galasport spinhx??

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is it true that the galasport sphinx boat isn't to the icf rules of polo boats.
What other boat should I buy then?

[neklan]

No, it isn't true. I was at this year's ESSEN INTERNATIONAL in May and there was the ICF CANOE POLO COMMITTEE, nominal Jon Bisset, Frits Jager CHAIRMAN, Carmel Velkins, Dominique Le Bellourd and the fifth, I don't know his name, but exactly because of this, to discuss the rules for scrutineering, they came to Essen.
First they checked all different types of polo boats, including SPHINX my one, according to the old rules, and then discussed if the rules are rational and good. They decided to erase some rules and pointed out only the most important ones. Actually these decisions should be noted somewhere but I don't know where. I'm sure that Frits JAGER is well informed and could supply you with the accurate information. You find his email on www.canoe-polo.com.

Now to come to an end: The boat SPHINX by GALASPORT IS SURELY ICF CERTIFICATED AS PROVED IN ESSEN BY THE GERMAN HEAD SCRUTINEER. I WAS BY THE DISCUSSION AND WAS REALLY INTERESTED IF IT IS OR NOT, BECAUSE I USE IT MYSELF, AND THEY TOLD ME: YES, SPHINX IS OK.
I hope I can stop this rumour with this posted mail

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I heard that they first hat to changen some things to make it to the rules. someone in germany said that the changed the radius and the boat now is called the knight.
It was that boat they tested in Essen

[tcrees]

I've paddled a Sphinx at the 2001 Canadian and US Nationals, and again at the 2001 Continental Cup of the Americas. It passed scrutineering at all 3 events.

Admittedly, scrutineering at these events was not necessarily as precise as at a World Championship, but there's definately nothing obviously irregular about it - there's no weird or sharp curves for example.

Regards, Tristan.

[neklan]

Pieter

Yes, it is true that also the KNIGHT had passed the scrutineering in Essen, but not only.
SPHINX passed also, I gave them my sphinx to check it. (and by the way I played with sphinx in the last World Championships 2000 in São Paolo, BRAZIL - and not only me but 2 other players in the swiss team, and a player in the french team and still more)

I think IT IS OBVIOUS that SPHINX is ICF CERTIFIED, WHEN IT PASSED A WORLD CHAMP'S, isn't it?


KNIGHT was been designed by GALASPORT especially for GERMANY, according to the GERMAN INTERPRETATION of ICF KAYAK SCRUTINEERING Rules.

But at the end anyways is most important if a boat passes scrutineering at World Championships and what the ICF CP Committee concluded in Essen 2001.

If anyone knows something about these decisions?, please bring them up in the forums, thanx

[clyde]

Two important things to point out...

1. So far as I am aware, the ICF don't check boat designs in any way except through the process of scruineering at a major championship. A boat that passes at a major championship does not mean it is instantly ICF approved. Far from it in fact. As much as I'd like to see them do this, the ICF CP Committee seem very reluctant to do this, though I can not see one reason why they shouldn't. It would after all stop us talking about this kind of thing.

2. It is impossible to check to see if a boat passes the boat specs if it has an outside seam. This prevents the guages being applied correctly to the edge of the boat.

Here in Britain, we have a boat checking panel who are organised by the BCU Polo Committee. They will only check a plug - a boat without an outside seam. Boats that are approved in Britain are checked to the ICF Boat Specs, but this does not claim to make them ICF Approved, since there is no approval system in place.

So, just becuase the members of the ICF CPC where at Essen, they would not have approved any boats in an official capacity, because if they had, they would have thrown away any credibility by not following basic engineering procedures.
If the ICF did have an official Boat Checking facility, then they could also list approved manufacturers of that design and then there would be less problems at major championships in scrutineering. There would also be some safe guard from unscrupulouse people ripping off designs if the ICF were to have the courage to simply say "boats manufactured by non-approved manufacturers would not be used even if they are a recognised design" as this would indicate they recognise the design had been stollen.
This has happened in other dicliplines.

Clyde

[Mareese]

What about a manufacturer who designs a new boat just in time for a major Competition? If there is a lot of red tape involved in getting a boat approved, this will not happen!

I agree that the rules must be simplified and should reflect the developments and trends in the sport. It should also be possible to check all the specifications on a finished boat.

I don't think that the privilage of making and designing boats should be confined to a few pre approved manufacturers.

[michielv]

Hi all,

I'd like to mention that during the 1999 Europeans several players from several countries played in boats that were not ICF approved. Some of them applied some wing-like thingie behind the cockpit, others simply shoved some foam under the rear deck to raise it a little.

