Hmmmm. I don't like the part where Luc is having trouble getting out on flat water (2:22). Having something strapped across your lap scares the crap out of me. It sure doesn't look like a very quick release here. Parts are bound to fail, who's to say the quick release won't fail when you need it most. I have yet to paddle the witchcraft with all the parts but it seems to me that Sherry is re-inventing the wheel. IK's have been using thigh straps for years with no problems, so why is it that it is suddenly dangerous for thigh straps to be in a packraft?
Everything else about the boat looks amazing though.
Well, I thought the Witchcraft was a good hull design, but I found 2 big flaws:
1) the x-ray strapping system does not pull your knees apart towards the tubes, it pulls them together like a traditional straight-legged kayak, which makes it more difficult to roll & provides less leverage for boofing.
2) the x-ray system only opens on 1 side of the boat, so if you flush into a log or undercut on the 1 side the x-ray system opens... then your screwed.
The hull design was great & MUCH faster than the traditional alpacka hull design. I felt the tubes could be slightly larger though. Yep.
Looks really cool. Amazing pieces of workmanship, those boats.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm. I don't like the part where Luc is having trouble getting out on flat water (2:22). Having something strapped across your lap scares the crap out of me. It sure doesn't look like a very quick release here. Parts are bound to fail, who's to say the quick release won't fail when you need it most. I have yet to paddle the witchcraft with all the parts but it seems to me that Sherry is re-inventing the wheel. IK's have been using thigh straps for years with no problems, so why is it that it is suddenly dangerous for thigh straps to be in a packraft?
ReplyDeleteEverything else about the boat looks amazing though.
Well, I thought the Witchcraft was a good hull design, but I found 2 big flaws:
ReplyDelete1) the x-ray strapping system does not pull your knees apart towards the tubes, it pulls them together like a traditional straight-legged kayak, which makes it more difficult to roll & provides less leverage for boofing.
2) the x-ray system only opens on 1 side of the boat, so if you flush into a log or undercut on the 1 side the x-ray system opens... then your screwed.
The hull design was great & MUCH faster than the traditional alpacka hull design. I felt the tubes could be slightly larger though. Yep.
Timmy J.
www.alaskawhitewater.org
This boat should be functional again soon.....although not sure it would have been any fun on Wolverine Creek today.
ReplyDelete