jonsprag1

Just one---a few years ago I got a new VHF---wanted to see if the transmission function worked---was at a local put in Searsport---called the SW Harbor CG station on channel 16 for a radio check---got a very irritated and officious voice(don't know if it was the Coasties or some local boat owner--didn't id himself) telling me to clear channel 16---no "reading you 5x5 etc"---well at least I know it worked.

The lobstermen around Mount Desert aren't half so thick as elsewhere on the Maine coast---Try paddling in the Stonington or Vinalhaven areas if you want to see(or not see, depending on the fog) a lot of lobster boats-- In Stonington the lobster fleet tends, as a whole to be very careful in looking out for other boats, including kayakers---they know where we would be likly to to be and keep an eye out for us---most will even slow down when passing a group of kayaks to avoid a large wake. the major problem in Bar Harbor is the ferry to Yarmouth NS---the Cat---very big, very fast and very very scary---the first year it was in operation it ran into and sank a canadian fishing vessel in Yarmouth harbor. You haven't lived until you see that ship headed right towards you(you can see right down through the middle of her between the two catamaran hulls). I'm still interested in hearing what the techies have to say regarding a transponder type radio for use in the fog----I haven't seen one and have not heard anyone else say they have----as far as radar reflectors on a kayak, those MASKGI tests that are talked about show basically they are useless---I remember something about how they didn't show up on radar beyond 1/8 of a mile---I suspect that a transponder that had the power of a VHS handheld radio(5 watts) would have a much longer range than that.(at least a couple of miles if not more) the whole point is, however, making sure that the bigger boats are actually looking at their radar screen.

you know something that might work is a transponder style of radio which transmits a signal that can be pick up on a vessels radar---rather like an epirb or elt in an aircraft---do any of you techies out there know if such a device has been marketed for seakayakers---I remember being in LL Beans last year and seeing an emergency transmitter designed for kayaks and other small boats but I recall it worked off satellites----this would have to be specically designed to transmit on the radar frequencies.

I dunnoe about all this talk that women are better rollers than men---I seem to recall a lot of girlfriends from my (now long ago) youth who where impossible to roll

I got a middle of the line Werner 3.5 years ago for my 50th birthday--fiberglass shaft, asymetrical blades, designed more for high angle strokes but I use it in touring mode most of the time(as opposed to racing or exercise mode)---works fine for me and a lot lighter than my older aluminum shaft paddle(if you are not paddling more than an hour or so each day, doesn't make a big difference, when you are paddling 4-8 hours a day you really notice it at the end of the day) Love the Werner paddle---they make a number of them--mine cost around 175 bucks---I've seen them over 400 dollars--bent orthepedic graphite shaft--as light as a feather---there reaches a point, however, where it becomes cheaper to buy an outboard motor.

I think I've seen those inflatable "anatomically correct" paddle floats advertised in the back of a certain men's magazine--the mind boggles at the possible uses.

Hi Heidi----My impression from Ed's comments was not that he was expecting someone else to be responsible for your safety---simply a realistic assesment of what your SNGs require----after all the trip out to Jewells, although a little long (15 miles or so round trip) half that one way, is not a marathon or especially arduous---My experience of the trip is that the most difficult part was dodging all the commercial marine traffic going in and out of Portland Harbor(I paddled out from East End Beach in Portland a couple of years ago--a little longer than from Falmouth but far easier parking) If you keep an eye on the weather forcast and don't proceed out for a two day camping trip unless you are comfortable with the marine forecast and you are with experienced paddlers who can assist if something does go wrong(after all that's what traveling in a group is all about)than you should be fine. Don't be too pyched out about Level 1 etc---a first or second level trip could turn into a 3 or 4 given enough wind, rain, and fog. And a level 3 could be no harder than a level 2 given calm and clear conditions. If you want to go to Jewell later in the summer, a farmer Jane is probably all you will need--Many people wear them at the end of May in Maine waters(although a drysuit is more comfortable and warmer and no doubt safer) Certainly by July and August a wetsuit(maybe with a paddle jacket) would be sufficient.If you would like to try some overnight camping involviing less distance, try the Stonington Area---there are approximatly 50 islands in a five square mile area---many of them are publicly owned and anybody can camp on them for free---others are on the Maine Island Trail and are available for its members, again for only the cost 45 dollars of joining MITA---just remember to crap wrap every thing out. If you would like a freshwater wilderness experience with the challenges of sea paddling, try Moosehead Lake---over 35 free public campsites, with outhouses and fire pit. Let me know how things go with the trips you decide to take.

