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For those heading up to Stonington or MDI, Exit 113 North of Augusta on I-95 is open so you can directly get on route 3, which takes you to Belfast, without going through Augusta. Much quicker. Ed Lawson

>In the "Maine" section the put-in for Cousins Island is >listed as Stockton Springs. ...I'm pretty sure Cousins Island is in Yarmouth. > Correct. The current description is: "Take the Maine Turnpike to exit 9, Falmouth, follow the signs to continue on Rt. 95. Get of Rt. 95 at exit 17. Backtrack on Route 1 (south) then turn left on Route 88. Turn left on Princess Point Road, left again on Gilman Road. Cross bridge to Cousins Island, Sandy Point Beach is immediately on the left." Instead of I-95 I believe it is actually I-295. I suppose each has a favorite way of getting there, but I prefer taking I-295 through Portland, then getting onto 1, then getting onto Me 88, and then turning right onto Gilman which you basically stay on until you cross the bridge onto Cousins. Very simple and direct. For getting to the East Prom in Portland, I prefer getting off I-295, at the Commercial St. exit, follow Commrcial St. to the end, then left one block to Fore St., right onto Fore Street and follow to top of hill where you bear right to go down to the East End Beach I know there are different views on this subject, but I would also suggest removing the listings for Stonington as those spots have practical problems, but more importantly it is easy to irk locals by tying up their areas. As people "from away" we need to be careful about this. Better to support people like Old Quarry Outfitters and others in the area. For the Portsmouth area, there is a decent launching spot on both sides of the bridge just before Ordione Park. One is a lot that is part of Ordione Park. Not great at low tide, but is a quicker way to get out via Little Harbor. To get there take Route 1 south from Portsmouth traffic circle/Exit 5 I-95, then take a left onto Elwyn Road. There is a sign at this turn for 1A and Beaches. Follow Elwyn Road to an odd intersection called Foyes Corner where you can get on 1A and then follow 1A till you reach the bridge. There are a few spaces on the near side of the bridge and a nice lot with concrete ramp on the far side. In season there is a fee for using the lot. Ed Lawson

> >This is the point where I just end up feeling liking I am >attempting to get onto a spinning log. I just end getting >onto my kayak and end up flipping my kayak. > Welcome to the club. I try to keep in mind the following points: Some of us were not born to be a ballerina. All boats/paddles make some things difficult for some people so not everyone can readily do all things in their boat. Its not frustrating to struggle with such stuff, its play to be enjoyed. Even if you never quite "get it" you will learn a great deal about the boat and yourself. One variation, I think, of the the classic cowboy is the scramble re-entry described in John Lull's book. He also gives some examples of where it can be useful even though most consider it a flat water technique/trick. Ed Lawson

No can do this weekend, but would be very interested in something on Cape Ann as in Lane's Cove or Thatchers area before summer hits. If not Cape Ann, Portsmouth to Rye or Gerrish loop 5/27-28? Ed Lawson

>After the 1st and only trip it leaked a little (salt water). > I found out that it leaked as the transmit is now stuck on. > If the transmit is stuck on after it has dried, then you have a problem and rinsing it may, but likely will not correct it. It may still be repairable if the problem is in a switch, but working on the electronics is no simple task beyond replacement of discreet modules. Having a radio on when it is inflitrated with water also tends to do bad things beyond those caused by corrosion. Once a radio gets wet with seawater and dries, lots of bad things happen fast. They often get flakey thereafter which is not a good trait in a marine radio carried for safety reasons. The suggested response is often to keep the radio wet, as in just keep it immersed, until it can be soaked in distilled water and then carefully dried in an effort to prevent component damage. Ed Lawson

>but hadn’t seen the Force 3 yet : 17’ >long, 20” wide, another choice for women /under 140lb >paddlers. Gail was smitten hard by that boat. The depth to underside of front deck was 10" max. so cockpit fits small folks nice and the hull is just smaller all around too. How it is on the water remains for Gail to find out. Ed Lawson

Not yet, but will be wandering about most of Sat. as Gail wants to attend seminars at 9:30 and late afternoon. Ed Lawson

> > >Maybe I'm doing something wrong? I think all discussions of what boats are good, bad, or whatever should end with "Your mileage may vary." Its like bikes. I hate bikes with slack head and steep seat tube angles and others love them. Its what works for you and that too likely changes as skills and interests change. Ed Lawson

> Secondly, if >the volume for the larger person design is centered by >raising the top deck at the cockpit area, ......Spreading the volume away from the center >balances the boat This raises an issue/question that has confused me. Volume is something that is often talked about when describing kayaks, but I am unsure what it means in terms of boat characteristics. Perhaps in error, I have thought there is the displacement volume and then there is the volume enclosed by the hull and deck. It has seemed to me that what matters most in terms of how volume affects boat performance, whatever that term means, is how the hull displacement volume is distributed at its design waterline as you indicate. It is not clear to me what impact the enclosed volume has on the performance of the boat aside from windage and perhaps in large waves aside from what can be carried and how the boat fits the paddler. In other words, if you take a boat and keep the same hull, but put a shorter deck on it; haven't you created a low volume boat in the latter sense, but not the former. If my assumption is true, then such a boat still has the same designed displacement to reach the proper waterline which in turn means it really is not designed for a lighter paddler even though it is now otherwise sized for a smaller paddler and often sold/described as a low volume boat. Conversely, could you not build a low displacment volume boat with a high enclosed volume? Perhaps I just do not understand boats and curious about whether the distinction I mention regarding volume has any validity or not. Ed Lawson

