alcoons

Hi Blaine,

Assuming some body parts are cooperating by then, I will join you.

Al

Cetus

red over white, mostly over

Opps. Was on vacation and lost track of the posts. Sounds like a great time.

Sorry,

Al

Not sure if I can paddle yet, but can you remind me about max distance and required lights?

Thanks,

Al

Just helping out Casual Kayakers, a nice Meetup.com group, that is looking for an informal "guide" with knowledge of Duxbury Bay for a paddle they are hoping to have this weekend.

Email me if you want Heidi's (the organizer) email.

Al

Thanks Beth. Anyone know what the list price was back then? Approx?

Al

Thank Mike and Deb,

Sure looks a lot like this mid-tour picture I found, but not sure:

http://www.outdoorreview.com/cat/product-archives/outdoor-equipment/paddling/paddles/werner/mid-tour-paddle/prd_103521_2989crx.aspx

I wrote Werner and asked if they can identify if for me. Will let you know the results.

Al

Getting ready to sell this paddle from a previous life but have no idea which model Werner it is. 230 cm.

Thanks for you help:

As advertised, it was mellow. David, Judy, Pablo and I were not bothered by the traffic jams delaying some participants, a couple of high speed ferries that passed within 2 miles of our group, the perfect weather, tiny waves, and the wind that helped us on our return against the imperceptible tide. No frustration on the lack of chocolate covered cherries at lunch.

Who knows? Maybe 9 miles with lunch at Georges.

Great discussion on retirement since I seem to be only one foolish enough to continue working.

Thanks for a great paddle David, Judy, and Pablo.

Al

Looking good:

Boston Harbor-Today

NW winds around 5 kt...becoming se 10 to 15 kt this afternoon. Waves 1 foot or less.

Tonight

SW winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 foot or less.

Thanks for posting this, Al! Am thinking about joining you. What time do you anticipate getting off the water in the PM?

Well let's say we average 3 mph and do 9 miles. That is 3 hours. Plus a lunch stop and maybe another short one. No promises but 4-4.5 hours? We will NOT turn this into a long trip.

Hope you can join us.

Short Tour of Harbor Islands

Date: Thr 6/20

Launch: 10:30 AM, (Beach Briefing 10:25 AM)

Status: Confirmed (Pablo and Al) but check here Thr AM just in case.

Route: Short Tour of islands: 8-10 miles : http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=5973877

Put-in: Last parking lot (on left) on Tafts Avenue before you are stopped by the Deer Island gate (back about 1/4 mile?) http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=5974085

Trip Type and Tone: Level 3-? CAM. All stay together. Support each other. Conservative decisions. Should be comfortable with wind and waves.

Bring: Water & lunch. Water temperature is around 60 I would suspect.

Tides: High Tide: Around 8:50 AM, Low Tide: Around 3:00 PM

Al Coons
Cetus
Red over white, mostly over

Pablo,

1. Sounds perfect. 10 is fine with me. Is later even better for you? 10:30? Either is fine.

2. Here is a 9 mile route just to have something to look at: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=5973877

3. Looks like a great day. Come join us!

THU

N WINDS AROUND 5 KT...BECOMING E IN THE AFTERNOON. WAVES
1 FOOT OR LESS.

----------------

Pablo: Please email me at kayakclass@verizon.net so we can exchange cell numbers just in case.

Tablo,

I will be at the Solstice, see you there for sure.

Thursday looks like a great day. It may work for me but I would rather not go too far due to other arm commitments:) 8-10?

Low tide is around 3 PM in the harbor. Winthrop might be better for a late morning launch, but I know you prefer City Island. What might work for you?

Al

Pablo,

Sorry. I accepted an offer for a "land sport" for Wed earlier today.

Al

Guess it is a no-go.

WED - Boston Harbor
NE WINDS 10 TO 15 KT. GUSTS UP TO 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON.
WAVES AROUND 2 FT.

Hi Pablo,

Just looked at the weather report for Boston Harbor.

Wed: NE winds 10 to 15 kt. Waves around 2 ft.

Those are the max conditions for level 3. Not sure it is a good choice. What are you thinking?

If we do go, City Point would be fine. Please confirm this is the location: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=5973049

Al

Thanks Suz.

Rookie question: what is the best way to create a "hot knife"? Box cutter?? over stove or lighter or ??

Much of what is below is probably very obvious, but I learned a lot of little things replacing my deck lines for the first time on my Cetus. Of course, other boats are different. So, for what it is worth, here are some observations that may or may not generalize to other boats:

• Cetus has wonderful allen-bolt fasteners for the deck line cleats rather than screws. There are no nuts, just fiberglassed threaded receptacles ready to accept the bolts so you do not have to work from both sides.
• The plastic cleats have two holes in them so purchasing the correct size bungee and line does matter a great deal. I purchased replacement bungees and line from P&H. Relatively expensive, but the right stuff and right overall quantity.
• The existing lines and bungees had rubber shrink rap around the end of each line. While P&H supplied new shrink rap sleeves, they were actually smaller than the line and need a special, expensive tool to install.
• The line was very difficult to thread through some of the cleat holes since it was almost the same size. Melting the end just made it worse. However, and this is my big discovery, the local hardware store had plastic shrink-wrap sleeves of different diameters. So, cut the line, place the sleeve on the end, heat it with a lighter and you have a great looking end. This made it easy to thread the line. However, it was still too big in some cases to thread through the holes. Solution: Cut the line leaving just the tiniest piece of sleeve still on the line. That seemed to work (along with a lobster pick if necessary).

I am sure there are better ways to do this and would love to hear about them.

Al

Or a Boston Harbor Paddle launching from the Seaport District ramp?

Looking for a easy, relatively short 2+/3- paddle for Sunday. Just shaking out the old body and seeing how the injuries are doing. Morning might be better, North Shore, 2+ hours? A stroll on a beautiful day? Lanes Cove? Low tide is 11 AM. Flexible.

Al

Cetus

Red/White

I was privileged to kayak and walk in Scotland last summer with the outing company Wilderness Scotland (www.wildernessscotland.com). I have never been with a more professional, more sensitive company and I hope to return to explore other parts of Scotland by kayak with them.

I just received an email alerting me to their first in a series of short films. While it is not about kayaking, it is about very special people, land, and water. Not a touch of advertising. Enjoy. Warning: It will make you very hungry for many things.

http://vimeo.com/67654970

The Wilderness Episodes - Episode 1 Knoydart

'Knoydart - Shaped by Wilderness' is the first part in a series of short films (the Wilderness Episodes) from Wilderness Scotland which explore the people, places and culture of the Scottish Highlands and Islands. The Knoydart peninsula is often called Britain's last great wilderness due to its inaccessibility and dramatic wild landscape. This film gives an insight into life on Knoydart from local people who have spent most of their lives there and others who have chosen to make it their home. The values they live by are shaped by their location but not controlled by it, highlighted by the local fresh food culture. The strong connection with each other and the land make it a very special place for the visitor.

I lived on Houghs Neck for a short time 30 years ago but don't remember a Maritime Center. Could you provide some info on the put in? Is it public? Parking?

Thanks,

Al

Michael,

If you can find what you want locally great. I also have had great service speaking with P&H America directly at 828-254-1101.

Al