Kayak Roll

“Seems I have a problem with rolling my touring boat...I can roll the heck out of a play boat, but the Carolina 14.5 tends to try and drown me...are there variations on the roll for Touring/Sea Kayaking boats?

My instructor, (Who is by the way highly rated) tends to have the same problem.....we are both rather short with thick arms and shoulders, and have a problem placing the paddle in the number two position prior to rolling, as our arms are so short.”

“Could it be the cooler of beer and ice creating too much ballast?”

“Actually the boat was empty for the training, which makes me wonder how it will react when it's loaded with all my gear AND me....”

“The Carolina is actually more of a recreational touring boat than a full on expedition touring boat. It's quite wide for its length, and stable, which means the primary stability is high, which means (I'm sure you know all this) that it is difficult to initiate a roll, whether starting from upside right or upside down. Usually a boat is easier to roll when its loaded down with gear (assuming your gear is stable and not sloshing around under the hatches). A sea kayak such as the next model up, the Perception Eclipse, is more of a true sea kayak and hence much easier to roll. Right or wrong, I have spoken. Please, you may be seated. I insist.”

“Supertroll, one of the problems that I've encountered with rolling the carolina is that the cockpit is sooooo wide it doesn't even touch my hips. Technically, to do the extra special hip-snap needed to bring the boat around there should be only a hand's width of room between you and the sides. I bought pads from Outdoorplay.com to try to rectify the problem. Haven't tried them yet, they just came in the mail yesterday.They're pretty cool though, a nylon box/bag that straps to your boat and has three pieces of foam that're removable so you can make it fit you. Item # EOU_PGBAP. If you're interested drop me an email and I've got a coupon for you.”

“I guess you can't search by item number at www.outdoorplay.com . Only by brand. So, the brand is Salamader and the item is the banshee pro hip pads.”

“I thought this was a new kind of sushi roll. lol”

“I love kayak rolls with lots of mustard and pastrami”