djlewis

I believe the category of commercial posting refers to a person or company posting a message on behalf of their own commercial venture. I don't think it prohibits a paddler without a financial or employment interest from mentioning, reviewing or even recommending a commercial product or retailer that they themselves have seen, tried or heard about. For example, we can certainly say things like "Take a look at the such-and-such tent down at REI -- it's on sale this week" or "you can get that at strapworks.com." It's just that REI or Strapworks can't themselves run a posting like that, since that would be an ad. Hey, if the rule were really strict, we couldn't even discuss, say, NDK boats by name. Yes, there is a gray area, but I don't think this case is in it. So, a simple Google search for "orono paddles oars" turns up... http://www.shawandtenney.com/ --David.

I would think that contracting for retrieval services would have a noticable impact on CRCK. They've always claimed to lose money, or at least not make much on day trips, though their camps might be another matter. So even adding, say, $25-50 to a trip would hurt. On the other hand, Rockport is just a sliver of their territory, not a center of it they way it is for NSPN. So, they could easily stay away. But letting something like this get started is obviously a bad idea, not only for them, but also for us, I believe. Once it got started, no telling where it would go. (Of coursde, that's the argument that the NRA uses against regulating Kalishnikovs, but I digress.) I would think they'd try to substitute for the retrieval requirement the fact that their leaders are well trained and quite capable of towing and generally caring for their customers on the water. Trouble is, how do you measure or certify that, without opening a ~different~ can of worms. --David.

Seems like this will have a major impact on Charles River Canoe & Kayak. Are they involved in fighting it? It doesn't really hit NSPN or members, correct? Still, seems like a good idea to oppose it. --David.

Likewise. Specifically thanks to... * Keith for running the show and explaining and demonstrating GP in general; and for a zillion twigs generously loaned. * Adam for demonstrating GP forward strokes. * Sanjay for a terrific rolling show (despite an injured back) and instruction (I'll get that reverse roll soon, just as soon as I figure out which way is forward and which backward!) * Rick C, Linda, Brian for in-water spotting and teaching (did I miss anybody?) Very enjoyable and educational all around... lets do it more! Thanks! --David.

For the benefit of others with the same questions, I did check out Brian's Nordic Blues tonight, size large, with his thin smartwool liners. They were a tad too large for me, but not hugely. So, though my hands measure right between Small and Medium on the Nordic Blue sizing chart, I'm going to get the Medium-Large. Thanks, Brian. --David.

Hi, Linda: Ah, now I remember. And that's what makes me think they may run large. Your measurement theoretically suits you for a Medium, but you say even a Small was too large. Since mine falls between Small and Medium, I was going to go with the Medium. But after hearing your story, I'm not so sure any more. Brian or anybody coming to Reading this afternoon. I'd be grateful if you brought a pair of Nordic Blues to help me size them for myself. Thanks. --David.

I'll buy that. Should I even consider the next one up, a ML (medium-large, I assume). Don't I recall Linda winding up with a pair that was too small? Model 302, right, "with latex conical wrist seal"? http://www.nordic-blue.com/uimages/11-l.jpg --David.

I measured my hand the way the web site says, and I get 8 1/4, which is precisely between small and medium. Should I go with medium? Do they run large or small? Do you need to leave extra room to cut out the acrylic liner and use fleece or thermax (as Sing recommends)? Thanks. --David.

Skyblazer reliability? Well, a bunch of rowdy, land-bound kayakers did some target practice with some expired skyblazers (among others) last year at a(n unamed) cove in the fog in Maine last summer. I believe the dud rate was very low -- perhaps somebody recalls it exactly -- though they did not succeed in setting the targetted house on fire. Assuming they are reliable, I vote for Skyblazeres over Pocket Rockets. I'm concerned about the separate launcher with the latter. --David.

Hi, Deb: Same thing happened to me. Did you get a funny little substitute picture icon? If so, right-click on it, and you may get an option that will bring up the real image. Not to be missed! Brian, did you guys consider getting a tow line on you from someone outside the ice? --David.

