Suz

The " Coast Guard Gaskets" from Kokatat or "thick" gaskets are shaped differently than the regular gaskets. CG gaskets are made to be trimmed and are the shape of a cone. The regular gaskets are shaped like a funnel and are NOT made to be trimmed. They are best stretched. Due to their shape, if you do trim them, you will have more contact in one area and it will be more uncomfortable and not less. I switched over to the CG gaskets years ago when I was developing carpal tunnel like symptoms that were exacerbated with a wrist gasket. Turns out that it was shoulder related and not wrist related and postural changes prevent the symptoms. (Clenching and gripping - which is what happens when wearing gloves when you don't normally...) The CG gaskets are not for everyone - slimmer wrist people tend to get wet when wearing. Also some people find when doing WW or surf that their lower arms are wetter. My wrists are considered "larger" and I don't trim the wrist gaskets at all so they tend to get stretched out and I sometimes need to replace them before they are worn out. Osprey Sea Kayak always has the CG gaskets in stock.

Of course, me being me, I have always bought footprints when I bought the tent. I have never had a footprint wear out nor a tent 'wear out'. I have had tents delaminate, have had to seam seal them again. I just bought a new tent for my niece who is living in Europe and I wanted to enable her backpacking/hiking. I forgot to order the footprint. I then started thinking about making on as I have some silnylon in the attic. Then this was posted. The guy in the post though made his from Tyvek. I would imagine it was noisy and crinkly... Also noted he spent $20 +- on the material and grommets. So, I looked up online and could buy the matching footprint right now for $30. Seems it doesn't really make sense to make one if that's the case. Mike's idea of the plastic sheeting should be quiet, a bit bulky but quiet. I wouldn't do the blue tarp idea unless I was only car camping as the bulk is really just too much. Then I got to thinking, hopefully the niece will be home in 5 years and then I decided to forgo the footprint. She will end up selling/leaving her tent in Europe rather than return with it. I bet the floor will still be in good condition at that point!

Phil, I see from above that I didn't mention that it didn't appear that the adults on the boat could speak english as the youngster (maybe a teen...) did all the talking. The adults didn't talk. They appeared to understand english but didn't speak. I figured they wouldn't know how to use the radio if they didn't own one. When I asked where they came from, they pointed down the coast in the direction of Rye Harbor. I asked if they meant Rye Harbor but don't think I got an answer. Although they told me they didn't have a radio or phone, at one point I saw one of the older people with a phone to his ear. I suspect that probably they didn't know who to call. Wow - getting on a boat with strangers sounds very intimidating. I didn't even consider that! Also the strangers were smoking while trying to repair their engine. It wouldn't have seemed prudent to join them on their boat! And for Leon - the boat was a Bayliner over 20 feet with two outboard engines - one that had 25 on it and the other I don't remember but smaller. I thought it odd that the boat didn't even have a name on it. I thought all boats had to have a name... Don't know why I though that... Ed suggested to me separately that my radio may not be operating correctly if it was hard for me to hear them. I will look into it next time I am on the water and around other radios... It is an older ICM-72 that I had replaced about four years ago with a M88. I had replaced it because it was having trouble charging and something else if I recall. I then promptly lost my M88 by leaving it somewhere on either Thief or Black island in Muscongus. I then tried my old one again and it appeared to be working again... So, maybe it isn't and I need to look into it a bit further or just replace it yet again! Suz

If necessary I could have provided bearings as I did have my hand held compass. I was considering it when I looked around and spied a vessel heading to us from open water. They actually appeared to be heading to us from the Isles of Shoals...maybe they were out enjoying the day!

After a bit more googling on the iPhone, It appears that the ability of the iPhone to track you when in airplane mode is from it's ability to use the wireless towers to locate you, it also appears that this functionality is lost when upgrading to the new IOS 8.1. I will delay updating until after next months trip to Germany!

I verified that I was on high when I initially couldn't hear a response and I could only hear if I held up high.

I was surprised the CG did too. I must admit that we didn't linger after the CG arrived. Maybe they waited until someone else came?? I didn't see the usual suspects come past us as we made our way back to Odiorne,

One more thing I forgot to mention.... interesting fact is that even in airplane mode, the GPS function and maps works. I found that out on a recent trip to Europe when I was leaving my phone in airplane mode to avoid costs and then turning it on wireless when I was in free wireless locations. When in airplane mode you can see the flashing dot of your location and street names. It can only show you within a limited map range. That allows you to follow a street map with names and locations of a previously found position. I tried the compass function today within airplane mode and it calibrated and then provided a GPS location.

