alex_L

many many years ago I was working at the South Street Seaport Marine Museum on the East River. I fell in one very cold day in January as I slipped getting off a boat. I ended up at my GP with shots in my bum, arms and oral antibiotics. I felt sick for days, but it could have just been in my head... The Harlem was way nastier. Alex

Thanks guys! It was an amazing, challenging, scary race. I don't know if it is still up, but I did a write up on www.nesurfski.net if you want to check it out. Alex

He rolled a sea kayak for the first time last night in the Danvers pool session! Woohoo- ya did good buddy! Alex

Try Outerwear Repair in Ct. They are listed on Kokatat's website. They do alterations etc on all kinds of stuff, not just Kokatat. Good luck!

The wing helps with balance and staying upright because it has an exceptionally solid catch and grip on the water, far more so than a Euro style paddle. You can perform low braces pretty easily with a wing, but if you get the ski moving every catch of the paddle is a mini high brace. When you first use a wing, it feels a bit like sticking your paddle in really stiff pudding. It is harder to do some strokes like bow rudders or sculls, and you really have to let the paddle take its own path or it will misbehave. If you follow the paddles lead, it will really help you inprove your stroke, but if you fight it, you will likely swim. I have a Mako XT you are welcome to try sometime, it is a great starter ski because of the slightly flatter hull shape. Alex L.

:^D))!!

your boats done. We're here till 8 tonight. Alex at NESC

Hey Kevin- I just mailed you, but I think the address is really old. Your skirt has magically arrived. Call or stop by. Alex L

I"ll write you one too, Bob. Who are you applying with? Alex

I got a chance to try the Cetus as well, and I loved it. Flatwater demo environment, so its of limited use. But, the boat is FAST, and really not much less maneuverable than my Cappella 163. The secondary stability is more robust on the top end much like a Valley boat, but the effective range of the stability is wider- I didn't seem to come off the radius as quickly as I do in say an Avocet. The finished boat I am told will have adjustable thighbraces, and it will also come standard with 4 hatches- a small dayhatch on the deck opening into a rigid kneetube as well as the regular dayhatch and bow and stern hatches. Sizewise, the proto is a bit bigger in the cockpit than a Cap 163, but hard to tell what the finished boat will be like with the thighooks. Thinking about ordering myself one, and that's huge, because I really love my 163. The boat was VERY popular at the Hartford tradeshow, so I think its going to do very well. Alex

Hi- I just wanted to add a bit to this discussion, as I just came back from a paddlesports tradeshow where I spent some time speaking to the owner of Shred Ready helmets about this very issue. He said in essence that good helmets have 2 simple things going for them- a stiff shell and LOTS of soft, thick padding. Really dense padding like minicell not so good. The third good helmet feature is of course a really good fit. The most impact resistant helmet with the softest padding out there only works if it isn't sliding more than an inch or 2 at MOST. Some of the "best" helmets out there are actually plastic rather than composite. Composite helmets look really cool, though... If the helmet is vented, you need more padding. General guidelines for helmet replacement are 3 years of routine use OR 1 hard hit. What's 1 hard hit? Any cracking, denting,or really heavy gouges in the helmet, or contact with the bottom or an object that causes you pain, visual disturbance or dizziness. Helmets are pretty cheap to replace, heads not so much. I just ask myself one question- how much is my head worth? Alex L

Sounds like a plan, Mel. Love to chat whenever ya like! Alex

Hi Bill- I also have the Adapative Paddling endorsement, and I just finished teaching the paddling skills portion of the Adaptive Paddling workshop for instructors through Northeast Passage at UNH in Durham. They have several paddling programs and other adaptive sports programs, and are great folks to work with. If you would like other info, drop me a line or call. Thanks- Alex L

hiya Alex from New England Small Craft here. In fact, the current Sirius model available is the M. That is the only one P&H will produce, as the molds are done on the S and the HF. Hope this helps Alex

Naah, no racing. Parents in town, so trying to stay dry, believe it or not! Alex