: the Sea Kayaker magazine (October) that just arrived has a review
: of a Greenland Style kayak. Reviewer complained about foot room.

: The response from the manufacturer:
: "We have noted the issue concerning legroom, but we must keep
: in mind the original design and esthetic feature of the
: Greenland-style kayaks."

: That's rationalizing. They made a Greenland boat out of modern
: materials, rubber hatch covers, fiberglass keyhole coaming,
: gelcoat, but they can't make it fit better for larger modern
: kabloona feet?
: 'You wear a kayak." Well, I wear size 8-1/2 to 9 shoes (not at
: all big), I want socks, booties, foot pegs and a kayak that fit
: my feet. I don't buy shoes that don't fit because the one's in
: the museum are tiny. Guys with bigger feet, need more room.
: Nanook was shorter than almost all of us (and even his 'yak fit
: his feet, two wives, a kid, a baby and a dog).

: 26 degrees (or 64 degrees) is what I've found to be my natural foot
: angle seated in my 'yak and that's how I'm making the new one. I
: make sure there's room for my feet at 90 degrees, or however I
: want'em and I try to anticipate fitting in my 6'2" son. (My
: feet are on the small size, but I've got a plastic beater-yak
: out in the rack that's too small even for my feet. If Shaq bumps
: his head in a house, well he's tall, but if I walk into a house
: and bump the door jamb, something's definitely wrong.)

: If experienced paddlers in Sea Kayaking are saying it's a problem,
: it's a problem, and it's been a perennial problem.
: When I get around to making an SOF, it'll have solidly connected
: foot braces, and room enough to fit my feet.

: OK Rant over.

I just got the same mag in the mail, no one's gonna buy the kayak in question looking for a roomy design, it's not. It would be like buying an Anas Acuta looking for the same thing, sorry, it's a very snug fitting boat for most people. Not every design is for every person, nor should they be. I like having a choice.

Bill H.