Gcosloy

While I agree with most of your thoughts regarding trying to outlaw stupidity, it is really a bit more complicated than that. Flying a glider, or an airplane, bungee jumping, downhill skiing and rock climbing all are inherently dangerous without proper supervision and education. Even the stupidist among us might agree with that statement. However, kayaking and canoeing are assumed by the popular culture to be inherently safe.

Gasp reflex, hypothermia are as archane a subject matter as hyperhydration (runners drinking too much water and upsetting their electrolyte balance). The industry (boat manufacturers) is really a big part of the problem. Why do you think every year new recreational boats are offered with bigger cockpits, wider beams, and no flotation?

Safety dosen't sell! The ratio of unsafe Explorers sold vs. safe Volvos is my case in point. American's ended their love affair, if they ever had one, with active safety the year Nader's "Unsafe at any Speed" was published. American's want to be protected without any effort on their part, hence their trust in passive safety. There seems to be a rule that the larger and heavier the vehicle, the smaller and lighter the driver!

I don't think Jennifer and Adam want to pop out of their Explorer, or Hummer for a day on the lake and be told they will die if they don't take some active responsibility for their own longevity.

I think this new law, flawed as it is, and discriminatory, may have a good effect, similar to the new requirement that every household in Massachussetts sport a Carbon Monoxide detector on every floor. I don't have a faulty heating system or blocked vent but the State didn't ask me and so I need to comply. Conversely, how many of the uncurious are there out there that might be helped by being forced to protect themselves and their families?

If novices are prone to gasp reflex in 40 to 50 degree water then this is further argument that they have no business demo-ing a boat in those conditions.

Gene

I'm going to disagree. First of all the new law is supposed to save the lives of novices, not encumber experienced paddlers with meaningless regulation. I support both the pfd requirement and the wet exit instruction. I would even add employing a sprayskirt in coastal waters.

If in fact the law becomes non-enforceable for most of us, then we shouldn't be overly concerned if we leave our whistle or compass behind on occassion. As far as the civil liberty issue goes, this is similar to asking motorcyclists to wear helmets.

The kayak industry is extremely unregulated with the result that novices are given a false sense of security trying out a new sport where safety frequently becomes an afterthought.

When I started paddling about three years ago I investigated the books and articles on the subject and was astonished over the ratio of safety and rescue over the other more benign subjects. I even wondered if this wasn't overkill. Now starting my fourth season and with a couple of capsizes under my belt, a few fog closing in too close for comfort, the occassional real need for my compass, I can only wonder, "What was I thinking"? This is a sport of skill which requires patience, dedication, and risk assesment, all of which is usually in short supply when a novice is about to launch on a sunny calm day in a recreational boat without a pfd, sprayskirt or a clue.

Gene

I've read that 303 should be used to maintain latex cuffs on dry suits. Is it recommended to apply the protection to the outside or to both out and inside the cuff?

Gene Cosloy

You asked about the Tempest 170 or similar boat. If you like the characteristics of the 170 you should also try the Chatham 16 and 17. The Chatham is designed with a similar paddler in mind: beginner to Intermediate that wants the responsiveness inherent in a more expert boat but needs the forgiving very strong secondary stability that insures fun and not fear. I've tried both and like the Chathams.

Gene

>thanks for the help. i will look it up. i have a thing about

>something tight like the latex gaskets they use on the neck.

>always makes me wonder who invented the necktie and why men

>have been trying to choke themselves with them all these

>years

>tom

Kokatat introduced the Super-Nova Semi-dry suit last year. It is not goretex breathable but a fabric called tropos which works quite well. The suit has all the features of the full featured Kokatat save the neck enclosure which is neoprene. I wear one with the 100 polarfleese undergarment and have been very satisfied. They claim that if you roll with it you would receive a teaspoon to a tablespoon of water via the neck. Seems a good tradeoff to wear some protection rather than not. I have tried the latex necks and could not tolerate them.

