so that I would sit lower.

In the water again the boat felt much more stable. I couldn't lean back, but I couldn't do that before with the seat higher. Bracing worked better. I sculled myself back down to the water - she was responding better. Still it took a bit of effort to keep her from pushing me under. I took a deep breath and stopped resisting.

The K1 immediately toppled over on top of me. I thought about the things I had read about rolling this boat. Let her settle. Let my body float back near the surface. Start her rotating BEFORE the sweep. I was up! My paddle finished deep and even once the boat passed 90 degrees I felt it still took a lot of effort to push it the rest of the way over. It wasn't pretty, but it worked.

I shortened my grip on the paddle and tried a normal screw roll. Much more effort - but she still allowed me to come up. It was all I had to finish the roll. I tried an offside extended paddle roll, but the K1 had to show me she was still boss - for now. A few more on-side rolls and I was drained - and happy.

I put the K1 assembled on my truck and took the Gulfstream to the beach. She rolled left, and right , down and up. She allowed me to high brace and low brace - I think she was showing off for the K1. I sat my paddle beside me flat in the water and rolled upside down. Pushing down on the paddle shaft and hip snapping I rolled back up - twice - another first. Both boats were obviously showing off. One boat on its last few days before I go to Japan - the other about to get more intimate with me for a few years.

They rode side by side on the trip home. One of the few times this will happen. My long time friend the Gulfstream will be in storage in a few months, and the K1 on its way to Japan. It will be two years before they see each other again. So for today - I'll just let them sit quietly together on my truck.

Woody