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> >actually was thinking of a camping s&g in may..really want >to do some of the Island Trail sites. Want to wring out that Explorer doing what it was made for, eh? Sounds like Gary has plans in the works for May in upper Casco Bay. If the winter stays mild, maybe a trip to Bangs before closure on April 1 would be possible. Might want to tentatively put down June 23-24 weekend down for Stonington as we expect to be up there then and I think Gary may as well. Its a great time as the crowds will not have arrived. Ed Lawson

>I do paddle all winter. You are a better man than I. I was thinking of spring and beyond. Ed Lawson

>>...references to skinny sticks that some would find less than flattering... > >Envy is at the heart of many insults and otherwise >unflattering remarks. If you search the archives at http://www.qajaqusa.org/ You will see the extended discussion on this point and the fact he has used GPs for sometime and has no aversion to them so his comments may or may not have been taken out of context by the "traditionalists". I read his comment to say GPs were not the tool for the more "sports" oriented segment of kayaking as opposed to they had no place in kayaking generally. Ed Lawson

Hi Gary: > I've got a Jewell Ialnd >multi-day camping trip in my head for early May that will >include your suggestions 1 and 6. Want to add going out to Half Way rock? I look forward to your posting of the trip. > I'm always open to this >type of option (ovenight, camping), rather than day trips, >because of the amount of driving this involves getting to >the put-ins. It is an issue unfortunately. Maybe someone will pick up the post about a cottage on Harpswell and set up a week of paddling. >Having said that, I'm happy to do back-to-back >day trips in separate locations along coastal ME, Can do in the Muscle ridge area. >After reading again Kate's travelogue from her Stonington >adventure, that's another destination I'd like to explore in >the off-season, perhaps September, Here is a thought. Stonington on the weekend of June 23-25 for camping/circumnavigation of Isle A Haut or maybe out to Marshall and Swain's, then Great Waas around Sept. 12-16 for Cape Split to Halifax/Brothers. That is out tentative calendar. Ed Lawson

More to be provide a starting point for a discussion about 2007 trips than to say I will post them later, is there any interest in the club in the following types of trips? 1. Upper Casco Bay day trip starting at Cousins or Harpswell and spending a day and around 10-15 NM going out to Jewell, Bangs, Eagle, etc. 2. Weekend trip with camping on shore with day trips out to Muscle Ridge and near areas. Again 10-15NM with crossings of around two miles. 3. Out to Sequin Island Light. From 6 to 12NM depending upon starting location and a crossing of around 2-3 NMs. 4. Weekend camping trip to Muscongus Bay area. 5. Day trip to Damariscove Island. 6. Day trip from Portland out to Ram Ledge, outside of Peaks, around Long island and back by way of cow Island. Purpose here is to gauge interest in trips that are not primarily for surf/rock/play, but to spend an full day on the water visiting nice places and seeing interesting stuff while still being a bit of adventure. So that might include hikes on islands and relaxed lunches to just soak up being there. Basically, having small journeys in small boats. My thought is these trips would be best for those being able to select suitable trips for their ability/interest by reviewing charts and weather reports, to average 3Kts on the water for the day while handling a fair range of conditions, be able to keep track of where you are and how to get back, have decent skills to help others and self should the need arise, and have the ability to make a solid judgment to launch or not on the day of the trip. Ed Lawson

> If that >doesn't help, you can look into a pair of knee high chota >mucklucks. I must say my pair of knee high Chotas were soooo nice last winter. I heartily second the suggestion. Downsides are as stated, but boy are they nice as you can just walk out into the water to launch and be nice and comfy. Ed Lawson

>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-- Here is a report of a trip to this one. http://www.kayakshops.com/waterwalker_arti.../confluence.htm Don't hear much about Ray, but he has done some interesting little things on the Maine coast like going around Great Wass in Dec. or Jan. Ed Lawson

Well, Adam did say some years involved hariy rescues. Why not lottery. Everyone post their predictions and everyone show up to stand on the shore and see what actualy shows up. The winner gets all the leftovers...or maybe the winner gets no leftovers. Whatever. Family prevents us anyway, but seems the wind will not shift enough to knock the seas down on Friday even if winds drop into a reasonable range. Lets see...just how fast are 10 sec. swells moving and how much energy in a 6'+ swell of that period? Should be something interesting for sure. Ed Lawson

>Ditto to Karen, save for 3" webbing, suspended from rafters. Gary: Where do you find 3" weBbing close to Concord? Tubular or solid? TIA Ed Lawson

> Contrary to popular opinion, you don’t >need foot pegs to roll a kayak, just good contact with the >thighs. > Would you also say you don't need tight contact at the hips as well? Often that is mentioned in outfitting and rolling hints, but I notice Greenland folks and some others don't seem so concerned with getting a solid hip fit. Ed Lawson

Kevin: You store a kayak? From the SNG's I'd think the only time its off the roof rack was when being paddled or carried to and from the water. Is the padding just to avoid scratches and do you put them keel up? I too use the plastic saw horses and found you can put two boats on each pair if you use the folding brace that forms horizontal part of the A. Ed Lawson

>Yeah, I like Carl's term. It seems quite appropriate if >you've lived here for a while and have seen it spread like a >fungus over the southern tier of the state. The farther north you live, the farther north you think the fungus has spread. I think now you need to live north of the notches to be in NH, but that is another story. Most non-kayaking people I have talked to think it is a dumb idea and will not fly. There is a very active WW community in NH and they will oppose no doubt. In NH everyone has at least one close friend in the legislature so it will be interesting how it plays. A similar proposal went down in flames in ME. Ed Lawson

spotters don't pay >to attend. Do spotters float about in their boats with occasional rescues and upsets from which they recover, or to they bob about in their PFDs? Can anyone be a spotter? Ed Lawson