Is Stohlquist stopping with breathable fabrics altogether in their drysuits, or just GoreTex ~brand~ breathable? --David.

>Finally, I think >that because sculling is slo-oo-ow, students often feel >their body starting to sink away from the surface before the >lift of the paddle sweeping back and forth becomes evident, >panic and lock up their hips and torso, lift their heads >just a little bit and so drive the edge of the boat down. Hmmm... sounds familiar. ;-( >As for BCU, my assessors have been quite insistent on my ear, >elbow and shoulder being in the water on both sides to >qualify as acceptable technique. Others may have had >different experiences... I find it hard to believe that 3* would require only an assisted roll, with three tries, on one side, but insist on a full scull on both sides. Further evidence is what the BCU 3* test notes say (at http://www.bcu.org.uk/pdfdocs/1-4%20star%2...ed%20kayak.pdf) ... >>...low and high sculling for support on both sides. >> Sculling for support. The paddle to be kept low, nearly >> horizontal, with evidence of confident committal to the paddle. Does it make sense to say the paddle has to be low and nearly horizontal for a full wet-shoulders scull? If your outboard elbow is under water, the paddle could scarcely be anything but low. A too low (that is, diving) paddle is more likely the problem (and I speak from experience there). Also, as I'm beginning to understand (thanks to Mike Crouse this very afternoon!) full sculling for support is more a matter of body and boat position, with very little paddle pressure needed. So does it make sense to speak of "confident committal to the paddle"? In fact, that sounds more like a good committed lean with an ongoing scull to keep braced, as opposed to a quick slap and hip-snapped recovery. Also, the BCU speaks of both and high and low sculling, and it seems to me the only kind of wet-shoulders sculling possible is high. Sorry for the intense textual exegesis of the 3-Star Gospel of BCU. But I may have convinced at least myself that those who interpret that passage as wet-shoulders sculling are stretching things. Actually, it may be even more than that. Arey the taking one technique -- sculling with significant paddle support -- and substituting a rather different one -- wet-shoulders sculling along the lines of a balance brace with light sculling? Of course, they are the bosses, right?! Anybody recall what Nigel Foster said in his 3-star class last summer? He did mention this issue, but the exact expression escapes me. --David

>...for most people sculling seems to be more difficult than rolling. Why is that? Sculling for support is part of the BCU 3 criteria, but rolling is only half so... >>Sculling for support. The paddle to be kept low, nearly horizontal, with evidence of confident committal to the paddle. >>Rolling. The candidate should come up within three attempts, during each of which the assessor may guide or hold the blade of the paddle, but not touch the boat or paddler. A half roll is acceptable (i.e. down and up on the same side). Or maybe the sculling for support in BCU 3-star does not require you to have your shoulders in the water, merely to be well leaned with support from the paddle. BCU folks -- can you help? But still the original question -- why is a full scull for support usually harder to learn than a roll? One odd theory I have is that the teaching techniques for it are not as well developed, and that's because it doesn't have the obvious dramatic appeal of a roll. Rolling is an integral part of whitewater kayaking, so it gets a lot of play that way. But is the full scull for support as important or even useful at all for whitewater? I tend to doubt it, but I don't really know. Thanks. --David.

I think the overbuilding of inflatable paddle floats is having two chambers, but needing only one. Given that, you might not want to rely on it with one chamber definitely questionable. --David.

The group buy has come down to these two choices, both by Orion, but both different than the Skyblazers often recommended by NSPN folks. Anybody have pros and cons, particular uses for each, etc? For one, I cannot tell or find information on the physical size of these, whcih bears on how they get stowed and used in a kayak. I can check next time I'm in a marine store, but until then... Thanks. --David. Pocket Rocket Red Aerial Flares (two views, same product (I think))... http://www.redesupply.com/catalog/images/RE07171.jpg http://www.orionflares.com/images2/pocketrocket.jpg Handheld Marine Red Signal Flares... http://www.orionflares.com/images/marine/P...held/flares.jpg

The AMC site is outdoors.org. But they put only a small part of the magazine online, and not very quickly. See... http://outdoors.org/publications/outdoors/index.shtml --David.

