Richard N

I am deeply troubled to hear of your sudden resignation as co- president of NSPN. I'm sure it was a very thoughtful and difficult decision. With few exceptions, my association with the club has been either on the water or at trip leader sessions. On numerous occasion when I have attempted to offer my suggestions, thoughts and service to assist, I was politely told; "we will not discuss that now", "we have enough", "we have no room", etc.. Is this possibly an example of "don't speak unless asked"? Although I have been a member for just over 1 year and have a very strong feeling of obligation to do my share in repaying NSPN for making me a better paddler, I've experienced a very deep divide between the leadership (the in-group) and the general membership (paddlers). Unfortunately, as an outsider who is not interested in elbowing into the inner circle, I do not have a clue regarding the politics or intended direction of the club. My experience is my reality. Your last paragraph contained a particularly disturbing statement; "The feelings we should be exclusive, not lead trips, not offer professional instructors from around the world (at a savings to club members) are foreign to me." Exclusive? Not lead trips? Not offer professional instructors from around the world? I find it impossible to understand the reasoning for these profound changes. IMHO this dramatic change in direction would completely unravel the basic foundation and purpose for our existence. Improving my personal skills through professional instruction and helping others are the ONLY reasons that cause me to maintain my membership in NSPN! Hopefully you will continue to voice your beliefs and help steer NSPN along a course that, promotes, educates and develops safe and proficient paddling. Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

<-Dee Dee: No assumptions were implied or intended other than the obvious results of a very simple and straight forward experiment. Also, for the benefit of all who rely on this board for useful information, we should restrict our writings to objective communications rather than emotional and unhelpful personal comments. Any follow-up you may have to this post should be send to my personal Email address; brucemedi@aol.com. I will not lower myself to be sucked into a worthless (to use your language) "p _ _ _ _ _ g contest". Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

>I disagree for many technical reasons, but I am sorry, but I don't have time to explain it now. > >-Dee Dee, Don't try to explain it. Please take a few minutes to perform this very simple home experiment. Estimated time to complete: 20 minutes Supplies needed: - - Very large (to go) coffee cup with lid from "Dunkin Donuts" - - "Duck" tape. - - Two or three small butter knives (metal) - - Magic Marker 1. Using the Magic Marker, draw a straight line across the outside bottom of the cup through the center bisecting it into two equal sections. Draw another line perpendicular to the first dividing the bottom into quarters. 2. Place the cup upside down on a work surface. Using THREE of the points identified by the above markings along the circumference of the bottom, draw three straight lines (outside) to the top of the cup. 3. Tape two butter knives along the inside surface of the cup. Placement should be along the center (keel) line. You may need to face them in the same directions to balance the load. 4. Secure the lid on to the cup being careful to line up the drinking opening with the center (keel) line and the knives taped on the inside. 5. Put a small piece of tape on the breather hole (vent) located on the lid and another piece of tape on the drinking opening. The above represents a kayak with a sealed compartment. Knives are along the keel line. The other two lines represent the water line of a boat. Note: Depending on the weight of the knives, you may need to reposition the knives and/or add a third knife to have the water lines along the cup line up with the surface of the water. 6. Fill your kitchen sink with water. 7. Place the above sealed container in the water. Question 1: After 5 minutes, how much water enters the cup? 8. Remove tape from drinking opening making sure the tab does not block the opening. Place the container into the water. Question 2: After 5 minutes, how much water entered the cup? 9. Remove the second piece of tape from the breather hole. Make sure the breather hole (vent) is not plugged. Place the container into the water. Question 3: After 5 minutes, how much water entered the cup? Question 4: Was buoyancy and stability of the cup effected? Dee, we value your objectivity and interest in breather holes and are anxiously waiting for you to post the results of this very simple experiment. The answers to questions 1-4 should settle the controversy. For technical explanations, you may study the following: Boyle's Law Archimedes' Principle Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

>A small breather hole above the water line will permit only >the smallest volume of air to pass through, and that is only >when there is a significant pressure differential across the >bulkhead. If you get a hole in your boat below the >waterline, a much higher pressure differential will be a >function of the depth of the water at the >hole. If the new hole is small, water will seep in as a >result of the high differential and the breather hole will >have negligible effect. > >If the hole is large, a high differential pressure will not >exist for very long as the sloshing of the water under a sea >kayak will allow air to be quickly exchanged for water. >Again, the effect of the breather hole will be negligible. Dee: Although the amount of water passing through the breather hole will not be great. The real problem is that a breather hole enables a holed chamber to easily fill with water up to the height of the breather. Basic physics dictates the following: The size of the breather hole does not effect the amount of water that will enter a holed chamber. It only effects the speed (gph). A very small pin hole in a coffee lid allows the contents to flow at a considerable rate. Assuming no other leaks in the chamber, a breather hole at the water line will allow water to enter the chamber slightly above the height of the breather hole. Then, because of the added water in the holed chamber, your waterline will be lower thus forcing water through the breather hole into the adjoining chamber. Water will enter the holed chamber at the same rate as water passing (under pressure) through the breather hole. A breather hole below the water line will cause water to flow into the adjoining chamber until the pressure is equalized. If you have a breather hole in a cockpit bulkhead (not a sealed chamber), water will continue to squirt through the breather hole into your cockpit. Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

