PatE

Perhaps we can just post our boat's specs, cockpit size, number of hatches, type of skirt, PersonalFlotationDevice size, affinity for gadgets, preference for Gore-Tex or neoprene, etc., etc. You know...keep it generic! Hehe...

The Extrasport Retroguide has a lot of pocket space. Fairly large pockets on either side; one's a double pocket (3 altogether). My radio easily fits in the large vertical pocket.

Bill! You got an Aquanaut? I just noticed in your signature! When did you get it and how do you like it? Details!!! So you got two new boats in the same year, eh? Nice fleet you're building there. Not bad! I love mine, although I miss paddling. Haven't paddled since fall. Soon, though; very soon. Pat

I'm looking for other's opinions, knowledge on this subject. I just bought a new PFD after looking at them for quite awhile. I went to a large retail outfitter in the area and found the one I want in a different color than I'd seen it anywhere else. I paid full retail price for it. I thought it was new for this year. When I got home I looked on the mfr's website and they didn't have the "new" color so I wrote them to inquire about it. Anyway, turns out it's not a new color. It's not even last year's color. This color was last manufactured for the 2003 season. I just bought it and it is two years old. Ironically, almost two years ago a salesperson at this same retailer told me they had marked down PFD's that were the same style as others on the rack at full price because they were old and they have a "shelf-life". I've read that PFD's generally last about 3-5 years . Does buying a two-year old PFD mean I have already lost some of its life? Thoughts? Thanks, Pat

A week or so ago I posted looking for a Tempest 180 somewhere in New England. Wow! They are hard to come by. Thanks to Walter's recommendation to try Billington Sea Kayak, my friend, Rick, just found and bought the Kevlar one Doug had in stock. This was the first time I had been to BSK. Doug is one heck of a nice guy! It was a pleasure doing business with him. He even spoke quite highly of Walter! Well, ummm, sort of...

Thanks Walter! We'll give him a call. How's things? I'm sorry I missed that wonderful breakfast you put on a little while ago. But, hey; I still owe you a lunch! I have not forgotten. Pat

Following my post last week looking for New England W.S dealers, a friend and I have been trying to locate a Tempest 180 and/or a C.D. Solstice Titan to try for size. Can't find either in stock anywhere. Does anyone know the whereabouts of either of these boats just to sit in for fit? The Titan is brand new, I think, so may be more difficult if not impossible, but am hoping perhaps a dealer somewhere might have one in for demo purposes. Thanks! Hope you all are off to a good start for the new year! Pat

Thank you both.

Does anyone know of any Wilderness Systems dealers in the MA, NH, ME area? I know ERBA is one, but I'd like to find add'l. dealers. The WS website doesn't offer this info. Thanks!

Nice pics. So, was that black coffee or does your boat take it with cream and sugar?

Ken & David, thanks! Great link and it is now bookmarked. I grew up on boats on the ocean where my Dad always monitored Channel 16, and the "switch and answer" routine, etc., so I'm pretty familiar with usage from that exposure. I also have books (actually I think I have the beginnings of a library!) that define the specific usages, terminology, etc. I was more curious about the radios themselves; quality, best features to look for in using it for ocean paddling and whether Standard Horizon overall and the model I received will fill the need. The website description didn't seem that clear about the differences. Seems like this one should be sufficient for what I'd need. Thanks for the info. Pat

Well, Santa came a bit early to my house today in the form of the USPS carrier! I just got the above model VHF radio as a gift. I've poked around on the web and see that thay also manufacture a model 270 as well as a 360 (I think?). I'm not sure what the differences are and/or what they'll mean or matter to me. Looks like the others list more channel capability, but I'm unsure of what capability the 260 has beyond 16. If I am to use this on trips, I'm certain I'll want a non-emergency communication channel. Does this provide that? What other things are a must have. I have forgotten most of what I knew about communicating via radio on the water! Thanks! Pat

>pat, are you thinking of "the kayak cover company"? yes: >gloria krellman is in maine. see: >http://www.kayakcovers.com/ Hi Christopher! That could be the one! Karen bought hers from a woman in Maine. How ya doin'?

Welcome Kevin! I, too got hooked after the first paddle! I recently bought a Danuu cover for my Aquanaut and it seems to be a good fit/quality. I googled them on the web and they seem to be the same price everywhere, so not discounts, or at least I couldn't find any. Here is one link that sells them. http://www.clavey.com/ky_acc_danuu_covers.html Another NSPN'r I know bought a custom cover somewhere in Maine. If she sees this, maybe she'll respond.

Thanks for providing this Liz. It's a great starting point for many of us to begin thinking in a more organized fashion about what we need to bring in our boats and where it belongs. etc. Pat

Hey Rick, Just in case anything changes and you end up cancelling, Karen and I will be on the road by 7:30 A.M. I am going to sen you an e-mail with my cell #. Call that if you need to get in touch with us while en route. Thanks! Pat

Rick, As I had already expressed to you, I want very much to join you on Saturday. Sounds like some very valuable skills you are so generously offering. I'm glad to see the two trips may be combined as I had already committed to the Level 2 paddle. I am planning on joining you on your SNG. Here's hoping the weather will allow both of them to take place! Many thanks! Pat

