djlewis

Sir Christopher: I believe you have misused the verb "elucidate" in its transitive form. The object of "elucidate" in that form is the statement, concept, point, text, etc. to be clarified, not the person for whom it is to be clarified. See, for example... http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elucidate I suspect the word you wanted was "enlighten", whose object is a person to be enlightened on a point. Or perhaps you intended "elucidate for me", the intransitive form. I take the trouble to enlighten you only because you yourself have been rather dogged in elucidating such points of English usage for people who make mistakes, so I'm confident you will particularly appreciate being enlightened, and will not take me to task for pedantry. Regards. --Sergeant David of the Grammar Police.

Not an app, but very useful nonetheless... Paste this, the URL of the NOAA graphical marine forecast -- http://graphical.weather.gov/sectors/massachusettsMarineDay.php -- into a composed e-mail message and send that message to yourself. Open the mail message on your smarty-phone and touch the link. That will take you to graphical forecast as a web page in the browser on your phone. It responds to touches on the grid to select the feature (wind, gust, temp, etc) and time (8 am, 11 am, etc). Bookmark this page using whatever technique your system offers. In case you aren't familiar with this web page, it shows the detailed near-shore (and offshore) forecasts that take into account all the influences such as topographical features (like the Cape protecting Boston Harbor and Salem Sound from SE swell), swell and wind direction, distance from shore, etc. In other words, this forecast gives your the near-shore details that the standard NOAA marine regional forecasts do not. So even, for example, when there is 6 feet of swell that might give you pause to go out, if that swell is from the SE you will not see it off of Marblehead or Manchester and can paddle in peace. If it's from the E, however, it will penetrate all the way into the harbor and make for exciting surfing at Nahant. Likewise, though less so, with wind. Of course, you can also use this on your desktop or laptop, which is usually fine as it changes only a couple of times a day (unfortunately). But if you want to be sure, consult this on the beach before you launch for the latest details, particularly wind.

Yow -- now I remember that discussion. I guess I really should read it in detail. Thanks. Your observation about an optimal tradeoff makes sense. But looking at the Zsolt video, I see an incredibly smooth blade trajectory which, it seems to me, is an important part of his stroke's effectiveness. So there is no pause or "kink" in his stroke at all, just a smooth "shape". If that's so, the the issues become what is the optimal "shape" (including the placement with respect to the water). There's probably also an invisible aspect of shape, namely the varying forces of hands on the shaft, as driven by forces in the body.

Looks really nice to me. But I have question about that video, Leon. It's hard to be sure without slowing it down, but it looks to me like Zsolt is *not* burying the blade fully before it travels backwards. If so, does that mean I was taught wrong (which is quite possible) or is that feature particularly for wings? Looking at how smooth his stroke is, I am inclined to believe that burying the blade should indeed take a back seat to the overall dynamics. Fully burying before any backwards motion might interrupt the smoothness and efficiency -- put kind of a kink in the motion. Make any sense? --David

I'll leave the reports to others. Here are some pictures... Complete set -- http://djlewis.smugmug.com/Kayaking/NSPN/NSPN-Solstice-June-22-2013/30133837_vJTC7w And two samples -- Our fearless (level 3) facilitator briefing us on the beach... Part of the the usual large solstice paddle fleet at the level 3 lunch stop on S. Gooseberry...

If I may presume, I believe MForti's point was exactly that -- the "full moon" effectively extends for for "a couple of days" so his personal preference for Sunday was not in conflict with the concept of "full moon paddle" even though it did not occur at "the exact time of the full moon". So he had made all the argument needed. At least that's how I understood it. Shall we bet on it?

probably -- two of us.

Yes -- nice paddle. Thanks to Al for posting, Judy & Pablo for participating. I get 7.5 nautical miles for the trip, with the circuit of Georges. Since Al likes statute miles, that's about 8.5. --David

I'm a likely participant -- sounds like the perfect mellow paddle to finally start my season (with obeisance to the Goddesses and Gods of the Sea -- may they not zing us for my presumptive chutzpah).

What time does it start? What's the water temp -- shorts and t-shirt yet, or still wet suit? Thanks. --David

You'd think either of those would make news, and I don't see any. Probably just a server bonking with nobody on duty -- and that may be budgetary.