Cracked Rims: It was interesting to note that cracked rims were more prevelent on boats with thin flexable decks. It could be that the cracks are a result of flexing caused by internal and/or external pressure. Breather Holes: Although I was initially impressed by the reasoning to put breather holes in bulkheads, my current feeling is that it defeats the safety feature of a watertight chamber. For sure, a small breather hole will equalize the pressure. But, if you hole your boat, a breather hole will enable a watertight chamber to quickly flood with water. Although hatch covers are relatively easy to open from the outside, they are almost impossable to dislodge under internal pressure. IMHO a more prudent (costly) alternative is to have a second set of covers with breather holes. The covers would only be used for transport or storage. Example: Imagine a cup of coffee with or without a breather hole in the lid! Although my Romany is only one year old, I have not experienced any appreciable leaking. Except for a few drops (maybe as much as a tablespoonful) that occasionally leak from the skeg box cable connection, the tightly sealed compartments are always dry. Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

Brian, many thanks for the countless hours you spent preparing for the workshop and for bringing supplies, hand tools, drill press, band saw, extension chords, etc. (a complete workshop). Your experience, guidance and encouragement along with the cooperative input of all who attended made the workshop an overwhelming learning experience. Although each of us had our personal pet projects, everyone who attended obtained an incredible amount of knowledge by observing and helping others. It wasn't just a workshop, it was actually a detailed course in kayak repair and modification. Brian, many thanks again. "You da man"! Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

All may not be lost. If it's a real "Swiss Made" product (Wenger or Victorinox), you should be able to bring it back to like-new condition. If it's a "Made in China" look alike, don't waste your time. Just toss it in the trash. Although the following steps may take a few days, it's worth the effort. 1. Don't rush this step. Rinse it in hot water to remove all the water soluble material. It may take a few hours to dissolve the salt.. 2. Dry thoroughly. A hair dryer might help. 3. Soak the knife in WD-40 for a day or two. 4. Clean with a stiff nylon brush or hard tooth brush. Take your time. You may need to repeat steps 3 & 4 many times. WD-40, brush, clean, wipe, etc...... Slowly but surely, it will come back to life. Be patient. All good things take time. Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

Liz: Exiting or entering a kayak from a dock or pier can be a very dangerous exercise. A long painter (line) attached to the bow functions as a spring line to enable a much more stable condition. The procedure is very simple. Pull along side the dock or pier. Attach the spring line to any fixed item on the dock (cleat, ring, etc.). Use your hands or arms to move your boat forward. As the spring line tightens your boat becomes jammed against the dock and is prevented from moving forward. Your boat is now a fixed platform as long as you continue to apply forward pressure. And, because it's attached to the dock with the line, it won't float away. Tip: The pivot point is the bow of your boat. Forward pressure must be applied on the side of your boat closest to the dock. If you apply forward pressure on the opposite side, your boat will swing away from the dock. For me.....it's a must have. Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

>The bulkhead fittings you can buy are intended for use on bigger boats >and are very rugged. > if you cock your hip a bit, you can soak your friends from quite a distance. I'm SOLD!!!!!! Time to begin shopping for more STUFF! Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

The article mentioned by Scott has had me seriously thinking about installing a pump in my boat. The 450, foot operated model, seems to be ideal because it has the ability to fit high on the bulkhead. At this time, my only concern is the location for the discharge fitting. Top deck discharge: . Pro - protected from damage. . Con - water discharges up in the air, etc. Side discharge (above water line): . Pro - water does not splash in your face. . Con - fitting is vulnerable to being broken by a strong blow (rock, boat, etc.) Any thoughts, experience or suggestions would be appreciated. Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

Sensational Mories!!!!!! Sharp and clear....even full screen. Well done. Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

Although Marblehead is my preferred launch point to Misery, it's only about a 50/50 possibility that I'll be able to paddle on Friday. Keep me posted on your plans (departure time). My Email address is: brucemedi@aol.com Hope to see you on Friday. Richard N Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

Listen to Dee, Peter and Brian. Read the posts 3 (or more) times. Note that they have personally used coated nylon, wet suits and breathable waterproof garments. Remember, this is a matter of safety first. Image and comfort are secondary. Spend a few minutes to make a list of the comfort and safety advantages and disadvantages of wet suits, coated nylon and GoreTex. Consider the real possibility of paddling with air temperature at 70 degrees (or more) and with water temperature below 50 degrees. You will quickly notice that a GoreTex suite with Gortex booties has NO disadvantages. IMNSHO - Having also used the other materials......Gore-Tex is the ONLY way to go! Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

