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Dragon Boat Canada


IDBF


Canoe Kayak Canada

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[nakano]

Heard that ADBF will have one heat using all Gemini Dragon Boats.  They are much like the German Buk boats. Wonder how times will look like in those boats.  They are special ordering them to be made to fit 22 paddlers, instead of the standard 20 in the Buk boats.

http://www.mpa.mb.ca/PlasDragonBoats.html

[DBWTim]

Yup.. the Gemini boats are coming.  That's the reason why FCRCC and Alcan are trying to sell some of their 6-16's.  I can't remember the exact numbers, but the plan was to have FCRCC and Alcan to buy something like 4 each and and two other clubs on the Creek would be one to have a total fleet of ten boats.

I think that's it's a good idea to use the Gemini's since they are IDBF-certified unlike the 6-16's and F2000's Millenium boats.  Would be more beneficial for teams looking to race in the Worlds, Club Crews and pretty much the majority of the races outside of Pacific Northwest, to be practicing in the Gemini's.

There's actually a rumor floating around that every third heat in Alcan this year will be in the Gemini boats.  I'm not sure if this is for real or not, but I hope it isn't.  Although I would rather race in the Gemini's, I do prefer races that stick to one type of boat throughout the festival.  That's a major reason, I didn't like the Taiwanese Festival race last year.  Going from 6-16 fibreglass to teak and then to the Taiwanese boats just didn't seem right to me...

I wonder if this adoption of the Gemini boat would affect Vincent Lo's 6-16 in any way...

[DBWTim]

The decision between Plastex/Gemini (different manufacturer's but similar specs) and 6-16 is really dependant on what your club is looking for and how much time and money you have to maintain the boats.

The 6-16's are usually best for entry-level and novice teams since they are the much more stabler of the boats. The drawbacks of these are that they are heavy and cumbersome when you have to move them on land and require more maintenance that the others, especially if they will be sitting in the water for most of the year.  This is due to the boat having more wood "content".

The Plastex should light enough that ten people would be able to carry it on land. Also they are shorter than the 6-16's.  The thing I like about the Plastex/Gemini spec boats are that they are IDBF-certified so if you have big plans for your teams then it would be advantageous to train in boats that will be used at that level.

[nakano]

The thing with the Gemini boats that I am curious with, is what type of foot brace will it have, because I know the Buk boats don't have a bar, like the 6-16/Mill boats.

Also knowing that those boats a really tippy, I wonder if they will allow novice teams to race in them, because I've seen collisions even with experienced teams.  A few years ago, Long Beach, LARD in one race, and Wasabi Women in another race.  When there is a T-bone in one of those boats, there is a really good chance of it capsizing!

[Steamrollers Moaner]

haha... sounds like LARD has been involved in a few collisions  

[paddleBOT]

Here's the manufacturer's web site.  There are a lot of pictures showing what their product looks like.  They do have foot braces molded right into the floor of the boat.  We will get boats like this with modified seat configuration.

http://gemini.gda.pl/My_Homepage_Files/Page3.html

I find the Millennium boats to be relatively tippy.  The 6-16's seem more stable.

*EDIT*
Another distributor:
http://www.bokkaiholdings.com/index.html

[nakano]

Nice, a little different from the Buk boats.  Should be interesting to see how they perform.

Yeah, I have to agree, that the Millennium boats are tippy, but I know the Buk's are more tippy.  Will have to wait and see about the Gemini boats.

I forgot to mention...if I remember correctly, LARD did wind up going for a swim!

[Paul Zap]

purchase of the boats was done through www.bokkaiholdings.com

[Sunny_Daze]

Hmmmm, no centre beam.  This is interesting as I sometimes brace my inside knee against it.  Can't be bracing my knee against my sweaty team-mate.  

Hopefully Dragon Zone will have some of these boats kicking around so we can try them out before racing in them.

[DBWTim]

There's a general call to anyone that's available to help out with the arrivals of the Gemini boats.  I'm at work so I can't make it, but I hope some other people can show up and help.  Please see the following e-mail.

Please pass the word that we need volunteers to unload and move the Gemini
dragon boats tomorrow.

If you have anyone on your team that is free for the day and not working, we
could sure use them.

Meet at 10am at the Burrard Street Marina parking lot just West of the Kits
Coast Guard station.

Food and drinks will be provided.

We are going to unload the container:
9 dragon boats
9 sets of heads and tails
9 drums
9 drummer seats
9 steering oars

4 boats to Dragon Zone
3 boats to False Creek
2 boats underneath the Burrard Street bridge at the Festival compound
All the other equipment to the Festival warehouse at 215 West 1st Ave. at
Cook.

I hope to be there tomorrow, my cell number is 604-351-1014.

Greg

[nakano]

Well, the boats, heads, tails, drummer seats, drum; steering oars have now been unloaded.

The 4 boats for Dragon Zone are on the water, however they may not be in service yet, because they still have to put on the brace/bracket, whatever you call that thing the oar sits in.

The 3 FCRCC boats are sitting in the compound at Burrard Marina, until they are able to move some of the existing 6-16 boats.  I take it the ones on sale have not been sold.  In any case I am guessing they will be available for the festival, but for now, everyone practicing out of FCRCC will have to be patient and wait a little longer.  

The 2 remaining ones are sold to some other facility.  

Let me tell you it was a heck of a workout.  Even though they are half the weight of a regular 6-16 boat it took quite a bit of effort to get them out, because they were sitting in the trailer.  There wasn't much room.  

