Brian Nystrom

My understanding is that e-coli is killed by both saltwater and sunlight, so there is very little danger of bacterial contamination at beaches.

It's really not that big of a deal, except for the fact that it's plastic littering the beaches. Similar materials are used as bio-media in aquarium filters. Salt water and sun exposure will kill any bacteria of concern such as e-coli, so there's really not much to worry about in terms of a health hazard.

my concern is that any law discussed and passed will not define "kayak" any better than current legislation and that all "kayaks" will be burdened with the same stupid laws.

You can pretty much count on that. Considering the obvious lack of understanding of kayaks behind this bill, a nuanced approach is not in the cards.

on the other hand, if current laws were enforced and any money was spent no education rather than enforcing another dumbass law, the goal would be closer to achieved.

No doubt. We need to emphasize education, but that will take at least some money, whereas passing a useless regulation costs essentially nothing, as there's not going to be any extra funding allocated to enforce it.

and bottom line, people will still do stupid things and some will eventually die as a result...for cryin' out loud let's not try to outlaw darwin

I have to wonder how much of the concern is about kayaker safety and how much is really about reducing inconvenience/annoyance for power/commercial boaters and protecting them from the trauma - and possible legal consequences - of running over a kayaker while they're out on the water getting drunk and/or not paying attention to what's in front of them.

I received a sale notice from West Marine that included this radio:

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=11151&partNumber=7567019&langId=-1&cid=E110301_Start-Stop

I can't vouch for it personally, but the specs look really good, the warranty is excellent, the fixed price post-warranty repair is very reasonable and the price seems like a bargain. If you're in the market for a marine VHF, it's certainly worth considering.

Lots of people kayak fish and noone is being run down by power boats doing it. I know many of them. I can't offer suggestions on how to solve what isn't a problem. If someone goes out for a long paddle in the dark on their own it doesn't really matter whether they are fishing or not. I won't get into whether or not its a bad idea to paddle alone in the dark. If they are aware of the risks and know how to take care of themselves they are likely to do okay. If they don't there's no amount of legislation that is going to help.

Bob, lighting is required for paddling at night and paddlers should obey those requirements for the their own safety's sake. We need to be visible, plain and simple. What one is doing on the water is irrelevant, so there's no point in fixating on fishing.

I responded to the same letter in a rather different manner:

Sarah,

Thank you for explaining the issues you're trying to address and soliciting ideas. Unfortunately, there is no "magic bullet" to solve them.

I see two parts to this issue, during the daytime.

1. Kayakers are generally well aware of the fact that we're not very visible, especially in water with any "texture" to it. That's why you'll find most kayakers wearing brightly colored clothing and why PFDs typically come in bright, visible colors. Our boats are usually bright colors as well, all of which aids daytime visibility. However, that's not always the case and frankly, some kayakers simply don't take their own safety as seriously as they should. Realistically, there's no way one could turn the Coast Guard or local marine patrols into "fashion police" to try to force people to dress visibly. This has to be the responsibility of the kayakers themselves.

2. Power boaters are simply used to having free run of coastal waters and in my own experience, they simply don't want to deal with the new reality that there are a lot more watercraft of all types out there. Piloting a boat along the MA coast is now a lot more like driving on a highway than it used to be. Like it or not, that's just the way it is and it's likely to become more so in the future. Pleasure boaters need to learn that they cannot just blast along the coast without paying attention to what they're doing; they have to be attentive. They can't let their young kids drive without close supervision or use their boats as floating pubs, either. Commercial fishermen are singularly focused on their on their work, often to the exclusion of what's going on around them. Lobstermen in particular are so erratic in their movements that it's very difficult to avoid them. As a kayaker, I can tell you that there are few things more unnerving than being out in the fog and hearing a lobster boat nearby. Both groups need to learn to be more vigilant, plain and simple. There is no other choice.