>"...smear a little epoxy glob on each screw from underneath >the deck.... " > >Or silicone goo if you think you may want to get 'em out >sometime ;-) Hey, we are getting all the points raised in the last "How do I mount a 70P compass" thread. Now if someone will just start talking about using bolts and nuts we will have it covered. Somewhere I think Brian must have the definitive set of instructions set down and maybe the proper response is just the right URL. Actually, I found if you don't have much of the screw protruding they come out very easily even if you use some epoxy. Or maybe it says something about the epoxy I used. Ed Lawson

As a result of your experiences, anything to say about changes in views on equipment/techniques and/or things you will change or replace. Curious about how you handled illuminating fixed compass for night work if you needed to. Did you do a bivy as part of training? What did you find useful v. surplus in terms of stuff and outfitting. From my limited experience, I think Bar harbor is a wonderful place to go for training in no small part due to all the great paddling within an hour or so. Do some training and then take a couple of days putting it to use and getting it firmly fixed into the skill set. Ed Lawson

> just drill >the holes. Kevin, that is too simple as expected from someone who just gets out there and uses their boat. Just because that will work fine does not mean more rocket science stuff is not needed. So here goes....use 5/64 drill bit....use the mounting template...drill starting holes...use the screws that came with the compass...start screws through FG, then back out and cut around four threads off or whatever looks good so not too much protrudes under deck....mount the compass and make screws just lightly snug...use a string from bow to stern to get lubber line accurate enough for government work...don't over tighten screws, but nice and snug...smear a little epoxy glob on each screw from underneath the deck.... this all takes about 15 minutes. If that is too short, you can spend a couple of hours toying and worrying about whether the lubber line is right, if the course line looks right, whether water will leak into the hatch. That's what I do. Ed Lawson

> If I were to >tighten the screws so that the mounting plate was flush with >the deck it would definitely compress the membrane although >with that said.... Yes, it will do that. > >...I don't believe the compass sphere itself would be >touching any part of the deck (at least it doesn't feel like >it) but the bottom brass ring would definitely be compressed >against the deck. That is OK, supposed to be that way AFAIK. this is how the compass sphere is held in alignment. You don't want it moving about. > > >It seems as if the mounting (dimple) is maybe about 3mm too >small to accommodate the 70P. > Typical QC issue on Fg boat. These things are not CDC made. Ed Lawson

> is it fine so long >as the deck mount doesn't come in contact with the plastic >back on the cupola? > If you mean so long as the compass sphere does not contact the mounting "dimple" built into the kayak, the answer is AFAIK "Yes". This is not rocket science, don't make it so. As you tighten the screws, make sure you can still turn the compass with some force after the copper spring plate starts to bind the compass sphere. It will tend to bind hard afteruse or when you tighten the screws so get the line right. You really don't want to tighten the screws down hard since you wil simply strip them in the FG anyway. The important thing is not to have the compass sphere pressing against the deck nor to put any sealant or other junk in the mounting "dimple". At least that is how I read the directions and mounted mine which has worked fine, but doing this stuff is not my day job either. Ed Lawson

> It would seem that tidal races and standing waves would >tend to be more pronounced on the ebbing tide, And as a related question, would they also be more pronounced on the from half to the lower third of the ebb tide as well? FWIW, when we went out to the Sequin Island light there was a stretch of rougher water that must have been caused by the ebb out of the river hitting swells and wind. We were well over a NM off the mouth so that is some strong ebb current at Popham. Ed Lawson

Jason: This would be a two day course? What dates do you have in mind? Not sure I'm up for it, but might give it a go depending upon dates and cost. Ed Lawson

> She paddles real nice and that's >all that matters. Indeed it is. BTW, yesterday Gail was showing off by sliding off the rear deck into a static brace and then back up again without a paddle. I guess yoga is in my future if I am to have a prayer matching her antics. Ed Lawson

> but Bob got to finally try >out his Pintail. Now we (but, of course, I paddled it) know >why people love these boats. > > So is it a real Pintail with an OC as opposed to one of those wannabes with a keyhole? I suspect, like the AA, it does teach you a great deal about your stroke and control skills in a hurry. Along with providing a wonderful feeling while in the boat in addition to sheer fun. Ed Lawson

> >I don't want Bill Gwynn anywhere near my boat... here he is >doing something unspeakable to his Anas... Trying to divert attention eh...from that picture not so sure its his boat...er..nevermind. So Bill, just how easy is re-entry with an AA? I must confess to be a chicken to try so far. Seems re-entry and roll would be easier. Ed Lawson

>In some situations, a high brace to >prevent a capsize can be more stressful on joints, and >sometimes it might be better to tuck in, let oneself >capsize, (let the water do the work of stopping your >downward momentum) and roll up when good and ready.. > Not that I have done this in combat, but isn't one good way simply to go over and when your torso hits the water do a sweep brace and rotate up. In other words a roll without the hard part of being under the water and getting in position to sweep up. I found this works so well you need to be careful or you will throw yourself right on over the other side. At the begining of the Dubside video he talks about not using force (braces) to subdue the water and stay upright, but treating the water as your friend. As in not fearing the water, but embrace it. Then being in the water is not big deal. Just go over, lie there in a static brace, and then rotate up when you wish. Easy enough for him to say; but the philosophy has merit. Ed Lawson

>I'll be practicing lots of >bracing as well as rolling at the pool sessions. Question. Other than getting the basic mechanics down, is it possible to practice bracing on flat water? In other words, isn't bracing most often something done in rather dynamic situations? And if so, isn't it totally different when done "for real" as opposed to those cute little slap the water routines used to get the fundamental mechanics right? So practicing bracing should mean sitting there waiting for that wave to hit you abeam? Ed Lawson