Michael_Crouse

To quote Mr. Nystrom "Make sure you get 1x19 cable NOT 7x19, which is much too flexible to work in a skeg. Either 3/32" or 1/8" will work, but I've found the smaller size to work more smoothly."

Just sent you an e-mail

Thank you Al, I agree. I could add all of my comments about what I think went wrong and what should have happened but they would be my opinions, not facts. Since I wasn't there it's very tough (almost impossible) to accurately analyze the trip. At this point in the discussion my opinions would probably be more harmful than beneficial. Perhaps these discussions would be much more healthy and productive if they were done in person? Maybe those who went together on this trip should get together for a beer, dinner, walk in the park, etc... and debrief. A face to face discussion is almost always easier and more helpful than discussions in cyber space. Just another member of the peanut gallery tossing in his 2 cents....... you all might be rich by the time this is over ;-)

I like the tie out loops instead of grommets, but I prefer a sil-nylon tarp. They're smaller, lighter, and of course more expensive!

The factory name was still there several weeks ago. I looks like they now make "sun shades" large tarps for businesses. You'll see lots of them on businesses in the rt1 rt3 area in Belfast. I'm glad I bought a Moss tent and tarp when they were absorbed into MSR along with Walrus. Personally I find a square or rectangular tarp is easier to pitch and offers more options for pitching.

I thought it was OK to carry a fully loaded boat by the toggles. They do it in the This is the Sea dvd so I assumed this was a BCU standard practice! :-)

I believe Alaska has a program called "Kids don't Float" they have loaner PFD's for children available at put ins, adults are on their own. I suspect the adults in this incident will wear PFDs from now on.

http://wbztv.com/local/4.rescued.after.2.1034863.html

Sent you a message about a cheap 2/3 person rec boat.

This isn't about the rescue, this is about VHF radios. The thread seems to have drifted that way. I think the problem with VHFs is when people use them as a substitute for other forms of communication. This includes, but isn't limited to hand signals, communication at launch, breaks, etc.. communication on the water, and just plain and simple looking around and being awaare of what's going on. Simply put if you're in a group and you have to call the person in front on the VHF to tell him/her to slow down because the group is too spread out or they are unaware of a problem then you should put someone else up front who has the sense to turn around a check on the group. As far as the sailboat goes that's another issue, but they do have the right of way and are the least manuverable vessel on the water (I'm not counting freighters, tankers, etc..). As someone who owned a sailboat I can tell you a lot of people have no idea why a sailboat moves the way it does. Years ago I took a power squadron safe boating course, just so I would know what the other boaters are doing out there. Kayakers being the self declared outcasts of the marine world doesn't fly, we're all out there together.

http://www.harken.com/McLube/McLube.php After I used this on my slider skeg and it worked flawlessly. The stuff Bill posted is probably the same, at a much lower cost.

Would an old perception Umiak fit the bill? It's a kids sea kayak and you can find them used for a few hundred. They may still make it but they have changed the name. I think it's a Carolina model now, not sure what number it is, maybe the Carolina 12xs? Sea Kayaker magazine did a review of kids kayaks many years ago and the Umiak was well liked. Yes they had kids doing the reviews. Sea Kayaker also had plans for a kids kayak years ago, I forget if it was a SOF or a stitch and glue. DOH! I just reread your question and realized you were interested in a tandem. Any of the large tandem rec boats would fit the bill but don't rule out the Seda Amigo, it's a fiberglass tandem that was designed for an adult and a child, small adult, dog, etc.... It was only made for a year or so, you might be able to pick one up cheap. It would also be much lighter than a plastic rec boat.

Have you tried calling the local shops (Portsmouth Rent & Ride - Seacoast Kayak) to see if they do repairs or to find out who they use for repairs?

Tim does nice work, but I thought he stopped doing repairs. His website seems to have disappeared. Brad at New England Small Craft does repairs, probably 30 - 40 minutes from Portsmouth.

