Shane

You know what is amazing? The amount of information out there encouraging people to get longer paddles, while people that avidly paddle seem to believe that (roughly) as short a paddle as possible while being able to get the job done is better. I don't get it. Check this out these articles encouraging longer paddles: http://www.mountainmanoutdoors.com/article...yakpaddles.html http://www.jerseypaddler.com/shop/kaypadsize.asp http://waquoitkayak.com/selectingkayak.html from the google search: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-...ength+selecting The only thing that jives with what we're all saying that I saw while looking is this from Paddling.net: http://www.paddling.net/guidelines/showArticle.html?68 Maybe I'm bitter because I am the proud owner of a 100 dollar 230cm shower curtain rod. It seems to me that there is a tremendous amount of misinformation out there and I'm curious why (some of) the outfitters, especially the big ones, choose to push the bigger paddles? _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

Oh geez - this is a good one. Depends on your height and preference. You want a paddle that is short enough to perform a good forward stroke. I am 5'7(and a half and started with a 230. WAY TOO long, but thats what the outfitter recommended and I didn't know any better. Since, I have gone to a 220. Much better, but in reality something shorter would probably be better. I just cashed in my REI discount and dividend and got the Epic light touring paddle with a length adjustment from 215-225. I think for someone of my grand height, something around 215 will be perfect. _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

Deb, I have three videos which are really good. I'll extend the same offer as I did Bethany to borrow any, if you want: 1) "Grace Under Pressure" (VHS) - EXTREMELY mega-goofy, but excellent at documenting the the C-to-C roll. Recommended to me 2 years ago at Maine Outfitters. This is REALLY good. 2) "First Roll" (VHS) - Not quite as goofy as "Grace", but still way up there goofy-wise. Excellent documentation on the extended paddle roll. Why are all the good ones so corny? Beats me! 3) "The Kayak Roll" (DVD) - Still a new one for me - haven't sat all the way through it in detail. I think it talks about the sweep or screw roll, but seems to have good analysis on cause-effect mistakes. _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

In the group buy, we "may" have the option to full circle and instead go with the single packaged SkyBlazers. Because it will be a group buy, we all need to decide on one or the other - personally, I could go either way and see each with it's own benefits. With that said, does anyone have any experience or data points on quality and reliability of SkyBlazers. I know the Pocket Rockets are a very high quality flare (high, bright, long burn, low dud rate), but I do not know that of SkyBlazers. What about dud rate for SkyBlazers? If we can get these data points, I will take the discussion of switching the aerials buy back to the group (in offline email thread). Much thanks! _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

I seem to recall that cold water is more dense than that of warm water and as a result holds more "stuff" such as nutrients, algaes, etc... If so, that would likely be a culprit of the visibility effect. _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

No doubt Mark - I may be guilty of using a float once or twice myself. :| Gotta use what you got; hopefully no hard feelings. _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

If your really geeked about using a float as an aide to learn a roll, you may consider using a 3" foam block with a slit in it. I have to agree with the other posts about whether this is a great way to learn though. I think a dedicated spotter helping you (and the boat) get the moves right is definitely preferred but different strokes for different folks, I suppose. _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

Hi all, One final note on this purchase - I just sent the email with all the purchase details. If you wanted to participate and either didn't sign up or did not get my mail, please let me know by email so I can send you the details. _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

I have three: 1) "Grace Under Pressure" (VHS) - EXTREMELY mega-goofy, but excellent at documenting the the C-to-C roll. Recommended to me 2 years ago at Maine Outfitters. 2) "First Roll" (VHS) - Not quite as goofy, but still way up there. Excellent documentation on the extended paddle roll. <--- This is the one I was referencing above. 3) "The Kayak Roll" (DVD) - A new one for me - haven't sat all the way through it in detail. I think it talks about the sweep or screw roll, but seems to have good analysis on cause-effect mistakes. Let me know if you want to borrow any - no worries! _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

Hey - I shoulda mentioned this as well. Count the entire Smith "clan" in. EIGHT hands are certainly better than two. The six year old will have a blast and probably show us all up with his unfocused energy. Hard to find a better hands-on preservation lesson than this. _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

Fair enough - shoulda read more carefully, I guess... The preceding weekend looks good too right now. I'll be there if at all possible. Please let me know. _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

Hi all, We're back now. I've done my best to ciphen through 2 weeks of junk email and capture interest. The final list I have is below. I need some time to catch up with real life stuff and get the logistics of this in place. I will send an email to all on the list by the end of this weekend to get this going. 01. Dan (wet one) 02. Mark Stephens 03. Deb Dempsey 04. Jeff Casey 05. Dee Hall 06. Adam Bolonsky 07. Karen Gladstone 08. Gary B. 09. Sean T Noonan 10. Brian Nystrom 11. Bill Lord 12. Carl Carlson 13. Mary Bennett 14. Gerry S 15. David Lewis 16. Leslie Beale 17. Suzanne Pritchett 18. Shane Smith 19. Brenda Smith 20. Rick Crangle 21. Constance Lapite 22. Sean Kimball 23. Cathy Foley 24. Liz Neumeier 25. Don Perry 26. Anne Reynolds _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

May 2nd looks good - I'm in. _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

