Paul Sylvester

I want to thank the eight that came out for last Saturdays trip around Gerrish island. It is one of my favorite trips in the area and we had a nice day. We kept a good pace, no real surf :^( and I made my evening commitments :^)

The Odiorne boat launch is a 1/2 mile north (west) on rt 1a of the main entrance to the park. Just before the creek bridge. Large parking lot with ramp. See you there, Paul sixohthree-312-fortyeightten

Believe we have four and of course room for more. See you all at 8:30. If the gate is locked that early (doubt it) we can park on the other side of the bridge. thanks

Gauging interest for a CAM Gerrish Island circumnavigation.This Saturday 8-9-14. 8:30 meet, bib asap and off by 2 pm. We will meet at the Odiorne boat launch in Rye NH 8:30. Paddle across the harbor to the Whaleback lighthouse, possible small surf on the outside that we may play in. Take a break just inside of Braveboat Harbor and then through the marsh. Depending on the timing and the group we may go up the Kittery back channel and across the Piscataqua at the Memorial bridge. This will be 12-14 nm so in order to work with my time constraints we will be taking shorter breaks and adjust course as needed. If the group wants to just play around outside of Gerrish, surf, rescue, etc. that is fine and would lessen the mileage. post here, PM or psylatmetrocastdotnet thanks,

Well done!

I have left several seat hangers in place and kept the stock backband in place. Backbands should (imo) never be too tight. I have wedged foam between the hanger and the hull as part of the hip padding. Suggest using a hand saw and not a sawsall or power tool except maybe a dremmel. Prefer custom seats that start out as a block of 2-3" foam about 16" wide by 20" long. Can sit for long time....no cramping. Never was happy with a tractor pad. Play with duct tape to get it right then glue in place with contact cement.

My kayak is a Yukon in the FSK class. It is 18'x21" cedar strip epoxy composite. A new design from Nick at Guillemot Kayaks that is meant to compare with the Epic18 and similar kayaks. I did have a wing paddle but given the times in the FSK class I should have trained for real instead of just once a week for 3-4 weeks. Andy, I am the one that was with you and Rob in Portsmouth a few Saturdays ago. I had the wing and my Explorer.

Always a good time and glad to be a small part of it.. Thanks. Special thanks to Leon who inspired me around 1999 to try the Blackburn. After having entered a couple small charity races a couple of us joined Leon for a training loop around Cape Ann. He made it look easy and waited up for me as needed. Made it around fine but It was an eye opener and I loved it. thank you,

easy, one in the thule saddles and two on edge. one set of vertical bars with padding and a line holding all bows to the front bumper.

My only goal is to put the paddle in at my feet and lift out at my hips...oh and to beat 3:40

Think they will break the record? It is good motivation when you have the skis walk right past you as you get to the open water. Hope for a calm day...too rough and I'll be in my Explorer.

I am planning on heading down but have to launch 9 ish. and off by 1 pm. send me a mail if you can go earlier. psylatmetrocastdotnet

Thanks I found it..so simple yet I missed it!

I have had sleeve pockets added a couple times and use them. I did ask them to rotate the pockets forward a little for easy reach. My new Expedition suit has( factory) pockets in a good position and a fixed hood. I have not figured out how it stores compact yet and I do like the zipper covering. You can't go wrong with either.

If you want to get in on the fun in the second video go BCU and at 4-5 star you will do that. Rick, I and others had some good times doing this. In the video I thought they might have tied one line to the stern and one to the bow for better control. Great fun...

Having trouble renewing or getting a membership to work. Tried a few times. Could somewhere help with this? psylatmetrocastdotnet or post here. thx

From free man in Paris to bound and shackled to this bill every year......Nice... but it needs three masts and sails.

Might it help or hurt to send a nice PR piece to the local papers? Short and to the point but also explaining that not all kayakers hog the channel or get in the way of working boats. Would never expect to catch the kid but raising a greater awareness of the crime would be nice. I would also like to know if there were any other similar incidents in town that night? Sorry for your loss, Paul Sylvester

Very tough to gel coat the whole hull and I'll never do it again. I have chased out cracks with a grooving tool and filled them and had good results. Color matching is the hard part so don't be surprised if the repairs show. Some feel that keeping the kayaks out of freezing temps can lessen the spread. I have no idea if it helps. West Systems has some epoxy syringes that can be used to fill lines that you groove out if you decide to do it yourself ...and you will want a good buffer. Westport is a hike for you but probably worth the trip. You might try the dealer near Concord?

Thanks for the kind words. One interesting thing during the verbal questioning part: One of the examiners had a circa 1973 cassette tape recorder and was using it. Had to pause once while he turned the tape over. Go to Maine and go back in time.....

Try filling your dayhatch with water and see where it leaks into the cockpit. Don't know how your boat is put together...Could it be a fiberglass tape set in resin? That is how most bulkheads are done on glass boats. If the bond is not good they won't stand up to the stress and leak over time. It does look like silicone. Silicone imo would be to keep the joint clean and free of anything that might get wedged in. The glass tape on the other side is key.

My kids vacationing in Colorado called me in NH from some mountain area where their GPS had died or was not working properly. How ironic after the talks I have had about land navigation with them. They like many are too gps dependent. I had my wifes gps put me on a dead end road (way off track) in RI one time.

I am impressed with your stories of traveling and volunteering around the country. All the best to you,

Bring a shorter slower boat for the day.

Congratulations Rob,