To HV or not to HV
When I tell someone that I had an Explorer HV and I replaced it with a normal Explorer, I usually get asked, "Were you
bigger then?" I guess they think the HV refers to the paddler. In truth, it's about the bumps.
Instead of HV, NDK should use LL -- Long Legs. Those bumps are for your knees. If you have short legs, then this won't
really work for you. If you have long legs, then HV is for you! To get those long legs in the boat, Nigel has also
made the front of the coaming an inch and a half higher than on the standard model. You may be asking, what difference
do those bumps and that extra 1.5" make?
It's all about edging. When I was in a relaxed position, I had to lift my knee up about 3 inches before making contact
with the boat. That's 3" less "edge" I can apply to the boat. With the standard Explorer, the deck is only about 3/8"
from my leg and it hits my thighs, bringing the leverage point closer to the center of the boat. The net result is that
I never felt comfortable edging or rolling my HV, but I can throw my standard Explorer around like it's attached to me.
To all the kayakers out there that are a little overweight, give the standard Explorer a try. All you skinny guys with
long legs out there, give the HV a try. To all the guys that think those bumps are where where the fat goes, go eat a
doughnut.