Shane

The Avatar replaced the Corona. It's hull is more v-like, basically a copy or competitor to the Elaho. When I had the Corona, it was definitely a fun boat to paddle. Wicked fun. Unfortunately, when I went out on my first level 3 paddle, my 15' Corona was a top in the swell and I did everything I could to just keep up with the group. I would agree with Dee, to go put butt in seat and try out different boats before you take a plunge. If you are looking to do any kind of significant touring, in my opinion, I would be hesitant to make my PRIMARY boat (again) anything less than around 17ft. My $.02 _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

http://engineering.tufts.edu/cee/group/EMP...ISH/Mystic4.htm -or at least it says on the page it does... _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

It wouldn't surprise me if I was the last person to find this (which is pretty typical) but almost all the Mass. NOAA nautical charts are available online at: http://www.state.ma.us/mgis/noaacharts.htm You'll need to download them in TIFF format, so one needs a program that can open TIF. (Photoshop or even Graphic Converter at http://www.graphic-converter.net/ will do the job fine). The charts are pretty big files (meg and inches), so bandwidth challenged beware. _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

I sure do wish one site would just wrap all this information up in a nice web portal for us.....hmmmmm. Anyways, here is a cool site with satelite pictures (just book marked this yesterday): - http://www.landbigfish.com/watertemps/wate...tures.cfm?ID=14 You can look at the root page and see the ocean temps of other areas by satelite here: - http://www.landbigfish.com/watertemps/default.cfm _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

DISCLAIMER: To me, NSPN seems to have pretty well defined rating system. I like it for the most part, so my question here isn't due to any disdain. Why do we (Sea Kayakers in general) not have a standard trip rating system that can be shared across America, at least. A lot of Kayak clubs have taken this on with pretty similar results. For example: + NSPN ---> http://www.nspn.org/play-trip-levels.html + Seattle Kayak ---> http://seattlekayak.org/docs/TripClassif1.pdf + South Wales Sea Kayak Club (not America, but it came up in Google) ---> http://www.nswseakayaker.asn.au/about/keydocs/grading.htm + Boeing Sea Kayak Club ---> http://www.avsp.org/bewet/class.htm + BSKC ---> http://www.bskc.org/trips.htm + Hoofers ---> http://www.hoofers.org/outing/Whitewater/W.../skratings.html + Tampa Bay Sea Kayakers ---> http://clubkayak.com/tbsk/tripratings.htm + SKOAC ---> http://skoac.org/skill_requirements.shtml + ConnYak ---> http://www.connyak.org/Yakevents.html Some things just bleed for some sort of standardization - this, to an ignorant me, just seems like one of them. I'm curious why/how we came up with our rating sysem, again, not that there is anything wrong with it. It seems logical to me, that ACA would be "one" of the logical bodies to initiate such standardization. If they or one of the others has reasons for not doing so, I wonder if there is energy and/or reason to grassroots something like this with the other clubs in America? - so we can all speak that same crazy lingo. _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

Well, if it makes you feel any better, Mark wore a Bob Burnett mask for a while and we all pretended it was you. _Shane naw, he didn't really - but next time we will know. I'm gonna start keeping one in with my safety gear. "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

I did enjoy it. As a native Mainer, it even brought a tear to my eye... I'm not sure about those tax remarks though _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

Depending on your tolerance for drive, there is a very reputable outfitter in Georgia. www.seakayakgeorgia.com If that is too far, I'm sure they would be willing to give a recommendations to help you. _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

My daughter and I went to the Reading pool session today - great time - thank you! Brenai tried out and worked with Rick in her new Orca. We had a really REALLY hard time finding a neoprene skirt for the boat and eventually got a Snap Dragon L hole. The XL was definitely too large. Out of all the skirts (probably we tried about 20 on the boat), this was the closest fit. Ends up, the L is supposedly the right size anyway, but the L did vary a bit between different snap dragons. So, this skirt is >>>WAY TIGHT<<<. I don't mean newbie "boy this dry suit neck gasket doesn't feel comfortable" tight - I mean honest to god, super duper, mega, "break a finger bone getting it on" tight. For about 3 WEEKS before tonight's session, it has been stretching on the boat. Quite frankly, it's too tight to be practical for a strong person, let alone a 12 year old. So, I have this skirt sitting in the garage stretching even more on a 6ft by ~3ft cross; it took Brenda and I contorting in all these weird positions to get it on the cross. Hopefully this extra stretching will help. If this doesn't work, I'm dabbling with the sinfull idea of taking a razor blade and trying to cut some of the elastics in the bungie of the skirt rim to take out some of the tension. I know this is not preferable but given the awkwardness of the fit and having gone through a gillion skirts to get one even close, I am not sure what else I can do other than custom order one. Has anyone conquered this problem? If so, please share. _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

I am in the same "boat" as Bob with wide foot deformity. I can't wait to get out of my Chotas - I hate the bulk. I have found that the Teva Protons are an excellent water shoe; very lightweight like a sandal but a firm fit if you have to go swimming. They are also CHEAP - new around 30 bucks, but many places sell them at around 15 bucks. I believe Kittery Trading Post was clearing their supply out last year at around 15. _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

http://www.2paddles.com/GravesLight-27APR04.htm _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

Just realized this was a post from '98.....