I recently contacted Kokatat about retrofitting from ankle gaskets to Gore-Tex socks. They quoted me $130. Here is the attachment they sent to me with all pricing and info: You can either provide, via e-mail, the information below, and we will reply to you with the Return Authorization (RA) number, and you will include the method of payment in the package with your garment, please note that service will be delayed if you do not provide payment information, (our e-mail is not set up to be secure for monetary transactions). Or you can call us at (800) 225-9749 (U.S. only) or (707) 822-7621 and give us all the information and be issued the RA number at that time. Here is the information that we need so we can issue you a RA number: Your Name: Day Time Phone: Return shipping address City, State, Zip Type of garment: Size: Color: What specifically would you like us to do? Before sending us your garment, please wait for a reply with a RA number, write this number on the outside of the package, and keep track of it to reference if you wish to contact us to check on status. Also, the garment MUST be clean before we can work on it. You can machine wash any of our products (EXCEPT life vests), using the delicate cycle, cold water, and a little POWDERED soap. Or hand wash it. Make sure it gets well rinsed, then let it DRIP DRY. (If our repair department finds they need to wash your garment before they are able to work on it, there will be a $25 charge for this service, which does delay the turn around time.) After getting your Return Authorization number, please ship your clean garment to: Kokatat 5350 Ericson Way Arcata, CA 95521 We accept Visa, Master Card, and Discover. Please include the type, number, expiration date, name as it appears on the card, and the billing address of the card. Here is a list of prices for the most common work done: Gasket Replacement: Neck: $43.50, Wrist $20.50 (ea), Ankle or Bicep $27.50 (ea). Sock Installation: Latex: $80.00 (pr), Gore-Tex $130.00 (pr). Relief Zipper Installation (front): $130.00 Water Test and Non-Warranty Repair: $30.00 per hour. (Dry tops usually take about 1/2 an hour, dry suits usually take up to an hour.) There is NO CHARGE for repair(s) covered under Kokatat Warranty. California Sales Tax will be applied to in-state requests. And of course there will be Return Shipping, UPS ground unless otherwise specified. And remember, we will only work on Kokatat garments. Thank you, Happy Paddling! Kokatat

Clapotis-type waves? That's a new and unfamiliar term to me. What are Clapotis waves, Bill? I may as well know in the event I ever run across them! ...Cat Scratch Fever...! I was hit this morning at about 6:00 A.M.! And now I have that post-paddle "rock-n-roll" sensation going on which, having grown up in the 70's, I am thoroughly enjoying! Pat

Al; I recently got a Brooks all-neoprene skirt at Country Canoeist before they changed ownership. It has a zipper down the front and cinch tabs on each side at the waist for adjustment. The zipper is a nice idea because I can unzip it and leave the skirt on the boat and just slip out of it. The zipper does need to be cared for however as it gets very stiff. Most mfr's websites give a list of boats and which size skirt to fit.

Carl, Yeah, just thinking about it makes sense, that the skeg fully down was holding the stern but the bow would continue to turn downwind. That's why it helped a bit adding the weight in the bow. Had I raised the skeg some I probably would've been set pretty well after that. In other words, "Doh"! Practice, practice, practice...I still love her, despite a less than perfect first journey! It'll only grow better over time! Thanks for the advice! Pat

Haha, surely we could make a joke somewhere out of this..."How many height-challenged women does it take to load a kayak?" Ehhh, I got nuthin'! I'll need to belly up to a bar with a few beers to come up with a snappy comeback, I guess... Thanks for the help. I was surely working with all thumbs yesterday. I lost my Mojo! Oh yeah, and the "knuckle stroke"; this could be a new cosmetic thing, how to make your hands baby-smooth...knuckle your boat 50' over nice soft sand bars. I swear my hands were smoother after that! Look out Nivea; Move over Oil of Olay... Great Bay sounds good!

Took the “new girl” on her maiden voyage yesterday, joined by Karen D. and Natalie out of Conomo Point in Essex. She is really pretty! White on white (Aquanaut), and the rail blue trim really jumps out! Tom fitted her with a foamed bulkhead, so no footpegs which I love. Karen and Nat were wonderful about indulging my babying her to avoid scrapes and scratches! Of course, Tom Bergh’s advice was to take her out and “hole” her right off and get it over with. I shudder at the thought! The conditions were rather windy, often with us being in a cross wind. She weathercocked to the point that I felt like I was struggling more than I should be to get her not to turn down-wind. I had the skeg fully deployed. I ordered the Pro-lite layup and she is very lightweight and sits pretty high on the water. At Nat’s suggestion, we stopped and I took what little gear I had from the stern bulkhead and put it in the bow along with several containers of water. This seemed to help and I think a little more weight would’ve been even better. We met up with some other NSPN’rs at the take-out and Bill recommended I try playing with how much skeg I use to find the sweet spot for the conditions. We had a great paddle; the day was perfect weather-wise. We stopped for lunch and walked along the beach marveling at how far we could see. I had remembered to pack myself a nice lunch, a delicious turkey sandwich…which I left sitting on the steps at my house! BUT, I found this great little place at Conomo Point that serves up ready-made lunches with service and a smile! Thanks Walter for sacrificing your roast beef sandwich for me! I owe ya one! So, all-in-all, it was a good paddle. I am eager to get her out again…and again, and again…. And get her to “behave” properly for me so I don’t have to re-name her to “Aqua-naughty”! Pat

Yes, Mike, Karen really is enjoying your boat! Good luck getting it back! (very generous of you, BTW!)

Nice pictures Bill! I love the one where the seal is waving, "Hi!" Or was it, "Bye"? Aloha!