Saturday, November 20, 2010

Behold...the lowly combing
This unheralded part of our kayaks do not enjoy the glamor or attention given to hull lines, deck layouts or even underwater and seldom seen skegs. Quietly, always in the shadow of the kayak's other parts, this vital protuberance encircles the cockpit, albeit the paddler, yet gets little respect. And when it is time for the little boat to take to the sea and the photographers begin snapping the hull parting the waves, the combing is unseen, hidden, as it serves in obscurity.

Even the paddler, feeling secure as he rolls his boat, pays no mind to the unsung rim upon which even the much seen skirt depends on for sealing out the sea. Yea, it works its wonders in darkness while constantly stressed. Only when it is time to get a new boat does the paddler take a long deserved look at this heroic structure and, then, only to see what color he might make the next one. So, relegated to eye candy, the combing gets a brief period of admiration as friends and colleagues look upon the boat and the accent of the colors of the deck lines, the shear line and, lastly, the combing. Then, as if it never contributed to the appearance and performance of the boat, it is once again cloaked by the skirt, (its self dull black) as it once again returns to serve in dark obscurity.
Paddle safe...
DS

5 comments:

Alan said...

The well must be running dry; you're combing for material....

Silbs said...

At least I skirted the issue.

gnarlydog said...

In my garage the humble combing gets plenty of attention.
On any new kayak I shave off any sharp corners to avoid future leg cuts. I mean shave: not just smooth-out with sandpaper.
On occasions I lay a layer or two of carbon fibre on the underside of the rim. After seeing and experience a few cracked ones myself I know when a combing is just too thin/weak.
But for the ultimate combing bling, how about a carbon fibre clear coat one on a Nordkapp LV: http://gnarlydognews.blogspot.com/2009/05/shop-eye-candy.html

SherriKayaks said...

I believe that the proper spelling for the cockpit rim is "c-o-a-m-i-n-g"

Silbs said...

Sherri: You are, of course correct. I actually knew that, but the devil said spell it this way and see if anyone notices. You make us proud.