No--I didn't mean to imply that he was either unprepared or thoughtless----I was comparing him to two other kayakers from down under who were going to attempt the same voyage in a specially designed tandem kayak(they have since postponed it until later I read) but I would say that paddling any kayak, let alone an off the shelf model, even with special modifications, that distance over open water in the roaring 40s is extremly foolhardy, courageous, yes--inspiring, yes but foolhardy. The voyage is way beyond the design limitations of a kayak and even though some people might make it, it really is more a matter of luck than anything else. That said I hope he was wearing a drysuit(there was some confusion as to whether or not he had one) and that he is rescued promptly.

Has anybody been following the story about this guy---solo paddler going from Tasmania to the South Island of New Zealand in an off the shelf commercially available kayak---not some specically made custom job like a team of two Australians are doing--He is more than half way across as of today---has capsized a number of times already but either manages to roll up or do a reentry of some type---guy obviously has more balls than brains but you still have to admire, if not emulate, him. For the whole story go to www.andrewmcauley.com

I suppose it's one more manifestation of the "nanny state" mentality that has been creeping up on us over the last 50 years. The good thing about it is that you folks in Mass can do something about it. Two years ago the State of Maine decided it was going to impose a registration requirement(with a 10 dollar fee) on all canoes and kayaks. The uproar was so great that even our legislature ended up throwing it out of the appropriations bill. I suspect that outside of the immeadiate friends and relatives of those unfortunate women, this bill doesn't have a lot of supporters---if all the individual Mass members of the club were to write to their reps with a copy to the sponsers of the bill detailing their firm and vocal opposition to the bill and also showed up at the committee hearings to oppose it, I'm reasonably sure it would fail.

speaking of the stohlquist ibod I'm thinking about buy either that or the equivilent kokitat(the semi dry suit with the neoprene collar)--How much leakage, if any, do you get around the collar?

My wife maintains that adolescents don't feel cold the same way adults and younger children do. I suspect that is the case with your daughter

Cold hands, warm heart?

I actually think that Mr. Lewis was too brief in his explanation of the term SNG vs private trip---I'm not sure he covered all the possible permutations of the terms.

My best rolls are done with little or no muscular effort---my worst rolls are a stuggle---concentrate on your layback and hip flick---don't worry too much about the sweep and don't worry about strenqthening exersizes(at least for rolling---long distance paddling is something else) The hardest part is mental, not physical---try not to panic or hurry while underwater--the above suggestions of nose plugs, face mask etc are all good. Also it's my personal observation that women seem to be able to roll easier then men---has something to do with lower center of gravity and wider, more powerful hips I think----anybody else notice that?

Is the ceremony going to be on one of the islands or in Bar Harbor(or someplace else on MDI)?

I'm a recovering lawyer up here in Maine. I still have my license and under Maine law can perform wedding ceremonies. Also I wouldn't be adverse to performing the service in a kayak or on an island on the Maine Island Trail---I know several nice sites either in the Penobscot, Stonington, Blue Hill Bay or Frenchmen's Bay areas.

Honeymoon in Labrador??

Black flies???? In Maine---I don't believe it--say it ain't so--don't worry about it Liz, we can catch and kill a few then cook them for supper---and serously by the middle of July, in a typical year with no excessive rain, they are gone---besides which I find them no worse the the nightime mosquitoes along the coast.

