Dear Tim,
I
have been paddling your Safari kayak quite often and . . . I LOVE it. In fact,
the BLUE RIDGE (SEVENTH Fleet command ship) deployed on the annual "Southern
Swing" this year from January to April. During Southern Swing, we were in ports
about half the time in places like Brunei, Thailand, Malaysia, Darwin and
Brisbane Australia and New Caledonia. I paddle the Safari in most of those
places. The Safari is the perfect travelers kayak because it is light, sooo
compact and, it sets up so much quicker than folding kayaks. If I hear about
some great rapids in a country that I happen to be visiting, I can put the
Safari on my back, catch a bus, and BAM there I am paddling on some exotic
river, no hassles, no complicated coordination, just paddling. If good paddling
is within a reasonable distance from my point of embarkation in a country, I
like to ride my mountain bike, with the Safari on my back, to the paddling
location. Now I ask you, how else can you carry a kayak on your mountain bike?
You could use a folding kayak, but that spoils my fun because they take so long
to set up.
I keep the Safari in my car so that I can paddle whenever I
feel like it.
I am very satisfied with your kayak. It is VERY durable,
versatile, compact and easy to set up. I have thrown it, dragged it and paddled
over jagged rocks with it and it just won’t pop! The bottom is scratched
up but there is no sign of serious wear. Believe me, I beat the crap out of
your kayak and it laughs at me. I am a dedicated fan. I am very glad that you
talked me out of bringing a folding kayak here to Japan. I would never paddle
because of the required set up time.
Very Respectfully,
Dirk
Macfarlane
Dirk Macfarlane is a
Lieutenant Commander Navy SEAL. As of May, 2002 he was deployed in the western
Pacific. Lt. Commander Macfarlane is also captain of the US Navy Adventure
Racing team, which participates in Eco-Challenges around the world.
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