>Another Spring, more warm days, Hmmmm. April is a fickle month. Snowing at my house and fires in the woodstoves. Ed Lawson

>Because...? While some WW folks have said to me they stay dry using a two piece dry suit, they are talking about bib overall style with lip or rand for rolling up with top's rand or lip. Not a common style among seakayak folks. While they may float down a river for awhile, they don't have to "swim" all that much compared to someone in a seakayak or rather who was in a sea kayak and now needs to get back in. You only need to feel that little trickle of cold water that seems to get bigger and colder once to reach the conclusion that a dry suit is better. Ed Lawson

I have a fat REI dividend check and that is always a reason to splurge. While my outdoor side decries anything but simple, essentail gear, my geeky side thinks being able to load charts onto a GPS would be a neat thing to have, especially on foggy days in Maine. So the question, which GPS unit is useful and capable for using while kayaking and has the ability to be loaded up easily with nautical charts? And where do you get the charts to load? TIA Ed Lawson

>But it may be that moving from level 2 >to level 3 leading is just getting to be a better paddler by >existing standards, which emphasize group security anyway. >Make any sense? I agree, and the following is just my $.02. Leaving aside my prejudices regarding the common problems arising when outdoor activity clubs go down the road of having trips led by "leaders" who are accompanied by "followers", I think it is fair to say nobody would suggest it is anything other than good for those having responsibility for trips to have a high a level technical skill. On the other hand I also think it is very true that a technically skilled person may or may not be a good leader as there are different skills involved. Just as a person with good technical skills or good leading skills for that matter may or may not be a good teacher. Even if a paddler only has the technical skills to lead a modest trip, the leader skills required are really not that different from those needed by someone leading a more adventureous one. So what should be expected in terms of leadership abilities really does not vary that much from one level to another although the total galaxy of skills does. As to all the other stuff in this thread, my first impression as a new member was that the Leader Training spends a great deal of time generally and a great deal of time specifically on skills that I believe should be possessed by anyone who expects to have decent seamanship and be an active/involved participant on a group paddle as opposed to actual leadership skills. It seemed overkill and too time consuming. Upon reflection, I concluded that by doing so the club was providing a good opportunity for any member to gain useful knowledge and experience so those with an interest in helping with trips, but not having those fundamental skills could reach a point of being reasonable competent to help with or lead modest trips where the reasonably anticipated conditions were still within their personal comfort zone. In turn this means complete novices such as myself can sign up as can others who have no particular formal certification from BCU or ACA, and expand as paddlers and perhaps develop the ability to assist or even lead club trips. For personal reasons, I doubt I will ever take all the classes or become a "trip leader" as I am much more in sync philosphically with the S&G process, but at least when I go on a club trip I should have some ability to be an asset as opposed to a liability if things go awry. Also, I should have a better basis for posting S&G trips. I know the instructors are more experienced than I, but I assume they are not highly experienced or skilled in the grand scheme of things, but thats OK. Its a club activity after all. They have volunteered to put in a great deal of time and effort to provide an opportunity to expose members to info and to provide some opportunites for some experiencial learning as well. Would it be great if highly qualified, quasi professional instructors were involved, yes. Does that happen in most outdoor clubs, no. Does that make the training bad, no. Does it mean you can take the course and be a trip leader qualified to take beginners out in "interesting" conditions and bring them back safely when it all falls apart, no. That is the job of a guide or professional coach. Does it mean if you "pass" the course, take a cautious approach to route, weather, and participants you are able to appropriately lead a typical, low level "club" style trip, more likely than not. Afterall, it seems to me the point for most outdoor club trips is to introduce in a modest and cautious way an activity to its new members so they can use such trips as stepping stones to develop and independently engage in the activity at a level and with the companions they choose. Ed Lawson

>All legitimate questions and most of them were highlighted >by the outside consultants last year. The Risk and >Liability committee discussed these issues and the >alternatives in depth. One of the four priority >recommendations to the NSPN board was to change the club's >approach to include standards and certification for trip >leaders. > >The board has adopted and implemented some of the four >priority recommendations Are these reports, minutes, decisions, whatever available to the members on the website somewhere or otherwise readily available? Ed Lawson

>http://www.americancanoe.org/PDF/seic2.06.mtg.pdf The portion of the pdf that discusses this starts on page 41. According to the intro it is basically designed to provide evidence that a person with basic paddling ability has appropriate skills/knowledge to lead a group of beginning paddlers on a trip in gentle conditions with winds < 10K, waves < 1 foot, and current <2K. The specifics are well described in the materials. How that would/could fit into NSPN trip leader training is an interesting question. Ed Lawson

