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I've had a CLC 16, Pax 20, currently paddle an expedition single, and row a 17' cedar canoe. They all go about the same speed over distance it seems...about 4 knots or 5mph. I am 6' tall and weigh 180 lbs. I have plans for s&g shearwater but am attracted to the WR 180 for its speed potential being slightly longer and its multichine look. I paddle a large lake so its railroad steering is not a big problem to me and I'd like a second kayak for general paddling and occasional bursts of speed. What would you do?
3 replies:
RE: wot boat?
I have a WR 18 and am pretty fast in it but I have been smoked by a Pax 18 so I have a hard time believing you would be able to go faster in a WR 18 than the Pax 20. I'm thinking seriously of building a strip Pax 18 as I need to go faster! That being said the WR 18 is a fantastic boat and fun to build also.
George K
RE: wot boat?
» Submitted by John, CLC - Thu, 6/5/08 » 10:24 AM
The old West River 180 (buildable from plans) is strikingly fast in smooth water. Very low wetted surface, just nothing to stop it. A great many races are won in that boat to this day. It's cranky in waves, which occasioned the complete stem-to-stern redesign in 2002 to create the West River 18, which is perhaps 8% slower but has nice manners. The new WR18 WOULD be buildable from plans if I could find the time to draw them.
Plans for the original West River 180 are contained in the book The New Kayak Shop.