Anyways, enough of the details, I got to check out the boat, sat in the various seats to see how comfortable one would be.  The boats have 11 seats in them, but honestly, the very first seat in the boat is not comfortable at all.  I am not a very tall guy, but man it was tight.  Even if you could fit in there length wise, I am not sure how much room you would have if someone were sitting beside you.  Seats may be a little slippery when wet, because they look to be a smooth plastic.  The only thing that may help you from slipping is some chinese characters that are on each and every seat.  They look like they are decaled on, and painted over.

Bracing is not bad, but will be a bit of an adjustment.  Nice boats, but really, I would choose the 6-16 over Gemini.  

Oh and one more thing, just an observation, but when those boats were on the water, they were thrown around pretty good by the wake.  Which indicates to me that they are very tippy!    

For those of you who practice out of Dragon Zone, and FCRCC, and you see some FC Grandragons around, say hi, and thanks, cause if they were not there today, those boats would still be sitting in the trailer.

[Kibble]

FCRCC needs some assistance in moving the Gemini Boats tonight.  If you are available, please head down to Burrard Marina tonight to help out.  Volunteers need not reply to FCRCC...just show up there at 6:30pm.

Dragonboaters,

The new dragonboats have arrived at FCRCC.  These boats are lighter and
faster than our existing boats.  The Geminis have made the journey from
Poland to Vancouver in record time and now they want to be used.

To use them, we need your assistance.  FCRCC would like to put the boats on
the water tonight and we need 30 to 40 people to assist us.  What would you
have to do if you want to assist?

1.  We will be putting the three boats on the water (they are at the Burrard
Marina)
2.  Paddle them down to Sea Village.
2.  Paddle 3 of the 6/16s back to the Burrard Marina.
3.  Take the three 6-16s out of the water and store them.

The more people we have the easier this will happen.  If we do not get
enough helpers we will need to put them on the water one at a time.  We
understand this is short notice but we are excited to have these boats and
all of you will want to get some practice in them.  You will be racing these
boats at the Alcan DB Festival.

Please respond to this email if you or any of your team can assist us
tonight.

Details:

Meet at Burrard Marina Compound (this is at the foot of the Burrard street
bridge) at 6:30PM.  Park at the Macmilliam Blodel Planterium and walk down
towards the Burrard street bridge, on your right side you will see a number
of boats, this is the Burrard Marina compound.  Someone will be there early
and will be looking out for you.

We will then go from there.

Hope to see you there tonight.

Regards

FCRCC Executive

[Kibble]

The new Geminis are now ready for use at FCRCC.  Anyone practicing this weekend will have their first chance at using them.

They're definitely faster.  We had 8 of us paddle one of the Geminis back to Sea Village and it just glided so well...we got there in record time from the Burrard Marina!    8)

One thing's for sure, I will definitely have to get used to that type of a foot brace.  The seats are smaller, the boat's narrower...they are tippier, but probably not as tippy as the BuK boats they used in Montreal...

I still think I prefer 616s over the Geminis...

[DBWTim]

So the big news this week is that both FCRCC and DragonZone got their Gemini boats in, after a long trip from Poland via Montreal. I would like to thank everyone that assisted in the unloading and moving of the boats.

Since everyone will be getting a chance to try the Gemini's eventually, I thought I'd start one dedicated thread where people can post up with thoughts on them.

Practiced in one this morning at FCRCC. Got the green one with yellow scales. You really notice how tippy the boats are when you are loading into them. Once you get into your seats, the first thing you will probably noticed is the lack of leg room. Everyone's pretty packed in, so some people will find that they will be hit from behind with the top arm on the person behind them.  This is especially true when you are wearing a PFD. This can be corrected by having paddlers lean out more and keep their top arms outside the boat (something that coaches have been emphasizing for awhile now, but it's not as relevant as it is now)

Also, I have one suggestion to people paddling in Seat One.... bring shin guards! It seems that the clearance under the seat in front of Seat One isn't as high as the other seats and with it being so cramped, you may find that you will be scraping the top of your ankle and lower shin against a sharp edge underneath the seat in front of you. I can see paddlers that use leg leg drive to develop nice gashes on their legs until they get used to the boats. For myself, my outside leg only had a 90 degree bend at the knee since that was all the legroom I could get.

Without the centerbeam, there's nothing dividing you and your partner. I recommend you get to know your partner since you two will probably bracing yourselves off each other with your inside legs. I also noticed that the gunnel is a lot lower, but your seat is higher on the water (does that make any sense?), which adds to the "tippy" feeling.

The boat definately felt fast with a lot of glide if you give it a chance. We managed to get a nice amount of water off the bow of the boat as we cut through the water. You probably hear this all year round but in the Gemini's it will become very important. For teams that have that pause at the end of your strokes, it will be greatly beneficial if you get rid of it. It's best to get a more upfront stroke in these boats.

And remember... wakes are not your friends. It's been awhile since a dboat capsized in False Creek so the first team that goes for a swim while in Gemini will be pretty famous... for all the wrong reasons...

[Steamrollers Moaner]

Anyone know where we can get shin guards?  Preferably with a discounts when we buy in bulk????

Hahaha... first day in the Gemini's.  VERY UNPLEASANT!  I don't believe I've cussed so much in a practice.  Felt like I just picked up a paddle and paddling for the first time in my life.   Sure, seat 6 might be a bit longer (maybe if you are 5'4").  Not too sure how those big Polish boys do it.

K, for people who sit in seats 5 to 7.  Any tips on what to do for the recovery (after the stroke)??  do you break your elbow on your top arm?  What do you do to prevent yourself from smoking the person's head (or ripping their PFD's off of them) in front of you??