Obviously he made the right decision---there are much less painful ways to kill yourself.

Ed--all of your suggestions are good---particularly like the one about Stonington with a circumnavigation of Isle au Haut--attempted it last summer and turned back due to winds and waves---at the risk of being a traitor to my state by letting a bunch of people from away in on one of the best sea kayaking spots in Maine--you might want to consider Moosehead Lake---35--40miles long and anywhere from 2 to 20 miles (depending on how its measured) wide--ok the average width is between 6 and 8 miles---Approximatly 35 Maine forest service camp sites with firerings(yes you can have a campfire) and outhouses---no crap wrap ect and they are all free---for a more detailed description see my article in the May issue of the Atlantic Coastal Kayaker. For those of you who think that paddling Moosehead wouldn't be exciting enough I've paddled it often and it matches either Casco or Penobscot Bay in terms of wind and wave height. In fact there are times when the lake is virtually unpaddleable due to wind conditions---6'--9'waves. And an added bonus is that it has fewer boats and or people than either Casco, Penobscot, Frenchmens or Bluehill bays Unlike those places, Moosehead has much more of a wilderness feel to it. Just something to consider.

Whoops---read the chart on my office wall incorrectly---closer to Owls head than I thought but still an interesting trip---to make it really interesting you can always paddle to Matinicus---about 20 miles from Rockland.

I wonder what type of paddle he was using?

Actually the one near Matinicus could be a very exciting trip, depending on the weather----it is over 20nm miles from Rockland and around 15 miles from any point on the mainland---the closest land is Matinicus which would be about 5 nm----quite a long trip if you start from the mainland---and all open ocean---Deer Isle near Eastport could also be challenging---not because it is open---it's not and is relativly protected but because there are 20 foot tides there---it is also home to the largest whirlpool on the east coast---Old Sow

Newby!!---what you do is what is suggested above although instead of using using a garbage bag, use one of those 1 gallon zip lock bags---the entire process is described in the Maine Island Trail guide For each BM have one 1 gallon zip lock bag with a couple of sheets from your favorite(or least favorite) newspaper---for those Mass residents it would be the Globe or the Herald, depending on where in the political spectrum you fall. keep the newspaper inside the ziplock bag until ready to use. Spread the newspaper out in a area that is not too windy---pee on the newpaper first, this helps hold the paper down in the breeze---crap on the bottom half of the sheet(that part closest to your feet) Wipe your bottom. Put the used toilet paper on the sheet next to the crap. Then very carefully, so as not to soil your hands roll the whole thing up like a large joint--or burrito if you don't have any experience rolling joints. At this point you can smoke it if you wish---but most of us put it inside the ziplock bag and then zip the bag---I use one bag for each BM because I dont like to reopen them. Stow the bag in the very end of the bow of your boat, away from food, clothing etc. There is very little odor. When I've guided groups on overnight tours I've been responsible for gathering the bags and disposing of them at the end of the trip. But then I've been a lawyer for 28 years, my father was a public relations exec and my grandfather was a plumber--there seems to be a family tradition of dealing with other peoples crap---the best way to dispose of the mess is to dump just the newspaper and crap in a septic tank, outhouse, or toilet---if in a toilet it can be flushed after sitting awhile(I have never done it this way, either use outhouses or directly into a septic tank) Throw the ziplock bag away in the trash, or, if frugal wash it out and store for reuse(I would suggest reuse as a crap bag, not for food storage) If using commercial wag bags(same principal) the label on the bags says they can be thrown in the trash and taken to a landfill---the wag bag apparently contains a chemical powder which breaks down organic matter. DO NOT, repeat,DO NOT, under any circumstances leave your crap, whether buried or not, on any island off the coast of Maine---the soil on these islands is, on average, about a foot deep or less----it is not deep enough to handle the decomposition of the crap---besides if all the island visitors did it that way, you really wouldn't want to visit those islands after a month or so.