Dan,

I have been paddling my Guillemot Expedition for 2.5 years and weigh in at the 230-240 range. On lakes and/or without strong cross wind I found the Guillemot to track wonderfully. In ocean paddling accross a tide or with a strong cross wind the Guillemot will weathercock significantly. I am a strong paddler but on long crossings I found that even with good technique that one arm would get worn out with correction strokes. Putting some gear in the front hatch helps to balance the boat because you sit behind the boat's center of gravity.

In my opinion a rudder is the wrong way to go. If I had to do it agian I would have installed a retractable skeg before I glassed the hull and deck together. This was more difficult as a retrofit so I mounted a 3 foot tapered skeg (1.5" at its higest) to the keel. This has helped the weathercocking yet maintained the mobility of a leaned turn.

I also installed a Guzzler 500S foot pump. I have mixed feelings about it. I really haven't used it except for rolling practice but I like the feeling that it is there if I need it in an open water wet exit. To install it I shaped and glassed a 1/4" plywood bulkhead with a hole in the middle (position it so it is aligned with the ball of your feet). I then took the 12 bolts out of the pump and mounted the front and back of the pump on either side of the bulkhead with new stainless bolts (1/4" longer). The pump button is in the cockpit, the body of the pump is in the front hatch sided of the bulkhead.

If I had to do it again I wouldn't bother with the foot pump. The weight of the bulkhead and the pump aren't worth it to me now that I have mastered my roll.

Hope this helps.

Jack

: I recently finished a Guillemot Expedition and love the way it paddles so
: far. My question for Nick, others who might have the same model, or some
: knowledge about handling issues is, this boat seems "loose" or
: lacking in tracking. I have not loaded the boat with an expedition size
: load yet, and that may be the cause of some of the looseness. I weigh 220
: and probable tip the scales at 240 with all my paddling gear loaded up.
: Should I load some ballast for day trips if that seems to solve the
: tracking issues? Should I put a rudder on the beast? I like the look of
: One Ocean's setup--and I already have the Yakima footbraces. What
: complicates the issue is I want to install a guzzler foot pump that I have
: already bought. Any solutions to tracking, steering a rudder, and using a
: foot pump?