Hey - out for a wee little paddle on Saturday and south of Odiorne Point and almost off Wallis Sands beach I came across a fishing boat who hailed me over and requested HELP. Hmmm, been there and watched that before, no way would I consider towing a power boat any distance... better pull out the radio. Mind you, I haven't used my radio for a real call to the coast guard ever and I was a little nervous. Really thought the boaters should be calling Seatow or BoatUSA or whatever those two services are. I found it interesting though and remembered after a few responses that I am supposed to say "over" when I am done talking and things like that. I used Pan Pan giving my location and that I was a kayaker unable to assist a stranded power boat. The coast guard responded after a few minutes of repetition. I think they probably responded earlier but I was unable to hear. I found I needed to hold my radio up as high as I could reach to hear them but then had to bring the radio down to my mouth to transmit. They instructed me move to channel 22. First question was what the emergency was. Then then asked how many people were on the boat. They asked me to find out if there was anyone with a medical emergency on board. They then instructed me to have them put on their life jackets. They did ask me for lat/long and as I was without a chart, I couldn't supply it. I provided them with my distance off shore and two points that I could see visually that they would know - Wallis Sands beach house and the square cement tower. They asked me to stay with the boat until they could arrive. When they arrived, they told me that they had a very hard time hearing me. I showed them where I was holding the radio so I could hear them and that when I transmitted I would have to hold down to my mouth. I left at that point but eventually noted that they appeared to tow the boat in the direction of Rye Harbor. Happened to see Julie Casson on Sunday and she told me that my iPhone will provide me with lat/long. In this instance, I wouldn't have wanted to take out my phone from the day hatch and from within the pelican box as I knew enough local info for them to figure out where we were. BUT, if was useful information and if there was a life threatening emergency or in fog, I would have done so. iPhone users - open the compass app, roll to calibrate and once it is calibrated, it would provide lat/long. I do keep my phone in airplane mode while on water though (so I don't waste battery while it is searching for signal and so it won't ring or get texts while it is in my hatch...) Things I learned - I did have to take my radio out of the waterproof bag to hear and for the CG to hear me. Once I did that, all I had to hold on to was the little wrist strap that comes on the radio. I will put a longer tether on the radio for "next time". That would mean that I wouldn't have to worry about losing it while I am maneuvering holding position in the wind and holding it high in the air and paddling with one hand... I had tested it prior through the bag and for line of site test communication it worked find but it didn't for communicating this time. If the radio had been tethered, I might not have minded pulling the phone out if it was necessary. It would have been a fiddle though to have the untethered radio and opening day hatch and finding the pelican box with the phone it and pulling it out... Things I was glad about... My radio was charged and operational! I was able to help.

I would love to see it also. Labrador has interested me but the distance and remoteness along with polar bears has frightened me off!

I just canceled this event and removed it from the calendar. We had 7 attendees and three canceled last night due to various reasons and so that left 5 people volunteering and only four attendees and the numbers just didn't make sense. Thanks Sal, Lorrie, Glenn, Jeff for volunteering to help! Suz

I have not ever used a Dutch oven for kayak camping but used one years ago. Husband bought me one along with a lovely tripod for Christmas last year and I am ashamed to say that I haven't used it yet. Main reason is that it seems to me to be great for use when you have things that need long, slow cooking, soups and stews and lots of time to sit around the campfire. Most of my kayak camping food preparation is for things that need to be made and eaten within 45 min to an hour (prep time to bowl time). What I would like to bring camping would be a pressure cooker and I see that they make one for camping. Pressure cookers though are such a tricky/dangerous piece and must be kept sparkling clean (so the vent hole doesn't get blocked) so I have not yet bought one. Would love to hear if anyone is using a pressure cooker camping. That would really speed up the cook time of foods and also save on fuel.

Common issue - you take your drysuit out of the closet for the first of the season and quickly try it on to see that it still fits/gaskets in good condition. Then you blow a gasket. Gaskets are DRY after sitting unused for months on end in the closet. Use 303 on the gasket BEFORE you try it on for the season. This one tiny thing can save you time and money long term. Gasket replacement is expensive and even for the DIY person, it is worthwhile to do a little maintenance to avoid replacements... The general recommendation is to 303 every 4-6 weeks. Spray the 303 on a cotton rag, wipe on the gasket both inside and out and rub it in until it is dry and shiny. http://kokatat.com/general-care-instructions/ Gaskets from Kokatat cost $39 for a neck, $17 for a wrist. A little preventive maintenance will save you money long term. (Kokatat charges $69 for a neck replacement and $37.50 for a wrist replacement)

Dwell on it no longer... just sign up if you are considering coming. My November is booked but I am planning on doing a December Cold Water Paddle where we take the workshop up a notch and paddle utilizing what we learned in the workshop. In order to go on the paddle, you will need to have done a cold water workshop.

I have been thinking about this topic as I remember distinctly transitioning from an NDK boat to a P&H Cetus. Although now I am paddling an MV and once owned the LV and 161. I found all of them similar in how they behaved. Firstly, "leaning back" for stern strokes is probably not quite correct, it anchors the stern. Secondly, think of stern strokes as "minor corrections" and not turning. If you missed the opportunity to simply correct or hold position (on a wave to keep from broaching or so), you would move to a different stroke and act on the boat in a different or more aggressive way to get the boat to do what you wanted to do. And now on to the differences between the boats - they do have different pivot points. Andy is correct in that the shape of the boat determines this. It has been awhile for me but a simple side by side comparison would point it out again... Next time you have an Explorer around and a Cetus MV, give it a try. The pivot point on the Cetus range is closer to your knees and on the Explorer it is further out. Edging a P&H accentuates this. And lastly, Robert, try moving your blade in a neutral position (while under water) along the length of your boat. This is a skill that allows you to move the blade easily from any position and so moving from the "rear" quarter to the middle of the boat to the "forward" section all can take place easily. That finesse under the water is key to moving the blade and allowing it to act on the boat where you want it to.

