BigBird
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Anyone know if Clammers Beach is open to non-residents?
BigBird replied to BigBird's topic in General Message Board
Thanks Al - if there are Greenheads they will find me! . I think I will wait a few weeks. -
Anyone know if Clammers Beach is open to non-residents?
BigBird replied to BigBird's topic in General Message Board
Thanks Al - I was wondering about that. Greenheads seem to love me. I was at Cranes last weekend and there were no GH's so thought Essex bay would be fine? When do they typically disappear? -
Anyone know if Clammers Beach is open to non-residents?
BigBird replied to BigBird's topic in General Message Board
Thank you! -
There's pros and cons of FB Marketplace and Craigslist. FB has surpassed CL as the more popular platform for buying/selling. The instant messenger on FB is what differentiates it (for better or worse). I use FB for low cost items and CL for high cost items.
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Great video. So, hypothetically speaking of course, what would you do in this situation if you were alone?
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Thanks midtempo for posting this thread. I've never paddled Essex Bay, but it sounds ideal. Please let us know if you were able to park at the Greenbelt?
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Since this is being slated as a NTSK Workshop, it might have more visibility on the General Message Board? The 2 Day NSPN Symposium that Dan suggested is a great idea. While I'm a beginner paddler myself and don't get out all that often, I would be happy to help facilitate a NTSKW in terms of providing additional on water support for wet exits, edging, paddle strokes, rolling etc. I also could bring an extra boat.
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NSPN Resource for Launch Sites in MA, NH, ME?
BigBird replied to BigBird's topic in General Message Board
Thanks Mike! -
Hello - is there a resource for NSPN members that identifies Launch sites on the north shore, NH, and southern Maine?
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Primary Stability: Hull Shape or Beam Width?
BigBird replied to BigBird's topic in General Message Board
Hello! Just wanted to provide an update to this thread. I took your advice and got in the pool over the Winter and successfully learned to roll (thanks to Kevin B!). I've added a P&H Scorpio and Delphin for expedition / ocean play boats. I love the rock solid primary stability, the connect seat, the deck pod, and the carefree nature of Corelite X. I also had a chance to try Kevin's NDK Romany in the pool and it felt very stable and rolled very easily. If I didn't sell my Explorer, I'm sure it would be a different experience this time around. Still lots to learn as I navigate from a beginner to more advanced paddler. Look forward to paddling with some of you this year! Built this shed during Covid - max my town allows is 18', but they both fit (Scorpio just barely!): -
In addition to exploring the sea, I love to climb the high peaks of NH. If you haven't read Ty's books on two tragedies in the Whites, I highly recommend them. The Books are "The Last Traverse" and "Where you'll find me". Whenever I have friends interested in Winter climbing the High Peaks with me, I tell them to read both of these books before they decide to come along.
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At your budget, you can likely get any boat you want new! The best advice any of us can give you is to demo as many boats as you can before making your decision. Try the Rockpool Tarantella, NDK Explorer (Peaks Island ME), P&H Cetus and Scorpio (poly), and Valley if you can find a dealer. I have a P&H Scorpio Mk2 MV and after trying the full line of P&H boats (composite & poly), this one was the perfect balance of stability, speed, comfort, weight, storage, and price for me. I'm sure others with far more experience than I will chime in, but to me the difference between composite and poly is the composite boats are stiffer which translates into a more lively and responsive boat feel. They are also typically lighter than poly, but not always depending on construction. Pro's of poly boats are the indestructible nature of them rock hopping or dragging across rocks and sand without concern for damaging the gel coat (spider cracks) on a composite boat. And of course price. I no longer have the NDK Explorer in my signature. It's known as one of the most stable expedition boats ever made and often comes highly recommended. But, as a relatively new paddler, I just could never get comfortable in that boat. It always felt tippy so I could never relax. I'm sure it was more me than the boat and your experience may be completely different, but it just goes to show what one considers a very stable touring boat may not necessarily apply to everyone. Demo, demo, demo. Good luck in your search!
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Trip Planning Workbook now available
BigBird replied to Joseph Berkovitz's topic in General Message Board
This is great - thanks Joe and Bob for putting this together and sharing with those of us who couldn't attend the seminar. -
Thanks Kate sharing your experience with Beale. Sounds like a great guy to do business with. Do you have any thoughts on solid vs. laminated?
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Thank you Pintail! Msg sent.
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Thanks Jim for the generous offer, but I definitely do not have the time or knowledge to carve my own
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Thanks very much Vick and Ed. Appreciate the referral to Nanuq Kayaks and Harley.
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Hello All - want to give a greenland paddle a go this season to see if it's easier on the shoulders (struggling with an injury). Any recommendations on manufacturer, material, and size (I'm 6'0"). Anyone have one collecting dust they'd like to sell?
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I posted here a couple of years ago about friends of mine who were paddling off Hermit Island (not far from Bailey Island). They said a shark came right up to them and was 6' - 8' long. Not a great white, but they weren't sure what it was as they were so scared they began paddling to shore as fast as they could. I've paddled around Casco Bay and often came across schools of fish flying at me followed by a couple of seals and I was always on the lookout for a fin or two, but never saw one myself.
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Primary Stability: Hull Shape or Beam Width?
BigBird replied to BigBird's topic in General Message Board
Brian, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your articles about stability and the one linked above. Although I never went cartwheeling on a wave like you did in the Nordkapp (WOW!), I can relate exactly on how you felt spooked trying to break through the waves to get back to the safety of the cove. The fear was real after I got caught in a storm in Casco Bay which motivated the sale of the boat after that trip. I like the P&H boat designs (swede form). I'm hoping the Delphin will be the boat to get me back out there. I will heed all of the good advice given by you and others in this thread to get some more instruction, and be patient with myself to allow my skills to improve with more seat time. Depending on the Covid situation, I also hope to join the pool rolling sessions over the Winter - I think that if I can learn to brace and roll, my enjoyment of sea kayaking will go up immeasurably.