billvoss

Hi Leslie, I'm bound to join you as well. -Bill

Niamh niamh “radiance, lustre, brightness.” The daughter of the sea god Manannan she was known as “Niamh of the Golden Hair,” a beautiful princess riding on a white horse. She fell in love with Fionn’s son Oisin (read the legend of Niamh and Oisin) and lived with him in Tir-na-nOg (“Land of the Young”) (read the legend) where 300 years passed in what seemed like three weeks. In 2003 it was the eleventh most popular baby girl’s name in Ireland.

Definitely let us know how it works out. The little Atwood pump definitely seems inexpensive, reliable, and no construction required. Though it is only rated at 200 gph, versus 500+ gph for most of the DIY choices. Replacing D-cell batteries after every five or so hours of use instead of just recharging a 12 volt lead-acid battery could also get expensive if you use it regularly.

I pumped out a few inches of water from my boat so many times during my last pool session, without ever wet-exiting, that I've been thinking about an electric bilge pump myself. Though a better fitting custom skirt might be as useful in my case. Here are the web links I've located so far: Ralph Johnson SOF Electric Pump photo albumGnarlydog searching for bilgeSOF Bilge Pump by wysedav on Blue Herron Kayak forumDr Blug blog on adding an electric pumpseakayakwa.org.au's fully automatic electric bilge pump systemQajaq USA form thread which includes some bilge pump discussion The Qajaq USA thread includes the comment by Dave Isbell: Avoid the switch . I have built 2 of these using a rule automatic pump. (West Marine about $60). It has a computer chip that cycles the pump every couple of minutes. if it feels resistance it keeps pumping. If it doesn't it shuts down. To activate i open the Pelican battery case and hook the lead wire up. To deactivate, disconnect the wire. No switch needed. Personally I'm wondering if I can combine Dave Isbell's simplicity with Ralph Johnson's tube up through the skirt simplicity.

For a kayaking application you would want a DSC capable radio with a built-in GPS. There are also DSC radios without GPS, which would not be useful for a typical kayaking scenario.For example, the original poster's article referenced the Standard Horizon HX851 (note, I own the prior HX850 model) which is described as having: Built-in 12 Channel GPS ReceiverDSC functions include: Distress call with position, All ships, Urgency, Safety, Individual call, Position Request, Position Report and Group call With the HX851 radio, you lift a plastic cover which is labeled "Distress" or "SOS" and press the button under it. The radio will then send an electronic SOS signal which includes both your GPS position information, and your MMSI number. So the coast guard will know who and where you are. For a coastal kayaker in New England, I would (and did) buy this radio before buying a PLB. (Though the following year I also bought a PLB).The original article also referenced Standard Horizon HX471S which is described as having: DSC Distress call with NMEA GPS position inputThe HX471S is a DSC radio. So it to is required to have a plastic cover labeled "Distress" or "SOS." If you lift that cover and press the button under it, the radio will send an electronic SOS signal which includes your MMSI number. So the coast guard will know who you are. However, it does NOT contain a built-in GPS. The phrase with NMEA GPS position input means if you connect a data wire between this radio and a GPS, then the radio will know where you are, and then it can include your position information in a distress signal. That is a reasonable option on a bigger boat, where the radio lives in a charging cradle that is wired into the ship's GPS system. It is not a useful option for a kayaker.So yes, you can get the behavior you want, but you need a handheld DSC radio with built-in GPS.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far! I do think it will be more of a challenge to get my sustained pace up to 4 knots, than to paddle in rough conditions. However, it still seems prudent to first encounter rough water in a well spotted training environment, and not wait for unexpectedly bad weather on an L3 trip. An intro-to-moving water day would be wonderful. Combining the NSPN "Master Calendar" and my personal calendar, assuming we wait till at least June for warmer water, it would need to be on August 18th, 19th, 25th, or 26th or sometime in September to avoid hitting a weekend which already has at least one paddle scheduled! I just love the way the 2012 calendar is filling up so early! Google says Bath, ME is almost 3 hours away for me, , but something on the North Shore of MA, or the NH coast would definitely be wonderful. It looks like www.kayakwaveology.com is probably the closest commercial option suggested so far. Depending on where in Rhode Island they meet, Google is giving me driving times in the 1:45 to 2:30 range. I'm already booked for the tide race weekends he has on his calendar. However, his surf weekend in April looks promising. I just used his contact form to see if I can attend it as a pair of day trips (to preserve domestic harmony). At first I thought the seacliffkayakers.com/Classes.html page was empty. After I figured out that I was supposed to click the links for class descriptions I got a bit excited. A number of the offerings sound great. Unfortunately, when I went to seacliffkayakers.com/Calendar.html I did not find any of the classes I was interested in listed. There is a lot of open space on the calendar, but this is not the year to procrastinate on picking dates! Google also estimates a more than three hour drive for me to Boothbay, ME. Which makes a day trip challenging. Perhaps he will offer something further south someday. Thanks again, Bill Voss

By intermediate rough water, I mean conditions which exceed NSPN L3 criteria, but which are mostly within NSPN L4 criteria. In my Sea Kayak, I consider myself a solid L3 paddler, trying to become an L4 paddler. I've also become addicted to Greenland rolling. To become an L4 paddler using NSPN's paddle level criteria, I still need to practice paddling in up to 25 knot winds, up to 4 foot waves and surf, up to 4 knot current, improve my "Surf skills," improve my "Tidal current skills," and get my sustained paddling pace up to 4 knots. Any training which safely moves me toward L4 is good. So far, I've basically paddled in L3 and milder conditions. I do not have much if any sea kayaking experience in L4 conditions. Last summer I started joining the Tuesday night surf sessions, but never made it on a "big" surf night. I have also done a tiny bit of rock gardening, but still consider myself a beginner. The bumpiest open water paddling I've experienced was either the confused chop in Boston Harbor (which I loved), or a paddle at Newburyport where the tide opposed the wind at the mouth and kicked up a little excitement. Though I have a solid flat-water setup roll, I don't know if I have a sea kayak combat roll, because I've never accidentally capsized my sea kayak in water more than about a foot deep. I am also a solid class 2 white-water paddler, working on becoming a class 3 paddler. In my WW boat, I have a good chance of rolling up in a combat situation, but it is not a certainty. In a pool, my Sea Kayak roll with a Greenland paddle is much more reliable than my WW roll. By the way, I posted this in Events and Commercial Classified because I wanted to allow commercial responses. Though I'm definitely cheap enough that an NSPN "developing L3 paddlers into L4 and beyond..." series would be perfection.

While WALES! sounds wonderful, my skills, budget, and wife all say that trip is not for me this year. However, I would like to attend some intermediate rough water skills training closer to home this summer, and my calendar is quickly filling up. My wife would like me to restrict myself to day trips. Though I might be able to sweet talk her into letting me go for a long weekend. Any suggestions?

I love having NSPN trips for those who plan! Alas, this one conflicts with my Boston Harbor - 18 mile AMC Sea Kayak Trip, which I published back in 2011! That is a real shame, because I would love to join the Gerrish trip, and because I will miss some of the NSPNer's who might have otherwise joined my trip.

I think my roll would be toasted if I paddled that.

I love my F1 by Cape Falcon, and paddle it all the time. The Cape Falcon L.P.B. also looks interesting. They are both "modern" SOF designs, as opposed to reproductions of historic designs. However, only consider the SOF choice if you want to build your own boat, either at home, or in a week long workshop. Note that the Delmarva class http://www.capefalconkayak.com/events.html is in Delaware, a reasonable drive from here. Delmarva is also a great event to attend in its own right.

Awesome. I'll be mailing you another check.

Then go to http://www.thule.com and use the Thule Fit Guide for the particular vehicle you are looking at. Thule will have model and year specific information, and will know what you can safely mount to the factory equipment.

I definitely second the Ice Bay glove. That is the heaviest glove that I feel comfortable wearing while holding a paddle. Unfortunately, the seams definitely do give out. I think I'm on my third pair. I have not tried "a little reinforcement on the outside" and am curious about the details of what worked. I acquired a pair of pogie's last X-mas, and used them for a new years day paddle. I felt a bit trapped in them, when combined with my big hands and the Ice Bay gloves. They were also a non-starter with my Greenland paddle.

I think I found a higher rock on Saturday. See pictures 29 and 32, which I'm pretty sure are both the same rock. Which I was able to enjoy for a little longer than I originally planned. It was definitely a great day. I'm very glad I joined you.

I think I'll probably be able to join you. -Bill

I guess the weather scared everyone off. So I will NOT be going to Walden this Friday.

Last call. I need someone else to say they want to go by early Thursday afternoon. Otherwise I will not arrange for time off from work, and will not be loading my boat on the car Thursday night.

I'm very interested in another pond session this Friday, if anyone else will commit to be there to help me with my boat, and spot me on the water! I think I could get there by 4pm. Anyone interested? NOAA is currently predicting Sunny with a Hi of 63 °F on Friday. For rolling practice, a dry-suit might be nice, but how is that different from the rest of the summer? Besides, if you have not done so already, you should probably check your dry-suit before going out on a "real" paddle this fall anyway.

It looks like I should be able to join you! -Bill

Given my wife's need for my assistance Friday, the current drizzle at my house, and the forecast for rain tomorrow, I'm not going to load my boat on the car tonight, which means I won't be joining you tomorrow, September 23rd, 2011. Next week I should be arriving at Delmarva Friday afternoon for a whole weekend of rolling. Sorry you are not all coming with me! The first Friday in October, the sun will be setting around 6:17pm, but I might be up for practicing what I learned at Delmarva. Keep your fingers crossed for good weather! till later, -Bill

I plan to attend. Not sure if I will be able to get there early. -Bill

It is not a roll, but I have used Gempler's Fluorescent Orange Vehicle Marking Tape (Strips) Item No: F6PKKIT in the past. I have not used them, but these Gempler options might also work for you: 2" x 25-ft. Roll Red Reflexite Tape Item No: RXR25 2" x 25-ft. Roll Yellow Reflexite Tape Item No: RXY25 Retro-reflective Tape - Fluorescent Orange Item No: 173308

My boat is on my car, and I expect to leave work around 4pm to arrive at Walden around 5pm. I consider 2 people the minimum for safe rolling practice. So in my opinion, we should be fine. -Bill