GJ Carey

Nice job guys.

I can assist on this one. Galen

Hi Rick, This is a great idea. I can commit to a couple of trips this summer. I'm happy to schedule independently or jump in on something schedulled by you or others. This is how I learned, and frankly continue to learn. Go out with experienced folks and try stuff you wouldn't, or believed you couldn't, in a low consequence environment. Thanks for starting the thread. Galen

Hi Guys, I'm initiating a L2 trip on Saturday June 25th for the annual Solstice Paddle leaving from Riverhead beach in Marblehead. This is a L2 trip which means it will be a somewhat protected and low key paddle. Likely we'll explore Marblehead harbor, stop in Doliber's Cove and, weather and adventurous spirits permitting, may stick our noses into some more open water. This is an ideal paddle if you're new to the ocean, new to the ocean this year, would like a less committed shake down cruise, or simply feel like messing about in boats. In case you're wondering kids and kids at heart are more than welcome. Beach briefing will be at 10.30AM and we'll be on the water by 11AM. We'll be back by 3PM ish with plenty of time to snag the good spots and best food before the rest of the hoards descend. This trip will be run under the common adventure model (CAM) guidelines. If you are not familier with this acronym, be at the beach briefing where we'll explain. Look forward to seeing you. Galen p.s. June 25th HW 7.12AM, LW 1.10PM (may have a bit of a carry at both ends of the trip!)

Great thread, and timely reminders. One thing I will add is not to neglect the person(s) who may be supporting the hypothermic paddler during the rafted tow. They are probabaly a bit cold as well (everyone is likely wet) and have gone from moving (paddling) to not moving. Make sure they have a hat and cag on and have been provided some fuel just like the hypothermic person. Another thing to think about is not to put the smallest, thinest person as the supporter if you can help it. Some of us with a little more "insulation" might be the better choice. It would suck to inadvertently go from one hypothermic person to two or more. Glad everyone had fun on Sunday. Galen

Yep.I get one or two of these types of emails every time I attempt to sell a boat on message boards. Just be aware folks.

Agreed. It's an awesome feeling to have put someone back in their boat, feeling all proud and effective and then get that sinking feeling when it comes to giving them back their paddle..............paddle? paddle?......what paddle!

Hi Guys, The only reason that the guy in the ladder recovery demo drops his paddle is because it's attached to his boat via a paddle leash. A lot of very accomplished paddlers who paddle in tide races (and he's in one) use one routinely.

I second Suz's recommendation for silicon grease.

Hi Guys, Just an update. We took four kids on their first kayak camping trip out to Thatcher Island this past weekend. We used the put in in Rockport and parked on side streets as advised above, so thanks for the great advice! It worked really well. We didn't hang around long at the ramp, just dropped off boats and gear, and then parked. We loaded the boats and off we went. We were met at Thatcher by the lighthouse keepers who couldn't have been more helpful. They brought their little electric cart to the ramp and picked all the gear and moved it to the campsite for us. Same thing when we were packing up. I tried to get the boys to understand that there wasn't valet service at every camping island they're likely to visit in the future but I'm not sure they believed me! We had a wonderful two nights with perfect weather, some great rock play and three nice stripers hooked an landed. A highly recommended trip, close to home but with a great feel of some isolation.

I'm going up for Friday through Sunday. Looking forward to goofing off for a few days. Galen

Thanks Guys, much appreciated.

Hi Guys, I'm looking for some suggestions for put ins that allow access to Thatchers Island without too long a paddle. Also, if possible it needs to be somewhere we could leave a truck overnight. Thanks in advance.

Nice job everyone, you sorted out what sounds like a rapidly deteriorating situation.