I second what Cathy and David have said here. Participating in this last year not only was fun, but quite educational from an awareness standpoint. This year, the whole family is doing it! I think the 6 and 12 year old will gain a valuable up close and personal appreciation for their environment. I hope this year more of us make the time and show up for the good cause and the fun! Plus, they bring like a silo of donuts!! (I am just now coming down from last year) _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

It sounds like you guys had a blast and made a good impact as well. Thank you. We paddled by a couple paddlers today that could have stood to "promoted" on safety. Somehow I missed this and now I feel guilty Please look me up if I can help next time. _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

One of those really lucky weather timing paddles. Calm as could be at put-in and the inbound weather system literally pushed us home. http://www.2paddles.com/EssexRiverBasin_3-27-04.htm _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

Assuming you have already been through this demo-ing process and the Avocet is the boat for you, I'd say be dull and get the Avocet! Boat envy stinks! If you are really trying hard not to be dull, differentiate with your paddle instead. The very best boat on the market is relative to the individual, so if you are lucky enough to have found it in the Avocet, go with it. Thats my .016 Euro. _"same boat as wife having, dull" Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

Our gorgeous Saturday may be less than gorgeous. Watching the forecast carefully for this SNG. If you're planning to go, please let me know via Email so I can contact you if we need to throw in the towel. Brenda and I's goal Saturday is a pleasant paddle, not a hero's adventure. shane.smith@2paddles.com _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

Cool! Alan is planning to go as well. Keep your fingers crossed that the forecast holds up. Looks like we're in for a well gorgeous Saturday. _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

Due to the weather forecast, we're moving the SNG to more protected waters. We'll be putting in: Essex town boat ramp is the standard put-in for the Essex Bay (Essex is a small place and it's hard to miss.) Parking at the boat ramp is for residents only,parking is behind the fire station (going north, just up the road take the left fork, and the fire station is a couple hundred feet on the left). There is no parking for non-residents at the boat ramp EVEN IN WINTER. We learned the hard way. Take Rt. 95 to exit 54, Rt. 133 east through Ipswich. Follow until Essex center and Route 22 intersection bear left on Route 133 and the public launch is on your left. Alternatively, take Route 128 to exit 14, drive west on Route 133 about four miles to the public launch. Look for the ERBA sign on your right. Feel free to post here if interested or drop me an email. _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

At least as of a couple months ago, Steve Gray was selling two Piccolos in a package type deal for a great price. http://www.nspn.org/htdocs/dcforum/DCForumID4/87.html If you don't want to get two, look me up. _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

Too cool. I just knew we couldn't be the only ones. Getting the kids out there with other kids (rather than just us boring adults) would certainly spark it up for them. If this works out, perhaps we could even plan a SNG with them. That is, of course, if they are interested. Let's keep the kid mingling thing in mind! _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

Our daughter, Brenai (will be 12 next month), has decided to take a serious look and find out what all this paddling stuff is about. Brenai did take a class last year and has went out in our rec. boat a few times and definitely is interested. So anyway, we hauled up to NESC this past weekend and picked her up her first sea kayak. She is going to be doing some of the lake sessions this year and may even go on a trip or two here or there. I was thinking it would be fantastic if there any other kids around her age that are in this same introductory state so at least they could share the learning with someone else in their peer group. Are there any others out there in the same situation? If so, it may be a good chance to link them up and find a friend to share in their learnings? Feel free to drop Brenda or I an email or just reply here. _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

That's a pretty good idea - I could probably cut it down. I'm fine on my sea kayak (I have a good paddle in the 220 length and an adjustable en route). But for our pool/surfing boat, I could possibly cut down either the 230 AMT Expedition or the 230 SeaClude (sp?). Never really thought about it - thanks! _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

Carl, When you look for your next spare 230 paddle - look me up. _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

>It could be worse, you could own a 240cm carbon paddle >instead of a 230cm $100 paddle. *lol* _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner