Suz

Liz - can you post the article? You need to be a registered user to follow the link. Suzanne

Tommy, The Fabric Place carries a selection of coated nylon products. Bought some for cockpit covers and for making dry bags. [www.fabricplace.com] There is a big fabric store in Lynn - they are big in upholstery fabrics but I wouldn't be surprised if they have coated nylon - Zimman's: [www.zimmans.com]give them a ring and see what they have. On line: Rockywoods Outdoor Fabrics - [www.rockywoods.com/breathables_main.htm] Seattle Fabrics: [www.seattlefabrics.com] Hope this helps! Suzanne

OK, OK... I will move this a bit further up on the activities committee's list! Is there anyone that would like to volunteer to organize this? Possibly someone who hasn't volunteered for other committees yet? If so, let me know via posting here or e-mailing me: suzanne.pritchett@comcast.net Thanks, Suzanne

I would like to join in on a paddle with my niece, who is 13. She loves kayaking, even took a week long camping/class with MIKCO last year and will do so again this year. I would need to borrow a boat from someone if we were to do this. Suzanne

Shane, Why not cut them down? I sent my 230 back to Werner for trimming - asked them to make it a 210. They called me and talked me out of it and I now have a 218. My spare is a 210 and I really like the length better. I will most likely sell the 218 and buy another 210 this summer. Suzanne

The activites committee has held an e-meeting on yahoo groups. We have started brainstorming for activity ideas. Here is what we have come up with, along with the ideas that were suggested at the general meeting in February: Cold weather workshop Cold water workshop Packing your kayak for camping Skin on frame boat constructing Outfitting Rough water Comfortable Cockpits for baby boomers Basic intro for new kids How to buy a boat Family paddle Camp cookery Surfing How to make custom gear Basic strokes Birding Ergonomics/stretching safely How to make your own drybags Lectures for the winter months – make suggestions of exciting people to invite! NSPN weekend at MIKCO – lots of classes for lots of levels – tailored to what we are looking for with an overnight on Peaks Island. Kayak Treasure hunt – to test navigation skills Sea kayak slalom race – 10 minute course-It would involve negotiating a marked course passing through tight spots, turns, reverse moves, in very friendly surging water among some rocks. It would test ones boat handling, mostly turning skills, not how fast one paddles forward. You'd have to do lots of draws, sweeps, edge the boat etc. Do it on a warm September Saturday, some place around Cape Ann or the islands off Manchester. Our own “Dancing on Water” group - practicing strokes, braces, turns, rolls in a quiet-water setting and linking them into a choreographed on-the-water kayak dressage! This could be as a prelude to the slalom course, allowing people to practice maneuvers and boat handling in a non-hazardous setting. Kayak Festival – done in conjunction w/ outfitters If you would prefer to e-mail me with suggestions, please do so at: suzanne at pritchett at comcast dot net The people that are currently listed on the committee are: Linda Shelburne Ken Cooper Christopher Godfrey Kim Flint Al Coons Jonathan Richardson Richard Najarian Suzanne Pritchett If you would like to be part of the planning committee, please let me know soon so that you can be in on the ground floor! If you are willing to share you special expertise in an area and would like to volunteer, let me know that too! Thanks, Suzanne

The pictures make it look cold and dreary. It was about 60 degrees and a great day on the water! Suzanne

I have also bought things from Outdoorplay.com. They were quick and I do like the discount for ACA membership. Only problem is their return policy. I should have read it BEFORE I purchased. I bought the NRS booties in two different sizes as I wasn't sure which ones would fit. So although I got the discount for ACA, I paid the restocking fee. Almost didn't get that as it took me longer than 30 days to get the booties back to them. I could have bought the booties from NRS but Outdoorplay had a pair of gloves that I wanted so I bought both things from the one place. Remember no returns on sales and close out items. Suzanne Here is their policy: "Outdoorplay happily accepts product returns or exchanges within 30 days of the date of purchase for regularly priced products. We do not accept returns or exchanges on sale or close-out items. The returned or exchanged product must be unused and returned in the original manufacturer packaging with the original product hang tags attached. All returns (but not exchanges) are subject to a 15% restocking fee. For your protection, we recommend you insure your return/exchange package when sent to Outdoorplay. All product returned or exchanged will be inspected upon its arrival at Outdoorplay. Your original form of payment will be credited for the appropriate amount following a satisfactory inspection."

