OC 1 Current Designs - Zephyr - One Paddler's Rigging Guide

Paul Sloman observes:

( agenda: 1. iako front; 2. iako rear; 3. insert iako in rear slot of ama and pull out by x".)

First Paddle
Plus 1 inch from hull
Plus 1 inch from hull
Plus 3 inch Ama
Notes
• Canoe felt good in the flat
• Felt tippy in small canoe side swell
• Felt tippy going with swell
• Light 10 knot wind.
• Seat felt good


Second Paddle
Plus 2.5 inches from hull
Plus 2.5 inches from hull
Plus 0.75 inches from Ama
Notes
• Ama felt much lighter but under control
• Felt much faster going with bumps
• Canoe felt good going into swell
• 15 knot wind.


Third Paddle
Plus 2.5 inches from hull
Plus 2.5 inches from hull
Plus 0.75 inches from Ama
Notes
• Ama felt more controllable than previous paddle
• Canoe not tippy going into or with bumps.
• Ama not very easy to fly.
• 15 knot wind.


Fourth Paddle
Plus 1.5 inches from the hull
Plus 1.5 inches from the hull
Plus 1.5 inches from the Ama.
Notes
• Ama felt more controllable than previous paddle
• Canoe not tippy going into or with bumps.
• Tried to make canoe pearl but re-emerges with very little reduction to speed.
• Ama easier to fly.
• 20 knot wind.


Fifth Paddle (& next 10 sessions)
Plus 1.5 inches from the hull
Plus 1.5 inches from the hull
Plus 2 inches from the Ama
Notes
• Ama still felt under control
• Canoe not tippy going into or with bumps.
• Canoe felt very fast in the strongest wind so far.
• Punching into 1m (3.5 foot) wind chop canoe slices through without slapping, little reduction to speed.
• Ama easier to fly, wants to lift but only to a point.
• 25 knot wind.


First Race
15km flat water!
Plus 1.5 inches from the hull
Plus 1.5 inches from the hull
Plus 2 inches from the Ama
Notes
• Ama felt light and under control
• Canoe had a surprising amount of boat run in the flat conditions.
• Ama wants to lift but only to a point. Seems to be when I reach a speed of 10 km/hour.
• Can paddle whilst flying Ama is easier on this canoe than others.
• Boat easy to wash ride on, unfortunately is easy to wash ride off as well.
• Seat extremely comfortable in flat conditions.

Additional comment: The ‘guide’ is just one paddler’s record of how he trimmed his Zephyr.

Naturally you should make your own little chart to see how your set up works for you in your specific water conditions.

You can also email Outrigger Connection and ask the designer of the boat for advice.

Following Paul Gay you should trim your ama by using a water balance and make sure that your deck is horizontal; ( measure while in flat water ).

Next to feel, you can do the following:

I count my strokes on a short segment of about 100 yards before/after almost every practice - upwind, turn around, downwind.
This gives me a general feel about the glide that I have that day. This info may convince me to keep a setting or change the rigging.