As with many problems, the solution here is education of both sides. Kayakers need to understand the difficulties they can pose for other water users and learn how to reduce the likelihood of problem encounters by acting responsibly. Power boaters need to learn to keep their eyes on the water, just like they keep them on the road when they drive. The coasts are busy places, not deserted playgrounds. Education is not a "bolt-on" device and it will take time, effort and probably some money to make this happen. On the kayaking side, supporting education initiative through local clubs and retailers is probably the best bet. On the power boater side, adding more emphasis on other water users to existing boater education programs may be the most effective answer.

At night, it's a different story. You may have noticed that I did not express any opposition to your lighting requirement and the reason is simple, lighting at night just makes sense. Moreover, the Coast Guard already mandates lighting for nighttime boaters, including kayakers. If you familiarize yourself with their regulations, you'll find that they address your concern. Responsible kayakers adhere to the law and often exceed the requirements, as we know that the safety issues we face in daylight are compounded at night. I've been involved in many discussions on this topic, including with the Coast Guard. Again, not everyone does the right thing to protect themselves and make life easier for other boaters. That needs to be addressed through education and law enforcement. I have no qualms with kayakers being stopped and cited for failing to use proper lighting, we have to be responsible.

I hope this provides you with some insight from a kayaker's perspective and some potential solutions. This is not an easy problem to fix, but one thing that definitely won't work is to mandate equipment that will create safety problems during the normal operation of a kayak.

One thing that you may find useful would be to post your concerns and need for suggestions on the message board of the North Shore Paddler's Network (www.nspn.org). If you were to approach kayakers for answers, it would demonstrate your concern for our safety and show that you're interested in listening to us. That would be much better received than simply trying to impose regulation without any input from the community being regulated. You would also receive useful suggestions and I think you'll find that kayakers will be understanding of the issues you're trying to address. After all, it's our lives that are on the line...

Best Regards

Brian

Two questions which were both answered at the workshop, but my memory isn't what it used to be.

Brian what was that source for the Fein blades?

Here's the blade source I was telling you about: http://multitoolblades.ca/fein-multimaster-blades.html

This page is for Fein Multimaster compatible blades, but their blades are compatible with all brands.

I've never built a replica kayak and I learned some valuable techniques from Fred, along with some insights into traditional designs. I'd like to thank Bob for inviting me and everyone who participated for making it a lot of fun.

Linda and I are planning to attend. Is there anything you would like me to bring, such as examples of tools, rib bending jigs, steam boxes, sharpening gear, etc.? I also have some samples of skin fabrics, some rib stock and such.

For those of you who've been using Neocorp cord and bungee, the site for these product is now:

http://www.qualitynylonrope.com/

The old site (neocorp.com) is still there, but it's dedicated to industrial braided products, not cordage and bungee.

Gelcoat will still cure at lower temps, it just take considerably longer. Conversely, a little heat applied to it will accelerate the curing process considerably. You can also add extra hardener in cooler temps to reduce the cure time or use less in hot temps to allow for more working time.

While NDK probably wont be offering me a job any time soon the repair is going quite well.

Are you kidding, that's better than the original construction!

When you view the damage, the south side looks like it was just pummeled until the rocks moved and collapsed, but the north side damage is a collapse on the inside, which suggests that the underlying structure failed. It makes one wonder how vulnerable the entire structure is to collapse.

In defense of wrist leashes, there is more than one type. While I agree that I would never use a wrist leash with a solid connection to my wrist like a Nylon strap, those with a bungee loop around the wrist are quite safe, as you can slip out of them easily when necessary. This is also important when using one during rescues or for photography, where it's best to take it off your wrist and tuck the ball on the wrist loop under your deck rigging. That way, your hands are completely free for other activities. For those of you who may not be familiar with this type of leash, there are pics of one here: http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/63141273BimkGp The one pictured is made from an inexpensive "sail tie" that you can find at any marine supplier.

That said, I haven't used a leash since my second year of paddling and I firmly believe that having one's boat rigged to allow rapid stowing of the paddle in the deck rigging is a FAR superior practice than using leashes of any type.

