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Archive for the ‘Hobbies’ Category

In 1986, Sea Kayaker magazine established a standard for reviewing kayaks that has never been equaled. The reviews included measuring the hull to provide a basis for an objective assessment of performance characteristics. The number crunching may be confusing for many readers, but it is worth making an effort to understand the various terms involved.The information presented here on Sea Kayaker’s web site is intended to augment the information provided by the reviews published in Sea Kayaker magazine. Here you’ll find a list of the terms used in our numerical assessments of the kayaks we review. We also have supplement for each kayak review (starting with those published in the June 2004 issue) that includes tables of measurements, computer-calculated hydrostatics and metric conversions.For the full kayak reviews, please visit the Sea Kayaker store’s Back Issues area to order specific issues of Sea Kayaker.

MEASUREMENTS
(These are taken for each kayak reviewed in Sea Kayaker.)Length overall: The length of the kayak from bow to stern, not including the rudder if present.Beam: The maximum width of the kayak.Volume: The space occupied by the entire kayak including the cockpit’s interior space as if closed off by a cockpit cover.Cockpit size: The width and length measured inside.Cockpit heights: Measured to the inside, at the lower edge of the coaming.Height of the seat: Measured at the lowest point. The height of the seat is a significant factor in the kayak’s stability. With a foam seat or a foam pad, a bit of compression is allowed for.Weight: The weight of the kayak as measured by Sea Kayaker. The weights we list often differ from the “target” weights given by the manufacturer because of variations in the construction of individual kayaks.

Acquiring a Horse
Outright Purchase
It’s surprising how many sales transactions between horse owners start with a phone call or casual conversation. It’s said that every horse wears a bridle and a price tag, and a simple inquiry between a potential buyer and seller can often result in a sale.Key, of course is setting a price. A rule of thumb is that a horse is worth what it
earned in the previous year, and while this to an extent is true of older horses,colts and fillies staked to rich events may be worth a great deal in potential earnings.Here, as in most aspects of your relationship with your trainer, you’ll rely on his advice in making purchase offers.
Grand Circuit
“Grand Circuit” is the term used to refer to the most lucrative and competitive races. The races generally follow a circuit, with each track hosting a group of major races in the same week. Grand Circuit races are mostly for two and three-year-olds, although there are an increasing number of large purse races for older horses. They are also the most expensive to compete in. Travel expenses for horses are very high. It can cost as much as $1,000 to ship a horse, one way, for an out of town race. Groom expenses are higher because they are usually caring for just one horse. You must also pay to fly your trainer wherever the horse is, for his races and sometimes training sessions while away from home.Entry fees for major stakes are usually in the thousands of dollars.Grand Circuit racing is very hard on most horses. Aside from the high level of speed they have to produce every week, many horses are worn down by the travel and do not stay “fresh” for long. They may not eat as well as they do at home or sleep as well. The shipping may make them nervous and upset. A skilled groom
can help to keep a horse happy and stress-free. The ability to “go with flow” is very important for a horse to be able to compete successfully on the Grand Circuit.