Montreal is not far, and if the exchange rate is good it's not too expensive of a trip. As a recovering gear junkie I can confirm that the MEC in Montreal is awesome. The bargains are on the MEC brand merchandise, the big brands, like MSR, have the prices set so you pay the same no matter which side of the border you're on. Oh and their is paddling to be done in Montreal, you can paddle the St Lawrence (flat water or white water) or go to some nice parks just outside the city. A NSPN member Dan Roy lives in Montreal, so if you do head up I suggest getting in touch with him to paddle together, or to see if he wants some gear from the US. Too bad you didn't post this a month ago, Kim and I were in Quebec mid April.

Off topic because it's not 100% kayak related. I just used a jar of the Trader Joes stuff, then you can add rice and chicken, tofu, etc... to it. note: lasagna does not rehydrate well

They sell trays to go into a dehydrator so you can dehydrate liquids. We've done tomato sauce, salsa, veggie jambalaya, yogurt, and sour cream. Don't try to dehydrate tofu, you get rocks, just buy the boxed stuff. Stuff like sour cream you can pulverize into a powder and semi-rehydrate, it's not a good as the fresh stuff but to have sour cream on a burrito when you're out on your fifth night is pretty sweet!

You have a 50% chance if you're going to swim 50 yards in 50 degree water. That's the one I'm familiar with

"He also believes his Tooksook paddle has magic in it or something - we all know that isn't true too." WHAT!!! I was promised magic when I purchased my Toksook paddle! It was even advertised as "Magic Toksook" Next you'll be telling me it's the paddler not the boat. I like the Toksook because it's forgiving and very durable. I don't use it all the time, I guess it depends on my mood. Using it is like practicing your swing with weights on your baseball bat ;-)

http://www.gloucestertimes.com/archivesear..._112224809.html

Mine has the seat cut out and the bulkhead moved away so I could fit. I did not cut the seat out, but I did move the bulkhead. Not sure if it was at the factory default placement. Sorry Maybe New England Small Craft, Osprey, or Kayak Center has one in stock?

I'll follow Suz's suggestion a list of some of the stuff we've done, and should do again. This isn't strictly for us old timers (am I an old timer!?!?) to pine for the old days, it's to get our butts moving again and give us all some ideas for fun. Rescues in current, we did this in behind Plum Island. Try a tow line to stop the rescue from drifting. That was fun! Towing.... lots of towing..... towing Bob back to Pavallion from Plum Island across the current. I managed to stay with the group. Towing lots of kayaks, 10 or more in Hingham, we had all been camping so the boats were heavy. Bob wasn't even around for this. Someone out there took pictures of me towing everybody, I'd love to get them. Tow a disabled power boat out of a cove on a lake so he could get a (faster) tow. Wouldn't have known I could do that without the previous towing experience. Rolls, rescues, etc... at most every beach break. Spinning boats on every trip, the old plastic Capellas were the best :-) Having us all paddle backwards for the last mile of a trip. Follow the leader/Simon says.... leader does a hanging draw, we all do hanging draws, etc.... The all in rescue, the larger the group the more Bob wanted to do one. That infamous castle neck show & go. I think we had 20+ kayakers paddling through a mile of 2-3ft surf. Some of us even made it without swimming. Lead a trip in 50mph winds..... ok lets not do that again Once we all followed the trip leader to the halfway point we were told to try to find our own way back. I always had a chart and paid attention after that. Got asked the weather forecast and tides before we launched. Everyone should know that for themselves, not just the leader.

I feel the need to chime in here and let everybody know that Bob is not someone who is going to capsize everybody he meets. He knows who needs pushing and who needs a more gentle approach. I've talked to people who had no desire to meet Bob because they thought he was going to steal their paddle, tip them over, etc.... When they actually met him they realized that he's not some crazy maniac who just attacks other kayakers, he's a great teacher and mentor. Having said all that I do feel the need for Bob to come back here and whip me back into shape with some combat kayaking!

At 250lbs the backdeck won't have too much freeboard. I paddled a palstic 17 at the last GOMSKS they had and the backdeck was awash when I leaned the boat. Maybe Necky has changed the mold/model since I demoed the boat. I would try the boat in the water before I buy it.

I'll grab that spot for Kim and I'll come by to spot. Thanks!