>Although there are a few exceptions, broadcasting without a >license is seriously illegal. Not to beat a dead horse, but the following quote from a 2003 FCC enforcement letter to a person in California following an investigation of false distress calls on Marine channels 16 and 22A (known as 22 in US) shows just how serious unlicensed operation can be in terms of penalties. People are prosecuted for these violations and operation of any radio, especially those on safety and marine frequencies, should not be equated with FRS or other casual use. "You are hereby notified that any operation of radio transmitting equipment without a valid FCC authorization or license, and the transmission of false distress signals constitute violations of the Federal laws cited above and could subject you as the operator of this illegal radio station to the severe penalties provided, including, but not limited to, a maximum civil fine of $18,000 and/or one year imprisonment, or arrest of the equipment for the first offense (see 47 U.S.C. §§ 501 and 503). Further, you are hereby advised that willfully communicating a false distress message to the United States Coast Guard is a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 88©. This is a felony with a penalty of 6 years imprisonment, $250,000 fine, 3 years supervised release, and $100 special assessment fee. Other penalties such as restitution for U. S. Coast Guard costs may be ordered by the Court." Ed Lawson

>Speaking as both a ham and an EE, it's not >worth hacking the firmware and probably breaking >the radio in the process. I've left my M88 alone. Whoa! Please read my original post. Icom says it can be programmed for additional channels in the 146-174MHZ range which includes a portion of the 2M ham band. I was asking if anyone knew how and if it could be programmed to operate on the ham bands. If it is not type approved OK. If it cannot be easily programmed as most ham HTs can be OK. I am talking about the programming functions availalbe in the radio normally, not mods such as the MARS mods that can be done to most HTs. Nobody is talking about hacking the software/firmware let alone operating without a license. After searching around on the web it appears the M88 can only be programmed for up to 22 additional channels of commercial Land Mobile use so the point is moot anyway as the typical end user could not program it and not for ham use in any event. > >Realistically, there are no normal circumstances where >unlicensed >operation is allowed. Don't even think of it! True, but you and I both know there are limited circumstances where it is allowed. That is all I said. I did not infer it was allowed under normal circumstances. Ed Lawson

>And do you need an FCC license for those bands? Yes. Well, there are some exceptions, but they only apply in specific, limited circumstances. Anyway, I have the license and was hoping someone in the club has an M88 , is a licensed ham, and had explored the those features of the radio. Ed Lawson

I just noticed tht the M88 can be programmed for additional channels between 146 and 174 MHz. Does anyone know about/have experience with programming the radio for ham radio use on 2M? Can you program it using built in menus or does it require a separate device via a cable similar to commerical radios? TIA Ed Lawson

Had not seen this. Alone, December, wrong map, 40s, go for it, adventure, priceless. Neat stuff and based on Adam's description sounds like a great place to go. Paddling in fog with boomers about must be equal measures of fear, spooky, and excitment. Nice to dream about, but think I would prefer a clear day. Ed Lawson

Well, it appears Winter has us for awhile longer so I have gone back to books and charts to dream of future trips. One area of Maine that looks interesting is the Great Waas Archipelago. Has anyone toured or day paddled there? If so, is it a beautiful and adventuresome place to go? I get the impression it is more remote, demanding, and rugged. Which also suggests the rewards are greater too. TIA Ed Lawson

>I'd guess that they are selling enough of the 460s into >non-immersion environments, The current model is the 471 which mechanically may well be the same as the 460, but they have added a few things such as FRS and a broader receiver range which no doubt were simple software changes. Since the antennas on these HTs are at best poor, not sure it makes sense to compromise them further by adding transmit ability far from the marine bands. The best radio, for RF performance, would be on specifically designed and build for the marine bands, but these I suspect are rare. Ed Lawson

> >All this goes to show that, while standard test ratings are >a decent starting point, YMMV, and the best guide is >experience of others using it under the conditions you'll >subject it too. Bingo! FWIW, in one reported test of certain marine radios the Standard Vertex model came out on top and the Icom model failed some basic tests. Tested models were not the M88 and the Horizon so its not as if Icom overall makes better radios than Vertex. They all make lemons from time to time. Ed Lawson

>- Better waterproofing (IPX8 = 30 minutes at 1.5 meters) I must confess to being confused by the various IPX waterproof standards. IPX7 is a standard that states the unit must be functional after submersion while IPX8 was a standard for units to be functional while submerged which is not all that important for a radio since RF isn't going far underwater. Add to the mix that IPX6 is a standard involving equipment being subjected to strong jets of water under considerable pressure for a specificed period of time. I have seen it argured that IPX6 is a higher functional standard than either IPX7 or IPX8 given the conditions of the test, but I have never seen an authoritative explanation. It is also not clear to me that a IPX7 or 8 device would also pass an IPX6 test, but for kayakers a device that would pass both seems a desired goal. Ed Lawson

> >Have you looked into MITA; Yes. BTW for this year the trail goes as far south as Cape Porpoise with at least one camping island in that area. During ths cool spell my kayaking consists of planning trips involving a mix and match of camping and B&Bs. Ed Lawson