This was a fantastic workshop spearheaded by Brian "the man" who spent a great deal of time preparing for the event and masterfully guiding us through our individual projects. He also purchased a large amount of the "perfect foam" for us to use. And, with the help of Don Eva, transported a drill press, band saw, tools and equipment to the site. Rick and Dee also added their expertise and were assisting us with our projects. It was a display of true unselfish dedication! They gave up a beautiful day of paddling to help us work on our boats. Some of the projects completed were new rigging, custom fittings, pump holders, back supports, thigh padding, deck tows and padded foot rests. All who participated ended the day with a feeling of great accomplishment and smiles from ear to ear. Many thanks to Brian and his assistants for making the workshop a memorable NSPN experience. Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

Ken: Your comments are right on the money. Developing strong, reliable paddling skills should be our priority. I agree with you that we should concentrate on developing and fine tuning skills that enable safe paddling in situations beyond the personal comfort zone. During the past year, aside from classes with Derek Hutchenson, Nigel Foster and Bob Foot most of the emphasis has been on safety and rescue skills. Spending many hours on the water is no substitute for professional instruction and coaching that teach the subtle moves and paddle placement necessary to enable comfortable, anywhere, anytime kayaking. Free time (trips, etc.) on the water is best spent practicing and executing the lessons learned during classes. Our motto should be to “always paddle within your ability.” We never improve if we always paddle in comfortable conditions. Although we should continually challenge our skills, one never has time to learn the "feel" when in survival mode. I must admit that, for me, the highlights of the Rough Water Workshop was when you introduced us to your "Bow Rudder" (canoeing term) maneuver and the playing, sitting and maneuvering in the rocks and surf. Prior to that time, while in a broach, I would always be at the mercy of the surf pushing me along while I just leaned into the wave and went along for a ride. Now, with practice, I'll be able to take control and maneuver out of a broaching situation. At the end of the day, my personal comfort level went up many rungs. Many thanks! Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

I'll be attending Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

Please count me in! Richard Najarian Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

If it's not raining, I like to open my drysuit to accelerate drying my upper body. Until recently, I've been using a waterproof, med. weight, ski jacket with breathable fabric. But now, I use a fantastic cover-up introduced to me by Jed Luby. The "Jed-Cag" is a one-size-fits-all Cag made from heavy duty waterproof breathable material. Rugged as hell, it's now standard issue on every trip. ...Mfg: RasDex ...Model: SealSuit ...Price: $145.00 ± Click through: Accessories > Clothing IMHO, because weather conditions vary significantly from trip to trip, flexibility is the key to comfort during a break. In addition to a cover up and an insulating seat cushion, I always have a dry bag with the following layering options: **Fleece (depending on weather, heavy or medium) **A warm, windproof hat **Gloves Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

Because vibration and temperature changes tend to loosen nuts and bolts, check, tighten and lubricate all bolts, knobs etc on a regular schedule (every 2-4 weeks). I use lithium grease on all threads to prevent corrosion and insure easy removal and/or adjustment. If you have locks, just use a lock lubricant/antifreeze. IMHO, the above only takes a few minutes and should be done throughout the year. Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

"Use the tub, shower or a large capacity machine to wash drysuits. Since the fabric is waterproof and pockets of soapy water can get trapped, stop the machine during the rinse cycle to rearrange the suit, or use a hose or hand held shower to rinse it well inside and out after the wash. Remember, avoid dryers if the garment has gaskets!" The link below contains information from the mouth of the Horse!!!! Click on "Service" Then Click on "Care and Feeding" Download PDF "Drysuit & Drytop Storage/Care Instructions (417 kb)" Note the cleaning and lubricating instructions for zippers. The above cleaning information is for Gore-Tex only! I've been using Gore-Tex garments for over 20 years. I have used washers, dryers, etc. None of my Gore-Tex garments have ever delaminated. In fact, Gore guarantees against delamination! Unfortunately, some of my NON-Gore-Tex garments have delaminated. Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

Adam: Your great report brings back many memories of the many days and nights I've spent on Cuttyhunk. It's just as you described. Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

The following links contain information on tests evaluating lighting systems used on kayaks during night paddling. Evaluations: Links to lights: Hope it's helpful. Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

Ciro....... Congratulations !!!!! Great achievement **** and climbing! I've seen what happens when your down wind of the heavy (Ciro). Thank goodness it wasn't me. You're a good man. Hat's off to you. Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

Hay........ What about the guys!!!!!!!!!!! When do we get our turn????? Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

I'll say they were big! One of our seasoned leaders conservatively declared the wave height to be more than the length of a boat. It's not very often that you witness a group of boats COMPLETELY out of the water. From my position it looked like someone had tossed a bunch of carrots (boats) into the air. It was a superb aerial performance. To my astonishment ......no yard sale. Just an adventurous group having a good time. And, kudos to paddler #8 who did a smooth, graceful, unintentional seal landing on the flight deck of paddler #13. ****Verbal exchange: "I'm sorry....do I know you?" No Names . ;-) Although handling the "big stuff" was relatively straight forward, mastering the fine points of manouvering is another story. Many thanks to Scott, Rick C., Ken, Adam, John, Brian, Linda, Rick S and Paul for patiently coaching us throughout the day. Please, please............we need more!!!!!!!!!! Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim