First wetting for RTM Abaco No pics

[Izzetafox]

First off I have to say: ' Fail to prepare and you prepare to fail!!'

I had a load of rushing around before a trip to Ashby Ville Lake to meet Philpot for a first paddle of the Abaco. I had spent all the day before visiting and getting bait. I failed to check my cameras.

A 90 mile drive on Friday morning had me admiring the Scunthorpe steelworks smoke plume and the back wall of Morrisons yard. Then you see the easy access to a nice looking lake full of features.
Whilst it was flat calm at the launch point you could see a decent wave further out pushed along by a strong and biting North Easterly wind. This did not bode well.

After the usual hour of gassing with Phil we finally had the yaks on the slip. Time for some pictures of the Abaco rigged up I thought. Out came the Panasonic with the x20 zoom.......Oh No!!! Memory card left at home in laptop!! Never mind I always have the trusty Pentax W20 in the PFD pocket.....yep you guessed it....FLAT BATTERY!!!! Cameras = nightmare ONE

Fair enough no pictures I thought still I can try out my over the side fitting of the FF with no holes drilled until I have time to decide where they should go. Then just as I am about to get on the water....phone rings. Mother in law....she never rings I thought.....Damn and blast....Father in law (84) being taken to hospital for a transfusion due t very low white cell count. She tells me no panic ..at the moment anyway. Nightmare TWO

Ok I get onto the water and I have to say I am very impressed with the stability. Mounting from the side I sat on the gunwale and let the Abaco tip and she went up on edge with no threat of tipping. 'I like this'.. I thought. ;D

Ok I am sat in and feeling steady I take a look at the scuppers and whilst I can see water an inch down there is none in the footwells. A definite plus point, I am after all about 16 stone fully laden.

I take a gentle paddle into the cross wind and it really is blowing now. At this point I have to say most of my paddling is done on canals and rivers or on calm seas, I don't get onto much open waters with strong winds.....I say this because this was one of the few times I experienced windage. At one point I was paddling with the paddle shifted to one side and only stroking on one side. This was not a problem and was only whilst in the worst of the wind.

That said I was amazed at just how swift the Abaco was the rest of the time. It fairly raced along and Philpot paddling alongside me commented a couple of times at the speed I was achieving with minimal effort. He also said he was suffering in the crosswind....until he powered up the Torqueedo outboard.

I have size 11 wellies fitted to my drysuit and I had no problems with them down the side of the central hatch although it all feels 'snug'. This is the first time that I have paddled a yak with a central long hatch...WOW!! aren't they great? I had loads of bits and pieces in there that normally would have been behind me I can see why people like them.

The more I paddled the better the Abaco felt and I always felt very stable with not tippiness, bear in mind I have been paddling a Slayer 12 for the last three months and there a few kayaks more stable on flatwater. I like the Abaco very much.

My new FF fitment was a success until....after half an hour of surveying the lake it was KAPUT!! I tried resets etc to no avail so there we have....Nightmare THREE.

I will endeavour to get on the water again very soon and have some pictures to show. First impressions though....very impressed

The venue is great but looking for swims using a plummet is not the best, I will return though.

Thanks for the introduction Phil.

Terry

[Daz]

nice report terry...shame about the camera mate

[keithyg]

What a nightmare!

[philpot]

I am amazed you didn't say the camera was up the shoot as I was ready with the camera if needed but I assumed you had it covered----what a fool I am.

I also agree with Terry, the Abaco looks a cracking kayak. I love the layout of this kayak with the track system and centre box.
I had a little go but it felt really strange after the Big Game which has been modified and with my large seat ( I am now talking about the one fitted to the kayak not the one at the base of my back ) it all seemed a little on the tight side. That said it was a good seating position with good access into the centre box.
I kept on running to the left but as Terry pointed out I was not quite in the centre. I would very much like to have another go using my own cranked Lendal paddle and when it is a little warmer. On that very short paddle you can't help but like this kayak although I think the K-Largo being that bit wider would appeal to me personally. Having said that RTM also produce a set of outriggers which look superb in the catalogue being made of plastic rather than the usual blow-up things used by other manufacturers and with those fitted, this could certainly turn my thoughts around. Must find out what the price is of the outriggers.
It was very obvious from the start that these craft are really well built with quality being the aim and I feel they have achieved it.

Phil