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Dragon Boat Canada


IDBF


Canoe Kayak Canada

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[tjl]

Seems from the comments about the Alcan 2007 festival that the Gemini boats (as modified) are strongly disliked.

Is it mostly due to the lack of the foot stops, the metal bar, or the steps in the steering area?  They aren't the shin-busters as they were in the original 11-bench configuration.

[Mike]

I stroked 3 races in the Geminis and I must say that they are extremely tight in front.  The metal bar isn't so bad until you get a few rows back but they will give pain or bruise your knee and hip later.  Also I don't know why there is a larger than normal gap left between the drummer and the drum.  I found it difficult to stroke without hitting the drum a lot on my recovery.  I have scabs on some of my knuckles to remember Alcan!

[Anyrock]

The Geminis are awful.  I was bruised from the bar and sitting was not comfortable the next day.

[Colossus]

i still think alcan/waters edge should have charged an extra $15-20 per person (extra $360-$480 per roster of 24) and put that money towards new BUKs for a full fleet.  i think that if that was what the money was going towards, people would be willing to fork out that extra little bit (oh no! 5 fewer coffees!).  do that for two years and you've paid for enough BUKs for a complete fleet. 
sell the Gems to some team who just wants cheap practice boats and recover some money that way.  sell the 6-16s too, make more money. 

The Gems have been a disaster of a purchase since day one. 

[drachenboot]

I raced twice in the Gemini's.  The first time, in the rear of the engine room, where I could not a solid foot hold and, as a result, bumped back and forth against the metal bar throughout the race. 

The second time, I was in the 4th row, used to the boat, and better able to brace myself.

Other than these, I've only paddled in BuKs; obviously the Gemini's provide an inferior experience.

[linhn]

Does anybody know why the Gemini's were used for Alcan instead of the 6-16s?

[Colossus]

Does anybody know why the Gemini's were used for Alcan instead of the 6-16s?

to ensure an "equal playing field".  the 6-16s vary a great deal in weight. 

[BlueStreak]

Is it mostly due to the lack of the foot stops, the metal bar, or the steps in the steering area?  They aren't the shin-busters as they were in the original 11-bench configuration.

Just a quick (and slightly off topic) comment: I love the steps in the steering area. I also prefer the two posts of the steering column that the oar goes through on the geminis vs the u-bracket on the Buks. The Buks do have the advantage in that they seem better balanced (less susceptible to left-right side imbalance) and they seem to go straight easier.

[tjl]

Just a quick (and slightly off topic) comment: I love the steps in the steering area.

What advantage do the steps give?

The front (lower) step is too far forward for effective steering.  The rear (high) step feels a bit unstable when standing on it.  And if you put one foot in front of the other, it feels weird to have your feet on different levels.  The middle step is about the same level as the steering platform on the BuK, but the latter lets you put your feet anywhere in that whole area instead of being limited to the small middle step in the Gemini.

[BlueStreak]

I do the each foot on a different level thing... it just feels more stable to me. I prefer a wide stance so I put one foot in the corner lower level and the other against the rear corner of the middle step, which I find hard to do in a Buk. I suppose it just what each of us is used to - you've been using Buks and me, Geminis (with the occasional six-sixteen and Buk).

Oh, and that back high step? Its a convenient place to sit down in between pieces during practice.