The web site for the Parker River / Plum Island Refuge is down... http://www.fws.gov/northeast/parkerriver/ in fact, the whole Fish & Wildlife Service likewise... http://www.fws.gov Anybody know why? Please don't tell me it's budget cuts, the "sequester" etc. --David

Whatever their biological age, it seems their emotional age was around 2 or 3.

If 303 contained plasticizers, wouldn't they mention it here, where they discuss plasticizers already in vinyl? There's a similar discussion about tires. BTW, your assumption that 303 restores the flexibility of rubber is circular reasoning, isn't it -- assuming what we are trying to establish. I think people's informal, anecdotal impressions hardly constitutes proof -- easy to be swayed by expectations. You'd really need a blind, controlled experiment -- two pieces of rubber handled exactly the same -- both exposed equally to UV, then one treated and one not, and then stored in the dark for a while so the 303 evaporates. Meanwhile, the strongest circumstantial evidence that 303 lacks these properties is that the manufacturer doesn't advertize them. Why in the world would a manufacturer trying to market a product omit such important and attractive features if their produce really possessed them?! I think non-petroleum silicone grease is a good candidate for restoring deteriorated ("dried out") gaskets and hatch covers. In fact, the 303 literature specifically says it does not contain silicone grease. Anyway, feel free to keep practicing this ritual -- can't hurt, can it? Like rubbing a rabbit's foot. ;-)

What the heck does that mean? Interpreted in "plain English" it seems to include landing, launching, exiting and entering your kayak as well a removing and loading gear. Does that mean I can land, jump out, open a hatch, remove my lunch from the hatch and eat it (the lunch, not the hatch)? Eating lunch on the beach thus arguably "involves" unloading said lunch from said boat. To be sure, I can jump up every few minutes to move my boat a bit -- something we often do anyway when we don't pull it high enough on a rising tide.

The thing to remember about 303 is that it is not only a UV protectant for rubber, but also for vinyl, plastic, fiberglass, leather and even gelcoat! So why would it contain stuff -- plasticizers, conditioners (like silicone) -- especially for rubber. Those might in fact hurt materials other than rubber. http://www.303products.com/media/pdfs/303-pamphlet-techfacts-2009_edited.pdf http://www.303products.com/tech-facts-brochures/ Read the section of that brochure on tires -- 303 protects against UV and ozone -- but that's it. Look, my only point is that there is no reason to put 303 on gaskets before summer storage. Much more important is to put the suit in total darkness. In fact, I'd say to put the suit in a totally dark place *always* when not in use, even in winter -- I roll it up inside a duffel. Otherwise, exposure to even mild light over days and weeks will do as much or more damage as 8 hours in the sun when paddling. Well, if you don't put the suit in the dark, then I guess 303 is good to minimize UV degradation due to the length of time in non-dark storage. But it ain't conditioning the rubber, just keeping it from UV and ozone degradation in the first place.

I researched this a bit more, and I think that oxidation due to contact with ozone, in addition to UV exposure, also causes latex to "dry out". (I'm pretty sure it isn't actual drying, that is, loss of water or some kind of oil content.) Perhaps the ozone effect is what I intuitively meant by "chemical" oxidation. I don't know how quickly ozone-based rubber oxidation works, but maybe a coat of 303 does keep air, and therefore, ozone away from the latex. The question in my mind is even if so whether if it matters much, especially if you store the suit in a dark, confined place, like rolled up inside a duffel. The other thing I ran across is that silicon grease *is* a latex conditioner, if it's without petroleum products. That's interesting, because winter kayak surfers use silicon grease on their face to protect against the cold air and water. I wonder if non-petroleum silicon grease would therefore be something to put on gaskets to do what many hope/think 303 does, apart from UV protection.