OK Dottie, but just remember the soup kettle goes on the stove, the blender goes in the freezer - not the other way around. What with the drizzle and slight wind projected, it will be a welcome treat to have hot soup waiting. Suz PS - I have always liked NOAA's experimental site... so far they aren't predicting much in the way of rain - 0.08 of an inch. Hardly anything. It also shows the winds picking up but not until about 4 pm. [http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/gyx/gfe/gridded.html]

Karen, Is there still room left? Suzanne

Hi, All the dry suits ordered through Ravenspring were the Rapide, with front zip and latex booties. If goretex were an option at the time, I would have gotten them. Not that I have ever used them but they feel sturdier than the latex. I am always so fearful that I will puncture my latex socks taking it on and off. Replacing latex socks/gaskets can be done by yourself, I assume that goretex socks must need to go back to the factory. Ravenspring was great to deal with, no problems with ordering, delivery was on time and accurate. No one has reported any problems with the drysuits that were purchased this fall. There were reports from two people who had them from prior years that they had spots that delaminated. Ravenspring replaced their suits. Time will tell how they stand up to wear and tear... I really like that they are custom made - so if you have slightly irregular proportions.. ie long arms, short torso or big bottom , these are the suits to get! Kokatat is tops for a reason... but these make a great "starter suit" gets you in the water longer, earlier and later... (OK all the time if the temps are above 20 and I'm not skiing...) I have heard tales of people abusing their dry suits... you know, not: -rinsing them off inside and out after each wearing -air drying thoroughly before putting them away -lubricating the zipper w/ zipper wax (storing unzipped as directed) -using 303 on all the gaskets (I do when I put it away, each time) So maybe some will last longer than others. Suzanne

Just a reminder to sign up for the committees that are of interest to you. Thanks, Suzanne (Yes, this means YOU)

Guide.. And who might that be that has been quietly studying hard to become a registered Maine Guide? Jed Luby!! Congratulations! Suz

Definite interest. Let us know the different flares that you are negotiating and then I will tell you how many or each. Thanks for thinking ahead! Suz

There are only five reservations. It's not too late - send me an e-mail if you are interested. Thanks, Suzanne

Carol - Sometimes I can not see the replies either. When that happens, I close my browser down and re-open it and then they show. I don't know why it happens but know that a new browser fixes it. Give a pool session a try - I think that you will enjoy meeting people, talking to them about their boats and trying out other's boats too. Suzanne

Or join some of us at a pool session - space available still for Chinatown this Saturday.

VCP Argonaut - VCP hatches with the inset rim -all dry hatches when "double" sealed. If I don't pull the the covers off before leaving a warm area to a cold, the hatches get way too tight for me to remove at all. The hatch covers indent and they become impossible for me to remove at all. This even happened when taking the boat out of a 20 degree unheated garage and went to a zero degree outside - took me a 10 minute fight to get one of the covers off. Suzanne

Danvers pool sessions- Next Session is February 15. DANVERS: LYDON CENTER Sunday Evenings: 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. (TIME AMENDED) We can not arrive a minute earlier than 7:15 due to prior groups departure time. It is OK to arrive and park across the street and carry gear over. No cars with kayaks on top in parking lot prior to 7:30! Registrar: Suzanne Pritchett email: suzanne.pritchett@comcast.net Dates: Jan.18, Feb 15, Mar 21, April 11 Price: $15 members; $20 non-members (per session) Are you ready to practice your roll? Do you want to perfect your re-entry technique? Are you afraid that time spent without practicing a high-brace will leave you high and wet? Or do you just miss being in you boat? All of our pool sessions this year will be the “Open Practice” format where you can learn from your peers. Things that you can practice in a pool include skills, techniques and strokes that do not need an expanse of water, such as: * Wet exits * Rescues, assisted and unassisted. * Equipment testing, exploration, shakedown, usage or just getting comfortable, for example, using a paddle float for rescues. * Strokes not needing an expanse of water, such as draw and pry. * Rolling, bracing, balance bracing, sculling, etc. Equipment for pool sessions, includes your kayak: * PFD -- required for anyone in a boat in a pool session. * Spray skirt -- required for the vast majority of skills to be practiced * Paddle float – optional, for rescue practice, rolling practice, etc. * Pump – optional for practice involving capsized or swamped boats * Goggles or a face mask -- highly recommended for practice that involves immersion, since chlorinated pools can be hard on the eyes.

Can't remember where I found this but here is a company that is in Connecticut that does repairs and will add on the booties. If you e-mail them, they will e-mail you a price list which I will e-mail you now. OuterwearRepair@aol.com Outerware Repair (800) 595-8552 604 Opening Hill Road Madison, CT 06443 Good luck, Suzanne

How thick are they - will they affect your hearing?

Jeff, Totally unfair to post this on DECEMBER 1? What are you thinking? Anyone up for a road trip? Suz

Liz, Count me in. Suz

Au contraire.. much better to be taught by someone who has made the mistake.

And thank the lord that physics isn't a required course as I would never be allowed on the water! I am struggling to just absorb all the info as I sit here in my chair at work wishing I could be paddling instead...