Just anonther option,

Gene Cosloy

You don’t need to brave 7-foot surf to learn lessons about sea kayaking and the sea and yourself. Last Tuesday I was leaving the entrance to Lane’s Cove in Gloucester through the opening in the high sea wall when it occurred to me that the sea looked particularly rough. No white caps but steep progressive waves. I thought this would be a good opportunity to learn something more about the handling and stability of my new Ellesmere Kayak. Previous to this I had it out only once before in rough water and twice on flat water. I knew the boat was marketed as a kayak for " experienced paddlers" and thought that my now three seasons of paddling once or twice a week would be sufficient. Prior to this experience I have performed self and assisted rescues with no problem on flat water but have not yet developed a roll to rely on.

As I was sitting a beam to the oncoming surge I thought, let’s see what happens when the boat is hit by oncoming waves –how will it behave? Before I knew it the boat was leaning heavily to the port side and my low brace attempt to stabilize came to naught and I found myself going over. It felt like I was performing a slow motion capsizes on purpose but what this accident revealed in retrospect was my non-existent brace. What I had been calling a brace was simply sticking the stick in the water and pushing down. No knee or hip snap in the opposite direction, in fact just the opposite the tilt of the boat had my right knee elevated and my head was probably intuitively cocked to the right as well, exactly the opposite of what was needed in the situation.

The cold rush of water and my lack of knowing where my paddle was prompted an immediate wet exit, done flawlessly I might add, I don’t even think my feet scraped the combing on the way out. Here I found myself in a roiling sea with an upside down kayak. No problem, just flip it right side up like I’ve done many times before in practice at Walden pond in flat water and in warm water. The boat flipped only ninety degrees and resisted going further. What was wrong I thought! My front deck was outfitted with a large deck bag filled with water, food, a vhf radio and sun blocker and towel. Not being waterproof like a dry bag it quickly filled up with water and slipped downward towards the water acting like a large water logged anchor. Additionally I had placed a 2-piece back up paddle in a nylon bag on the front deck and that too was filled with water and slipped downwards preventing the complete righting of the boat. Lesson number two: don’t put stuff on the deck that can take in and hold water. I should have opted for one of those vinyl deck bags that roll up and completely seal out water like dry bags do.

There I was no more than a hundred yards from the opening in the sea wall with a kayak on edge literally and decided to hold on and just swim for the opening. Once I got into the cove where the water was calm I could the figure out what I needed to do to get back in the boat. After all the entire surge was moving on shore, not offshore, the swim would be easy. Not! I must have spent 10 minutes in the water before my goal of reaching the cove was replaced by hoping to reach the next lobster trap buoy so I could grasp onto it and rest. At this point I ripped off the deck bag and paddle bags and stowed them in my cockpit. Now I was able to complete the rotation and the boat was upright. I thought this would facilitate better progress with the swim since I had been making very little forward progress. Third lesson: swimming for it especially towing a kayak is often an illusory solution. It probable dawned on the reader by now that filling my cockpit with gear wasn’t exactly going to facilitate a paddle float reentry. Of course if the situation was dire and had I been more desperate, dumping those items would have been done.

Just then my surprised companion showed up through the opening in the wall and assisted in a side by side rescue. Only after I transferred my two soggy anchors over to him was I back in my upright boat and busy pumping the water out of the cockpit. His first comment to me was: "Why didn’t you blow your whistle?" "I would have been here right away" Why indeed? Final lesson: hubris will get you every time.

To review then: the lack of an effective brace represented a lack of skill. The inappropriate choice of deck gear represented a lack of experience. Attempting a swim with disabled kayak represented a lack of judgment. Since my paddling partner was on the shore of Lane’s Cove getting his gear ready he could not possibly see through the high rock wall to the other side where I was floundering. I, in partial defense never thought to blow a whistle since I didn’t think he could possibly here it. In reality though I felt I would have self-rescued before he showed up and was slightly embarrassed be the whole situation. I’m writing this so that others can appreciate the trouble we can get ourselves into when a few random events conspire coupled with skill and judgment deficits to make an otherwise uneventful situation potentially dangerous.