I wonder how in disciplines like slalom or sprint non-apprived boats are dealt with? Do manufacturers comply to the rules and are individual boats checked upon delivery?
Can a 1000 UKP slalom boat be returned when it is not
ICF approved (assuming the manufacturer claims the design is)?

Can manufacterers be "forced" to comply to the rules, or otherwise can players return boats that have not been
approved? This is, upon delivery, not after you've banged the wreck half dead ;-)

I have to admit that as composite boats are handmade it is always possible that a boat is not according to the ICF rules but are individual boats checked by the manufacturer? Especially with the upper range of boats I'd expect something like that.

Just some thoughts that crossed my mind ....

Michiel

[clyde]

Personall, as somone involved in designing - and not a manufacturer, I think a professional manufacturer should have reasonable enough standards that they are consistant enough that there would be no failures. The most likely place a boat would fail would be on the depth and radius along the etire edge - asuming the design was actually leagal in the first place.
If the halves are cut or joined badly then a distortion or reduced depth can be achieved which may not only allow a failing of the depth (180mm along the cockpit) but also reduce the radii rise from the edge (this size depends on the section of the boat).
Cutting down a boat to reduce the volume in most designs would simply render the boat illegal due to it failing most masurable areas except length and width.
This has happened in the past.
Personally I think anyone who suspects their boat is not what they ordered should return it to the manufacturer.
If the design has be modified from an approved boat here in Britian, and sold as the previous design the BCU Canoe Polo Committee would take serious action to prevent this occuring again. Personally I would fully support the customer and want to publically name that manufacturer to warn paddlers of this serious deception.

Clyde

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Thanks for all information. This weekend (after o lang period off thinking) i've orderd a galasport sphinx.

I already used my new galasport paddle and it is fantastic, i hope my boat will be that good.µ

[João]

Hello Polo world.

My name is Joao, I'm I'm player and GalaSport dealer here
in Portugal. I'm also using a Dynamite paddle and a SPHYNX
boat. You'll find that there isn't such good construction as SPHYNX... the strongest boat I've ever paddled.

Bye.
Enjoy your GalaSport equipment.
;-)

[Bleu]

can anyone comment on the merits and disadvantages of the boat sphynx? thx

[neklan]

hi blue,

the merits of SPHINX are
1/ very speedy 2/ very turnable 3/ easy to dive bow
i think it combines all vifeatures.

the disadvantages, i can't think of any.

at the end anyway most important is that you test SPHINX by yourself, and see what do YOU think about!

do you know where to test a SPHINX ???

[scroll]

I do think that there are boats who are better than the galasport Sphinx. Like the Flight (dbxclusive). But the sphinx isn't that expensive at all. so you get a good boat for a very low price.

greats

[Bleu]

hey, thanks a lot man....well as to the testing, i am not sure as to where you can test one....... i am from singapore... can you tell me how to go about doing it? btw do you noe the price of a carbon kev spinhx and roughly how much it would cost to ship to singapore? thanks a million.....

[clyde]

Speak directly to the manufacturer - don't give a middle man a cut of your cash if you don't have to.

An authorised local distributor might get a better price on the import though as they will organise several imports in one lot, but they will also be making money out of your purchase.

If you can find other people in your area who also want goods (boats/paddles) from the same manufacturer then you can also reduce your import costs.

As for testing a boat, you are geographically out on a limb there. It usually takes one person to have tried a product elsewhere on their travels and to bring one back with them for everyone else to try it. But then, you might either the seat tyoe or position are not to every ones liking even though the manufacturer can supply alternatives.

Not much help - sorry.

http://www.galasport.cz/

Clyde

[michielv]

I agree with Clyde here: deal with the manufacturer directly and it might save you some money.

Perhaps it is worthwhile to get some deal on promoting the Sphynx for them in return for a fee of some sorts. It depends on what you can manage to negotiate (a free boat will most likely be impossible) but they might be interested in something like this.

At the very least it might save you on transportation costs.

If you're very lucky they have a demo boat available that you can get for a nice price...

Good luck,

Michiel

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I't is true that when you buy the boat by the manafactory it is a lot cheaper. BUT when their is a official galasport store in your area than it is impossibel to buy it their. The won't sell it to you because you can buy it in your own country.

Dutch speaking persons can go to www.kajakpolo-lokeren.yucom.be clik on 'DE ploeg' and then 'boten en merken' you find some information their. Also about Double dutch and Dbxclusive.

greets Pieter