Outer Hebrides (under planning for 2015) Newboundland (again and again - would love to paddle the full way around but not alone, with others) Alaska (although the logistics and scale scream for this to be a longer trip than possible) Magdalene Islands Pacific North West - really a years worth of possibilities and the closer to home redo's: Maine Coast again and again with another Bold Coast trip

Suz Hutchinson will be conducting the yearly cold water event this year on October 25. It will take place at Newbury Kayak and Canoe, 291 High Street (Route 1A), Newbury MA. We will launch from there either off the mucky boat ramp or utilizing the docks. Let's call a 9:30 start time. Plan to park below the shop and line up the cars against the hill below the shop. When you arrive, you can unload your boats and load up your gear for a trip down the river to Plum Island Sound. This will be done as a "learning on the go" style paddle as was done for the Spring CAM workshop on the water. (Unfortunately Scott is unavailable to assist.) • Review of cold water physiology and clothing; recognizing hypothermia; • Dunk tests • Rescues and tows • Group scenarios; CAM/leadership issues related to cold water; • Warm up practice (on-water and on-shore) • Indoors debrief Any updates to the trip will be posted to the NSPN website and the evening before we will post the location depending on the weather. More information will also be posted on the calendar. The paddling will be within level 2 guidelines on NSPN. Please read those: http://www.nspn.org/paddle_levels.htm We would like volunteers (one per 3-4 participants) so that we will not need to limit participants. Please include this in your RSVP if you have attended a cold water workshop in the past and are now looking to help. If you are interested in using a drysuit for the day, Suz will bring Kokatat demo suits and Newbury Kayak will have them available to use also. They will be available on a first come/first serve basis. When rsvp'ing let Suz know if you are hoping to use a drysuit and what size you think you are so she can make note: http://www.kokatat.com/sizing_mens.asp http://www.kokatat.c...zing_womens.asp If planning to use a drysuit, please bring form fitting fleece to wear underneath, wool/fleece socks and closed shoes that can be worn OVER the bulky drysuit sock and your socks. Fleece jackets are too bulky to go underneath a drysuit. Please bring any gloves/hoods/hats/shoes that you have that are extra so that if someone else is missing an article of clothing, they can borrow. Pack a lunch and a hot drink for the day. Note that there is one (super clean) porta potty at the shop. RSVP - suz@kayakne.com . Please don't private message or facebook. I have some documents that I will be e-mailing to all who are attending so those other means of communication are more difficult. Also, in the event that this cancels due to weather, I would want to e-mail all.

I think it would work well for anything other than when you are wet. Cloth tends to stick then.

Articulating the blade with your wrists (small tiny part of body that is relatively weak and susceptible to damage) is less efficient than articulating the blade with your body. Try using your body with rotation and try anchoring the elbow closest to the blade in the water on your boat. A higher offside/dry hand will make the blade deeper in the water, a lower angle puts the blade closer to the stern. Play around and see how powerful it is. Signed - she who avoids big waters nowadays so take with a grain of salt:) Suz

As always, your trips are an inspiration and your reports a joy to read. Newfoundland is an amazing paddling destination and the beauty and majesty found there make me wonder why I am even considering going somewhere else when the whole of the island still needs to be paddled...

Count me in! ( I did send an e-mail off to Jack) Anyone joining me? Suz

Well, funny this should come up. On my list to do is to go to the restaurant supply store and look through and find a rim that would work on a pot/bain that would have heavier grade stainless so that longer cooking food won't burn on. (like quinoa/rice/oatmeal for 8) Currently I am using only one of those and it fits into a standard day hatch and fills the opening and is no taller than it is deep. I think one slightly shorter will be my next pot. Oh - the reason I am going to look in restaurant supply stores is because the pots are usually handless that are used on the steam tables. Some are odd shapes but traditionally there are a few rounds in different diameters and depths. I bring 3 pots on a trip with 8 people and the bigger pots ARE actually easier to pack. Everything you bring can fit inside - whether it is your stove, your kitchen roll, or even a dry bag slides right in. I will let you know what I find although I won't get to it for about a week or so due to work/travel/life/stuff....

Gary - that looks like a good find. You don't so often see tofu in ready to eat packets. I might pick up some of those up for an emergency meal.

I bet Michael brings along a dehydrator for recrisping along with his food saver for portioning. PLUS a solar array to power the two electric devices.

Warren, you have come so far from the few short years ago when you didn't own a tent nor a cook stove! Never mind a tarp... Really looking forward to your presentation at the Gould Barn! Set the date!