Kotick first paddle.

My bastard Kotick project
languished for several months.

I kind of got hung up on the
sewing of the spray skirt.
Bought the wrong type fabric
and has trouble with the sewing.

So, I went on to Spur II, and
recently came back to Kotick.

I just abandoned the spray
skirt altogether.

I took her to a lagoon and creek
south of my house, and wow does
she paddle fast and easy. I don't
have lots of experience with
different types of kayaks, but
I had feared that Kotick would
be tough to keep going in a straight
line. But the truth is that it
goes very straight, and causing it
to turn is the greater task.

I had a small problem with the
glass which delaminated and cracked
about an inch long, which leaked
in about two quarts of water over
a two hour period. Spent the
evening drying out the contents
of my wallet. And, today cut out
and re-glassed the problem spot.

I really enjoyed the up close and
pretty looks at the birds and
marsh. I don't think that anybody
had been in this part of the
creek in a very long time. At one
point I spooked a deer with antlers
who was sleeping on the bank. Got
to within about 20 feet.

Most of the time I paddled Kotick
slow and easy, but I tried burst
of speed, and found that she went
faster than Spur II, [at least it
seemed so], perhaps for real or
perhaps by illusion because you
are closer to the water.

Also, she is plenty stable, setting
flat in the water, and tipping
a little in you shift your weight
or catch a crab with the paddle
but I never came close to
capsizing. Now I wonder what it
might be like to take her through
the surf near my house. The water
is so cold, I am thinking twice.