Thanks for stepping up, Godfrey K. Your case is working its way through the bureaucracy and you will be informed of your sentence in due time. Meanwhile, that's pretty much my point. I'm sure Herr Doktor Professor Allen will have the ultimate truth, but I think that latex does not "dry out" -- it oxidizes, but only from external causes such as UV, but also chemical. Or at least, any spontaneous oxidation in the absence of such causes -- in a dark, dry place -- will be very very minimal and slow. Ah, but 303 feels so virtuous on those gaskets -- make's 'em look all shiny and new. I just doubt it really does anything meaningful in the absence of UV. As I said, there are rubber conditioners which will restore some of the lost functionality to deteriorated latex, but I don't know if you'd want them on a gasket that fits tightly around your neck. Anybody know? I once used one on the rubber roller in a printer and it worked well. It's just that 303 is not such a conditioner.

Ok, thanks for the geekery. But the questions the others ask go right to the point. And I don't think it's as geeky as you fear. Is there any point in applying 303 to the gaskets if you plan to keep the whole suit in total darkness until next fall? I think not, because it's not chemical anti-oxidation that is happening here, but simply the blocking of UV from causing oxidation of the latex, by -- as you put it -- the 303 molecules unselfishly sacrificing themselves to block/neutralize UV. If there's no UV, then there's no need to block it. But is it UV really -- or how much? My tale is this... I once (long ago) left my drysuit on a hanger in an indirectly lighted area -- light, but not direct sunlight. Result -- rotten gaskets in the fall, when I took it off the hanger and tried to use it. So now I put it in an opaque duffel bag in a dark closet, and the gaskets do just fine. And I don't put 303 on them, because, as I said, there is no UV to block.

Someone -- I won't say who -- recently posted the phrase "303 antioxidant" in a message here. I believe that 303 is a "protectant", and has no anti-oxidation properties, whatever those might be. Let's look at the product spec, at http://www.303products.com/303r-aerospace-protectant.html... Key Benefits Keeps treated surfaces looking new Prevents fading and cracking Restores lost color and luster Powerful UV blockers Anti-Static, repels smudges, dust, soiling and staining Matte finish with no oily and greasy residue Easy to use, simply spray on and wipe dryLooks to me that 303 is primarily a UV blocker, and that accounts for "Prevents fading and cracking" and "Keeps treated surfaces looking new". The property "Restores lost color and luster" is, in my experience, a temporary effect of rubbing something slightly oily on latex, and is not the same as restoring deteriorated latex. I know lots of folks attribute other features to 303 apart from preventing damage from UV/sun exposure, like rubber "conditioning", but it seems like those are not actual properties of 303. There are things such as rubber conditioners (which you can look up), which *may* recondition rubber and/or prevent deterioration even if there is UV exposure. Whether you'd want those on your neck is up to you. Just an old bugaboo of mine. Sorry for any controversy that might ensue. --David

Wow, Ed Markey is a Greenland roller? Who knew. I'm voting for him! Will he help me with a butterfly roll?

Such a clever title, John. Congratulations! I usually wait for kindle too these days, to keep from adding to already overstuffed bookshelves. But I'll make an exception here. BTW, I see third parties are already offering new and used copies for as much as a $50 markup. Makes me realize that a lot of the aftermarket for books is kinda scammy -- amazing when you realize that Amazon lists almost everything available clearly sorted by price.

The sheetbend works well with lines of different color as well as different size. --David PS -- seriously, I think the sheetbend is considered better than a square/reef know for all splicing applications. I can't speak for wrapping birthday gifts, however.

"The sheet bend is related in structure to the bowline." A little hard to see since they are oriented oppositely along two axes, but I think Herr Doktor Professor Sir Godfrey, Knight of the Round Hull is correct...

Yeah, it is a bit tricky to load and unload, especially for a 50# long boat. If alone, you put the kayak on the floor against the wall behind, pick up one end and secure the strap, then the other end. Finish by rotating the boat to go bottom against the wall. With two people, each can secure their own end while holding it. One trick is to latch the webbing in advance, so all you have to do is slide the loop over the bow or stern.That might also suffice for one person carrying a short boat, but I haven't tried it. But hey, unless you have some kind of hoist -- and now we are getting complex and maybe expensive -- any system requires manual effort to get the boat up to the level of the holder, whatever it is. Yes, the step of securing the straps adds a complication over just dropping it into some kind of cradle. But we are kayakers -- so we are clever and resourceful, and accustomed to tricks, stupid and smart! --David.