While I can't speak directly about Ed's boat, one of the biggest differences with a custom-built SOF is the fit. It it literally tailored to the paddler and fits like a pair of well-broken-in jeans. Until you experience a boat that's fit like that, it's hard to appreciate the difference it makes in responsiveness.

It all depends on how the boat is designed. Weathercocking is not a foregone conclusion on any kayak and SOFs are no different. A detachable skeg is certainly a viable option if the boat needs it, but if the boat is designed right and loaded properly, it won't be necessary.

I'm not a fan of leashes and never use them, but if one really feels the need for a paddle leash, a bungee-type wrist leash is probably the safest and most effective, provided that it's the type that can be slipped off the wrist easily. IMO, the paddle should stay with the paddler, not the boat, so it can be used as a swimming and signaling aid if necessary. If Jeff likes his coil leash, more power to him, but I think they're about the worst idea on the market, as they tangle in everything and they bang annoyingly on the deck if you use them while paddling.

There is also a difference between using a leash while paddling and using one simply to "park" the paddle temporarily while engaged in other activities like photography. In the latter case, as long as conditions are benign, a leash will be too. That said, I think it's far preferable to set up the boat with deck rigging that allows one to quickly stow a paddle, since that will also be useful in rescue situations where you don't have time to screw around with attaching a leash to your paddle.

I beg to differ. In a situation where self-rescue may be difficult due to rough water, the LAST thing you want to do is to add tethers and ropes to the mix. The likelihood of entanglement is far too high and without assistance, becoming entangled could be disastrous.

You might want to try Sea Dog's Sealect hatch covers. They've got a rigid center and soft lip, and they make them in sizes to fit both Kajaksport and Valley hatch rings. The Valley replacements are really nice, but I haven't used their Kajaksport parts myself. Their pricing is much better than either factory replacement.

...neither my wife nor I spotted any issue besides needing gaskets when Kokatat determined we deserved new suits.

Delamination is easiest to spot when the suit is wet. It will appear as bubbled-looking areas in the fabric. I spotted it on my suit when I was renewing the DWR on the outside.

Wow !

How can they do this and still be in business???

It's really simple, Gore backs the fabric 100% against delamination. Any Gore-Tex garment that delaminates will be replaced at no charge, even if the manufacturer is no longer around or no longer uses Gore-Tex. When my Stohlquist dry suit started to delaminate, Gore replaced it with a Kokatat suit, since Stohlquist no longer uses Gore-Tex. Not only that, they just told me to "pick any suit from the Kokatat line". I offered to pay the difference between the comparable suit to my Stohlquist - the Meridian - and the Expedition, but they refused to take any money and just sent me the Expedition.

Service like this is why I buy Gore products.

As a lawn or harbor ornament, it would be cute and clever. The fact that he actually takes it out on the water makes it a nuisance.

I found an interesting roll that I haven't seen before. Looks like this could be useful in surfing.

I wonder if this roll works also with a greenland blade?

With a GP, it's even easier, as you don't need to cock your wrists; you just perform the roll with your palms facing down, using the back side of the blades.

We have the Sea Dog Hatches on order for next season. If anyone wants them this fall we would be happy to bring some in this fall.

You can call and ask for Mark or Bryce.

Charles River Canoe & Kayak

617-965-5110

That's good to know. Any idea what the retail price will be?

Brian,

You said that these Seadog hatches fit Valley and Kajaksport round and oval hatches.

I know that the Valley and Kajaksport dayhatches are interchangeable, but are Valley and Kajaksport round and oval hatches interchangeable as well? Or are they different sizes and Seadog makes different hatches for Valley and Kajaksport hatch rims?

Valley and Kajaksport hatches are not interchangeable at all (some boats use a mix KS 10"round or ovals and 8" Valley day hatches), but Sea-Dog hatches are available in both Valley 8" and oval and KS 10" and oval sizes.