Suz Hutchinson and her motley crew will be meeting at Riverhead Beach Marblehead, Saturday June 19th at 10.00AM sharp to explore Salem Sound. After exiting Marblehead harbor, we will be looking for interesting spots on the various islands and reefs that dot the sound. We will likely lunch on Little Misery (but no guarantees) , and then return in time for the PPPO where will regale anyone dumb enough to listen with tales of sea monsters and daring do! Please be ready for the beach briefing on at 10AM, dressed appropriately for an open water trip. If you plan on getting up close and personal with rocks, please bring a helmet. Total distance covered will likely be in the 10-14nm range with play along the way. This year we will likely split into separate pods of no more that 8 paddlers/pod if numbers grow to those in years past. Look forward to seeing you then.

We'll definitely be experimenting with this tow as well as other ways of helping move people (in and out of boats) around on the water on Saturday.

I followed Brian's excellent instructions when replacing a seat in an Explorer. Worked great, and has been nice and comfy ever since!

While there are many opportunities for adults to learn how to kayak, it is difficult to find instruction for kids and teens in boats and paddles sized appropriately. If you are looking for expert instruction in either white water or sea kayaks for young folks in your family please contact David at Still River Outfitters. http://www.stillriveroutfitters.com/info/youth-programs

I've had the same issue. My son is now older and a bit bigger than 70lbs. I ended up building him a Pygmy Osprey 13'. He still uses it, and moves it very well. It has front and rear bulkheads, with deck lines. He's moving more towards white water now, and so has started bugging me about getting him a boat for that! The other kid specific (or very small paddler) boats I considered, as well as would consider are; Rotomolded. Good for kids who like to use kayaks as pool toys or sleds in the winter! Epi-Sea kayak Tsunami SP Composite - expensive, but will have good resale value when he grows out of it or decides he wants to be a rock gutarist/professional basketball player! Impex Mystic - great boat Island kayak Newt (Discontinued but maybe able to find one used) P&H Vela (probabaly too big right now) Build as above with stich and glue technique or a skin on frame. Stay away from LV adult boats right now as they will swamp him, and the 16-17' length will be way too much to handle/turn even in the lightest wind. The other thing to make sure of is the paddle length and size. Use a kid sepcific paddle, and your child will have a far easier time and more fun. Having a child or children to paddle with is awesome and a huge amount of fun.

I'm interested, just let me know time for meet etc.

Great pictures! It looks like a blast surfing in the K2 , although the bow paddler does seem to be getting a salt water facial pretty regularly. Good for you guys for having the imagination and sense of fun to give it a go.

I use Lendals, and have used the mystic blades on a 194cm white water bent shaft when I'm goofing in surf or current. I've also put the kinetic touring blades on the 194 cm shaft. All combinations work well, and all fit together nicely. Personally, I think the 194cm is a tad short for me for all around long day sea boating though (I'm 5'7" standing and about 2'8" sitting in a boat ), and so now I've cut my 210cm straight shafts down to 205cm and and like that length a lot. I know folks think the lendals are a bit heavy, but the great advantage of them with the padlock system is the ability to mix and match as your mood, budget, and need for a blunt instrument to use on your paddling partners dictate! See if you can borrow some different set ups from folks and see what works for you. Galen P.S. I have snapped a Lendal........It was the icing on a day where I ripped the neck gasket on my dry suit and had both my short and long tows fail (stay away from "exotic knots")...not my finest hour.

Hi Ed, Try not to use the bow (or stern) toggle loop as it's a one shot deal. If it fails (and they do) you've lost the towees boat. Use the deck lines, and the load is spread over many deck fittings. If you pop one, there are plenty of others to take up the slack. Also, just hook onto one of the lines, again so that if there is a failure you won't loose the boat. There is no difference in the time it takes to hook onto either, so go for the more secure hook in point. Now, all of this is mute if you simply wiff the hook in which I did last weekend . Galen

Thanks for the kind word guys. I especially want to thank the NSPNers (Rob H, Laura, Ed, Gail, Deb, Carl C, Scott, Jon V) who donated their time to come along as victims volunteers for the trips. It made a huge difference having real paddlers to poke around with. The friendly faces and words of encouragement were also much appreciated.