Congrats Bethany on your roll - that's a big deal! Keep working it! This past year, I pretty much worked on the roll entirely (now working on the offside - yuck) at the expense of everything else. One learning for me was to quit when you get tired though. When I'm driven to get something down, I tend to not notice my noodley (?) arms and everything goes to squat including my confidence. If NSPN gets Bob Foote back, he really helped me put it all together, especially the confidence thing. Lastly, getting the extended paddle roll was very simple and quick and gave me a very reliable (calm water) roll when my C-to-C failed. I've never had to use it for real, but it's at least in the "bag of tricks". I've got a goofy but good video that I learned it from if you want to borrow it - just let me know. Way to go - CONGRATS! _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

This is the interest list I have so far. (Please accept my apologies if I butchered anyones name. Just yell at me and call me Shawn a couple times and I won't do it again) 01. Dan (wet one) 02. Mark Stephens 03. Deb Dempsey 04. Jeff Casey 05. Dee Hall 06. Adam Bolonsky 07. Karen Gladstone 08. Gary B. 09. Sean T Noonan 10. Brian Nystrom 11. Bill Lord 12. Carl Carlson 13. Mary Bennett 14. Gerry S 15. David Lewis 16. Leslie Beale 17. Suzanne Pritchett 18. Shane Smith 19. Brenda Smith 20. Rick Crangle 21. Constance Lapite 22. Sean Kimball 23. Cathy Foley 24. Liz Neumeier 25. Don Perry 26. Anne Reynolds _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

Hi All, There seems to be a lot of interest in this purchase, so I think it's safe to say that we will definitely do this. By email and these posts, we have somewhere in the range of 15-20 people comitted to participating in only about 2 days. I will get back in touch with NESC and get some options and details. There is interest in both handheld and rocket flares, so lets see what they can provide for us. The Smith clan will be out of town until the end of February, so expect a lack of communication from me until then, but again - we're on & we'll do this. At the end of Feb, I'll confirm the final list by looking at this message thread and then I'll work the details of the purchase off the message board through an email list (costs, models/types, payments, pick-up, and order preference). Great thanks! _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

Hi all, With the new season coming up on us quickly, it's probably a good time to start thinking about replacing your old, soggy safety flares (or maybe even getting some). I hate buying flares - at $7 per, it just doesn't feel right. so, in the spirit of networking.... I have talked with NESC and they are willing to work with us to help get us a break if we get enough interest (more than 5). I can't imagine that there will not be well more than that. So here it is - is anyone interested in participating in a group buy on safety flares AND going through a local outfitter for us to get the break? I'll handle the logistics. Once I get a sample of interest, we will be able to get an idea on the cost break. If you're interested please post here or email me at 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

Speaking for myself Mike, it's been too *@ cold to go outside, let alone tie a boat onto the car. I even broke down and bought an artic parka this year... Perhaps the weather is a component of the turnout this year? _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

My twin apparently. I'll have to remember to bring some fresh water along with me now hereonin. _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

>We decided to put the bill into a > study which essentially would kill the bill. It's good that the stupid (sorry if I am offending anyone here) idea will die. I wonder what "a study" really means. Does "a study" cost us tax money nonetheless? Is this like one of those "if you eat an excess of twinkies, will you get fat" "a studies"? If "a study" has a foregone conclusion, why study? I'm not a legal guru, just curious... Probably not a NSPN topic though, huh? Anyway, hoorah - no flagpoles required on sterns of kayaks in MA in the near future. Thanks for the follow-up Brian! _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

How about making a law for us wear one of those fireman hats with the spinning light also? This stuff really gets on my nerves - it's so absurb, if it weren't MA, I wouldn't even believe it. Hey, so here's a question: If we paddled across state ocean boundaries, would we be able to take the flags off? How do they suggest policing this proposed legislation to prevent DANGEROUS out-of-state paddlers "illegally" paddling into our commonwealth's ocean water flagless? _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

I'm not an exercise junkie; actually, that's an understatement - I hate it. One of the reasons that paddling is so great is I get some degree of fitness out of it and it's an absolute blast the whole time doing it. To me, it's like free exercise. At the end of last year, I go get a drysuit with full intent of getting out at least 'some' during this winter. Well, quite frankly, I have found it too cold to even put the pool boat on the car let alone go on a real paddling excursion. Maybe, it'll stay in the 40s and that will change. I dunno... Is anyone else like this? I'd be real curious as to either a reference or recommendation to some book or site that people (in practice) have found works for them staying in shape at least a bit. _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

I didn't put the cockpit cover my boat after the workshop for the way home, because I wanted it to ventilate (I worked on putting a foam bulkhead in). If it were really cold outside and there is some water in the boat, I probably would hesitate and choose not to take my hatches off due to the water freezing inside - perhaps that is the reason from the pool? Normally though, I strongly prefer a good "blow dry" of my boat's inners on the way home from paddling and so I leave the hatches off. That is of course, unless it's raining. _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

Bren and I both have CD Andromedas - our experience so far with them is very consistent. All Kayaksport hatch covers: Front hatch: dry Day Hatch: Extremely dry Rear Hatch: very small/slight leakage I figured the quality of the seal has something to do with the size of the hatch cover? _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner

Leslie, Unfortunately for me, I wasn't there Sunday. I have seen pictures of the Night Heron and it looks like a gorgeous boat. Would you happen to have any photos? _Shane "Would a knife help protect you against a ‘curious’ shark? I don’t know but I would like the option." - Trevor Gardner