Retro51

I just bought a 10-ft Pelican Pursuit from Academy Sports - I got the last one that the Bryant Irvin store (Fort Worth) had, for $229. This seemed to be a good price - they are listed for at least $100 more other places.

I took it out on Benbrook today - spent a little over 3 hours. I followed the shoreline from Holiday Park over to Mustang Park, beaching at least 3 times to walk around different parts of the park. This was just the maiden voyage, but next time, I'll pack a lunch and spend more time exploring some of the distant areas. One more thing I learned - I need to pack a good camera - there were some great shots of waterfowl - I especially like it when they perch on a stump sticking out of the water - and I swear there were two eagles in flight over one of the beaches. Some great nature shots to be had. One of the coves had some fish jumping - I don't have a license, but I may try fishing from the Kayak too. Besides getting a license and trying some fishing, the other thing I learned is to go earlier. I was on the water by 9 AM, but next time I'll try to be on the water by 7 AM, just because it is so much cooler. I'm not a sun-lover. Finally, I crossed the lake back to my starting point. The little Pelican (why do they name boats after birds? - I've seen Lark, Osprey, Pelican? Birds FLY, boats don't) mostly performed well. It was choppy due to some wind. Comparing with river running (I took an overnight trip on the Colorado around Columbus, Texas last year), her's my conclusion: River - you have current, which you don't want to fight very long. Lakes, you have waves, which are not that much fun either. I did find that it seemed to turn abeam (broadside) into the waves if I let it drift - don't understand that. Possibly because it has no keel. Makes me want to add leeboards (part of a sail-rig) to see if it tracks better.

I had a spray cover with me, and since the wind was at my back, I tried holding it up as a sail to cross the lake. For some reason, the boat didn't go with the waves, but went at an angle. Of course, I had no leeboard or centerboard, and no rudder - so that was part of the problem. (See comment about adding a leeboard in first paragraph). I did go about half way across the lake that way - whether propelled by wind or just drifting, I can't say for sure. I still plan to try to make a sail rig, although I will have to figure out a way to attach a rudder. I'm thinking I may try to fibreglass a wood block, at the stern - drilled to hold a 1/2 in rod vertically, and then put two L-angles on the edge of the rudder, and run the rod through them. Attach a hinged tiller that I can reach from the cockpit, voila - a rudder. Instead of hinging it (so you can beach the craft), I may make it boot-shaped, with an elongated lower part, so it still has plenty of water contact, without going much deeper than the draft of the boat. And of course, it would be removable by pulling the pin.

The home-built looks to be a later project, but for now I can at least try out some of the lakes around here, and satisfy my paddling fever.