tcmate Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 Using the Poca Barta It has taken a few outings to get used to my Poca Barta which is one of Jeff's Kudzu Craft fuselage skin boats. One thing for sure though it is straight line quick. I have hit 8 to 9 kilometres per hour each time out and had moving averages around 6.5 and 7 kilometres per hour. At Snaggy Point, Murray River, Australia After initial stability fears which were more in my mind than in the boat I was on a return leg of about 5km when a gusty head wind blew up. I admit I felt quite apprehensive but I was hungry and home was where the food was. I left the little sand bar I was on and suddenly I felt like part of the boat. Bridging the chop and cutting through the bigger waves I had a ball. The boat responded well and into a strong breeze made excellent time. Although I did have flotation bags I had no spray skirt but the only water entering the cockpit was off the paddle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Action Tiger Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 Is that a grout sponge? They work so good to bail with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tcmate Posted October 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 Yes it is a grout sponge and the black elastic holds it on my paddle to stop all the little dents I was inflicting climbing in. They are durable balers too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kudzu Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 So glad to hear it. As I have said Poco Barta hasn't been built much, as far as I can tell and it it is a good little boat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodman Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 Great boat...As for paddle drips a bungee and a piece of leather will help tremendously... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Action Tiger Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 We've been using sponges forever. Your boat looks great, too, BTW. I learned computer shorthand from my nephew! Spray skirts are easy to make, for a person that built their own boat, and well worth it in cool weather/water to keep icy drips off. Woodman's cup/cuffs look cool, too. 9kph is almost 6 statute mph! Not too slow, eh? I always use metric distance on my bicycle computer so I can honestly say I average 40... Metric temperature still eludes me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
labrat Posted November 1, 2014 Report Share Posted November 1, 2014 Looks great mate, and those speeds are quite good. I hadn't heard of Snaggy Point before, are you from the Mildura area or on a trip? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tcmate Posted November 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2014 To reply to a number of comments first thank you for the kind words. The question re Snaggy Point. I live in Wentworth (30km from Mildura) at the junction of the Murray and Darling Rivers. Snaggy Point is about 4km downstream and part of many paddling runs I enjoy. It is one of many great camping spots between Mildura and Renmark. Some terrific canoe trails but mainly flat water paddling. Some great boats on your flicker page Woodman. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tcmate Posted December 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2014 That is a great drip stop Woodman. I was a bit dubious but am amazed at how good it is. Great stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Action Tiger Posted December 24, 2014 Report Share Posted December 24, 2014 On "regular" double paddles I've built in the past I used turkshead knots tied on the shaft shy of the blade as drip diverters. I never could suss out a way to do something similar on the long bladed types. Looks like I'm going to have to dig in the leather scrap pile... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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