DanR

Yeah, tapatalk works well from the iphone as well...

Who is coming down from Vermont? Maybe I will take a drive down from Montreal...

Just use a little ABS tubing with a couple of 90 deg. Costs $5 and takes two minutes to do. Many of you have seen mine on my kayaks and they work very well, never lost a paddle off the deck...

You succeeded, only lost a little gel coat and one small seam repair to be done...lol Dan

I liked the image and that is why I put it on the site. I realize that this couldn't happen, and I don't think I would be overly concerned about it when paddling ...

Humpback and kayaker Folks, this is for real!!!! This happened in the last two weeks. The spawning Herring are in the Sitka Sound and when they are in, all the predators arrive to feast. Dr.Kraft happened to be in the wrong place at the right time!!! The Whale was coming up under the schooled herring which the whale had schooled with a circling motion driving the Herring into a ball through which the whale comes up through. This is a once in a life time photo and I wanted to share with all of you. I couldnt resist sending this one along. The photo was taken at the entrance to Katlian Bay at the end of the road in Sitka . The whale is coming up to scoop up a mouthful of herring (the small fish seen at the surface around the kayak). The kayaker is a local Sitka Dentist. I havent talked to him yet, but havent heard of any injuries out of the experience. Enjoy, Says Dr. Kraft: Yep, that is me in the picture. Yep that is a whale that was just around the corner from the ferry terminal. "Paddle really fast" is the only thing I could think of at the time.. Also thinking that I don't look like a herring, don't smell like a herring but with the same herring instinct of "get the hell out of the way of that big mouth!!" Still living to tell yet another story.. Rich K Sitkas very own Dr. Richard Kraft during one of his routine oral examinations:

Nah, Jason, I'm not confused, I was just taking a little dig at Suz. No matter which side of my kayak is up you will see scratches...

I never heard of a real kayaker who didn't have scratches on the deck...

I use a bit of ABS plumbing pipe and I put the tubes under the front bungies where they stay all the time. Very solid system and if you have to use one of the paddle halves you can always slip it back into the tube afterward...

You might just have a repeat paddler from Montreal for this solstice paddle

Go to any hardware store and pick up the small felt pads (self adhesive) that can be glued to the bottom of chair legs. Glue two pads, one on each side of the skeg, about half way back and that will take care of the problem. Dan

The license is only required for residents, and it is a restricted operators license. A trained chimp could pass it and it is good for the life of the licensee.Visitors do not require the license. As for the french issue, there is no problem in theory. All the operators are supposed to be bilingual, and if you use english no one will get their shorts in a knot. It would be unreasonable to expect all visitors and foreign vessels to speak in french... Dan Once more upon the waters! yet once more! And the waves bound beneath me as a steed That knows his rider. Lord Byron

I will be posting a 'trip' soon that may interest you as well. Last summer my wife and I camped and paddled around Mount Desert Island for a week and we invited people from Montreal and from NSPN to paddle with us. The only NSPN participant was Mary Bennet, and I think she enjoyed the trips. We will be there once again this summer (last two weeks of july) and we will once more send out an open invitation to whoever wishes to come and paddle with us. The caliber of the paddlers will determine the trips, but regardless of the skills of the paddlers or the weather there are always nice places to paddle around the island. More information to follow as plans take shape... Dan Once more upon the waters! yet once more! And the waves bound beneath me as a steed That knows his rider. Lord Byron

Sounds like fun, I may have to come down to start the season... Dan Once more upon the waters! yet once more! And the waves bound beneath me as a steed That knows his rider. Lord Byron

Personal preference is to use the chartcase, and there are a couple of reasons for this. One is that I can clip the chartcase to the set of bungies closest to the cockpit so when I want to look at the chart I an bring it right into my lap. When it is not in use I roll it up under the forward bungies. The other reason is that I have found that waterproof charts (without some retention system) tend to get washed off the front deck when I am playing and I usually don't notice until too late... Dan Once more upon the waters! yet once more! And the waves bound beneath me as a steed That knows his rider. Lord Byron

Mary, Any interest in coming to Mount Desert Island again in July??? Dan Once more upon the waters! yet once more! And the waves bound beneath me as a steed That knows his rider. Lord Byron

Try Chillcheater, their seals aren't latex. I have one of their shorty dry tops and it is great... Dan Once more upon the waters! yet once more! And the waves bound beneath me as a steed That knows his rider. Lord Byron

You'll be back in Seattle for the simmer??? Dan Once more upon the waters! yet once more! And the waves bound beneath me as a steed That knows his rider. Lord Byron

Just to add a little to Peter's comments don't worry about the speed of the shorter boat. Speed is mostly technique and unless you are racing you only need to keep up with the group with which you paddle. I was on the trip with Peter and John and I hung out with John for most of the time in my avocet, and I felt that most of the longer boats were a little slow. As for carrying capacity, for anything other than expeditioning the avocet should do fine. Dan Once more upon the waters! yet once more! And the waves bound beneath me as a steed That knows his rider. Lord Byron

Great fun was had by all. I plan to go back and play on the ledge south of the Egg Rock light, that was a nice little spot. The rocks behind Ironbound are worth another couple of visits as well... http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/554105603gNsAyH Dan Once more upon the waters! yet once more! And the waves bound beneath me as a steed That knows his rider. Lord Byron

I'll just be there for the four days, have to work sometime...I rented a little cabin for my stay this time, I will be arriving late thursday and putting up a tent at 11 pm was less than tempting. By the way I am planning another couple of weeks on the island next summer if you are interested... Dan Once more upon the waters! yet once more! And the waves bound beneath me as a steed That knows his rider. Lord Byron

I'll be there as well... Dan Once more upon the waters! yet once more! And the waves bound beneath me as a steed That knows his rider. Lord Byron

The kayak was stolen from on top of his car. He stopped at a local lake and walked down to the beach, and when he returned the kayak had been removed from his car top. It was locked with a lasso system as well... The boat number is DKJAN074-B4-C4, and since there aren't that many aquanauts around it should be easy to spot if it is used... While I'm at it a couple of other kayaks were stolen up here, two CD Caribous, one red and white (QDC119891001) and one apple green and white (MFPCR238D006) If anyone spots one of these boats send me a note... Dan Once more upon the waters! yet once more! And the waves bound beneath me as a steed That knows his rider. Lord Byron

I was beginning to wonder if Francine and I were going to be all alone on the beach. The pot luck supper afterwards would have been interesting... Dan Once more upon the waters! yet once more! And the waves bound beneath me as a steed That knows his rider. Lord Byron

Just wondering who is going to the Solstice paddle next weekend? Francine and I are planning on coming down from Montreal and I just want to make sure it is still a go... Dan Once more upon the waters! yet once more! And the waves bound beneath me as a steed That knows his rider. Lord Byron