Gene Cosloy

Trip is cancelled.

This trip previously discussed under "Blackburn for slowpokes" is set for Wednesday August 17, 2005. Launch time is 10:45 at the Gloucester High School launch on the Annasquam. Meet up at 10:15 AM I think we have 2 going so far , would like at least 3. Caveat: will cancel if weather doesn't cooperate.

Gene

I just finished a trip from Manchester's Tuck's Point to Marblehead harbor with stops along the way at Children's Island and Great Misery Island. If I discount the stops and side trips we averaged 3mi/hr over 12 miles. Some of the open water going was strenuous but in fairness some of the trip back provided wonderful following seas. If I project what I could reasonably do around Cape Ann I need to conclude that the trip would take 7-1/2 hours averaging 3/mi/hr. and adding 2 hours more for stops, lunch, breathers etc. we're up to 9-1/2hrs. That's 1-1/2 hours more than the ideal of leaving with the fast ebb tide and finishing before the fast rising tide slows down. To compensate I suggest moving up the launch time on Wednesday to 10:45.

Meet at the High School launch site 10:15.

I've never done more than 15 miles and that when conditions were rough and arduous for half. I was totally spent and ran out of gas completely. My goal is to circumnavigate Cape Ann when the conditions are close to optimum. If weather or conditions look dicey for the 17th I will definitely be bailing.

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Ok, taking Liz's suggestion I've consulted the tide tables for the most optimum (2 hours after high tide). Leaving the high School launch in Gloucester:

Wednesday 8/17 11:30AM

Sunday 8/28 9:00AM

Tuesday 8/30 11:00AM

Plan on meeting 1/2 hour before launch time.

Please respond with your first and second (if any choice). We should select the date and time that accommodates the majority of paddlers. I will be taking a VHF marine radio. At least one of us should be taking a tow rope for emergencies.

Aside from Lanes Cove, does anyone know of other stops along the route? Is Thatcher's open? While the Sunday date was proposed so that more could participate, is there a negative in suffering more recreational boat and jet ski traffic?

Ok, I realize this topic is for S&G, however given the duration and difficulty of this paddle I do not intend to go if no one else shows. Let's try for Wednesday August (not July, (sorry about that)) 17th. Meet 11:00 AM Please respond if this works for you!

Gene

Sounds like a plan. I'll check my tide tables and get back to you. Also I can only do this Monday or Tuesdays. If weekends are the only good time for everyone else I could do Sundays.

Later,

Gene

Hi

Been paddling for 3 seasons now mostly North Shore. Looking for partners to plan a circumnavigation of Cape Ann for the rest of us. Paddle 3 knots average stop to stretch/eat and plan a day with the tides being favorable and weather/wind cooperating. This is for those who are into endurance more than speed.

Gene Cosloy

Snapdragon makes all neo skirts with specific sizes for cockpit and waist. e.g. medium cockpit/large waist. I recently purchased one with an xl waist because it came with adjustable straps to cinch it up. It may not be as water tight as the individually sized tubes but it gives the advantage of being usable with different layers of clothing in all seasons. In summer I cinch it up, in the fall over a wet suit I may not need to. My understanding it that only the xl tube size is adjustable.

Gene

Could you explain to this newbie what a re-entry and roll is. I think I know what each is but not both together. For example if conditions are rough and you capsize, that usually doesn't mean exiting the boat. If you do a wet exit and then re-enter I would think you are still in the capsized position. Unless I've missed something, please explain??

Also a cowboy re-entry can safely and easily be accomplished with sea-wings or attachable sponsons. I know this item is extremely controversal, but it is a legitimate option.

Gene