Hi, Shane: Great! It was a good time last year, right. Actually, we decided to leave the date open, with a lean toward the preceding weekend, April 24-25. When a few more folks have signed on, we'll take a poll and see which date is best for the most. We also want to keep an eye on Trip Leader Training events, to avoid conflicts if possible. --David.

> Any chance of choosing the week before or the week after? Absolutely! In fact, any time from mid-April to mid-May is fine. I picked that day because it coincides with the Mystic River Festival, which gives us a place to go and show off our space suits afterwards. But that's no big deal... we can paddle anywhere afterwards, or not even do that. So, if anybody is refraining from volunteering because of the date, don't worry about it. Let's get a group together and then pick a date by consensus that will exclude the fewest people. I imagine earlier is better, as it collides less with the beginning of warmer water, or at least less-cold water. --David.

Congratulations to you and to the helper Dee! It's always great when a suggestion pays off like that. (Marjorie gave me a couple of those that got me over the hump.) Yes, a slowly reduced paddle float helped me too. But ultimately, I had to learn to glue my head to my shoulder despite all habits and instincts to the contrary. And actually working with the paddle float sometimes let me get away without that. Next question -- is there a similar trick for sculling support? I'm having a fairly tough time mastering that, despite a pretty reliable roll, in the pool at least. I made some progress last night with Chris (thanks, Chris!). At one point we tried a paddle float, but it did not help much. I'm now thinking of a long, deliberate sweep roll with the paddle fairly far out, then just kinda slow almost to a stop in the middle, and reverse paddle direction into a scull. Will that work, assuming I do more or less the right things with body and arm position? Slowing a C-to-C or short-sweep roll did not help much at all, perhaps because it happens too fast and seems to depend too much on momentum. --David.

Thanks to everybody for all the suggestions. I think I will give Strazkayaks a buzz, but the others sound good too. I have a call in to Patrick Otten, but I think he only does fairly minor work, and I haven't heard back yet. --David

Yes.. I think that's the one who advertised here... he's in Kittery, and I recall that. Anybody know anything about him? Nice website, at least! Thanks. --David

Anybody know someone who does significant gel-coat repair and refinishing? I've got a sizeable break and some smaller ones -- all taped over for now -- and could also use a good refinishing all around. I haven't the skill or place to do it myself. There was a message some time back from someone who does this, but I fear it's gone with the archives to that great byte bucket in the sky. Joel at NESC might do it, but he's out of town right now, and I don't know for sure he'd take me on. Thanks. --David.

I'm running AdSubtract, which has a pop-up blocker. That does ~not~ stop the calendar details from appearing upon click. --David.

Right... it's Sunday May ~2~. --David.

Last Spring NSPN ran a very successful half-day cleanup of the Upper Mystic Lake shoreline, the spot where we hold the popular Tuesday practice sessions. We blew away the MDC folks with the amount of trash bagged. Big swaths of the shoreline really felt a lot cleaner and clearer as a result of our efforts. So, are folks up for doing it again? There's lots of shoreline we did not get to, and a full year of use has probably put a fair amount of trash back. Anybody who used Mystic for practice last year could consider it a morning well spent to repay the community for use of the resource. Just think what we could accomplish if even half the people who came to Tuesday practice sessions pitched in! It's a good time as well as a good deed, and very rewarding to see the ground turn pristine as the bags fill up! It makes even being on the water feel a lot clearer. The date is flexible, but will most likely be on the weekend of April 24-25. We'll pick one by consensus that suits the most people who are interested. Like last year, we could follow the cleanup with a paddle downstream to Medford and Somerville Please express interest by responding here or to my e-mail, djlewis aht triadic daht cahm. --David. Last year's announcement: http://triadic.com/Mystic2003 Pictures from last year's cleanup: http://triadic.com/Mystic2003/pictures.htm Here's some of the trash we collected While still on the ground... http://triadic.com/Mystic2003/full/Image008.jpg and after bagging... http://triadic.com/Mystic2003/full/Image043.jpg