gyork

Want to stow a daisy-chained short tow aft of cockpit. What length do y'all prefer? Anybody use/prefer an on-person (stuffed into pfd) climbing sling as an alternative? Something else?

As I recall my early forays, sounds like a scary intro, even with a group.

Kinda says it all. Previous conversations with MITA folks suggest that the warning "..until June 15" may be outdated, but keep away if there seems to be an eider community attempting to settle. We'll try to land next weekend for a little clean-up . Sounds like you had a great trip Rene, and what a memorable time for your son, for sure. Hope you can make the Jewell trip. Gary

Not sure of the quality of the video, but many of the waterproof (underwater) cameras allow for video clips. Might suffice to exhibit the action of the telltales or whatever (pool session?).

A grand idea. I suppose that there are many "newer" paddlers in the club following the message boards, hoping to join in on just the right posted trip. Jeff's suggestion to be proactive makes sense, as most of us respond well to requests for help. Introduce yourself publicly on the boards, state your trip venue wishes (lake, river, open/protected ocean) and see how many trip ideas pop up. gary

Board of Directors: please consider allocating funds to start a lending library, similar to SMSKN, based on honor system. gary

Last call!

Should this be part of the launch briefing? That is, when you join the group, you agree to act as a responsible member of that group, or any subgroup(s) that develop(s). In the unlikely scenario described in this thread, it seems as though this paddler no longer wanted to be part of the group. Does the CAM mindset allow a response such as "OK, you're on your own"?

Apply those newly-acquired skills and join us for the Jewell Trip May 21-23 (see separate post under "Trips")! Gary

If I'm backpacking (think lightweight) I'll take either MSR Hubba (1-person, $$$), or hammock (22 oz) and OES tarp (McCat deluxe-13 oz).

I can't find you. Please send PM. Gary

Jewell trip

Survey tape (Phil; post#41) tied to fore and aft toggles.

Still wondering what happened to the clappers? Why would USGC permit a functioning buoy to be "missing" 3 of 4 clappers? From web: ALL AIDS TO NAVIGATION ARE PROTECTED BY LAW It’s a criminal offense to cause any damage or hindrance to the proper operation of any aid. Do not alter, deface, move or destroy any aid to navigation. Report all intentional or unintentional collisions with navigation aids to the U.S. Coast Guard. Coast Guard Info-line 1-800-368-5647 Office of Aids to Navigation - (202) 267-0980 - www.navcen.uscg.mil Office of Boating Safety - (202) 267-1060 - www.uscgboating.org And what powers the flashing green? Don't see a solar array. ?battery stowed in cylindrical compartment(s)?

Anybody know where this can drifted from? It appears to be missing its 4 clappers-what happened? What are the structural differences between "gong" and "bell"?

Here’s a great opportunity for you paddlers who would like to try kayak-camping without the pesky bugs (beware of ticks!). This will be the 4th annual trip to Jewell, which has 2 large side-by-side campsites and a latrine. We typically have 10 or so paddlers, which improves the safety factor. The Common Adventure Model (CAM) will be adopted http://www.nspn.org/trip_participation.htm The SUGGESTED itinerary is as follows: FRIDAY: Arrive at Sandy Point Beach at Cousins Island (Yarmouth) on Friday, May 21, at 9:45am, for a 10:30am launch (LT-11:48am). CW Cousins I. to Crow and/or Bangs for lunch and MITA/NSPN stewardship, then to Jewell campsite(s). Total Nautical Miles ~8 SATURDAY: Agenda TBD-bring your ideas for a day paddle or island activitie(s) (LT-12:48pm). Prior trips have included Whaleboat/Little Whaleboat, Potts Harbor , Jewell’s WW1 and WW2 military installations, and general comraderie/gourmet foods around the camp fire. SUNDAY: Back to cars via ???? (LT-13:48pm) If you would like to join this group of friendly paddlers, or have any questions about this trip or camping in general, post on this board or E me. When you can commit, please send me (gyork@crhc.org) the following information: -Auto color, make, model, and tag# for registering with Yarmouth officials. -Contact info, including cell, E’s, H,W phone, and permission to share with participants. -Standard RSVP info, including a paddling resume if I don’t know you. http://www.nspn.org/how_to_sign_up.htm Gary Link to nautical chart: http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/13290.shtml Link to tidal chart (Portland): http://www.maineboats.com/tide-charts Link general weather forecast: http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findwe...=portland+maine Links to marine forecast: http://www.erh.noaa.gov/displayprod.php?pr...amp;versions=10 http://www.gomoos.org/waveforecasts/ Link to current/historical sea state: http://www.gomoos.org/data/recent.html

Yes, Bill, a future photo contest 1st prize, if I am any judge of photography! Gary

Peculiar sight for the people from away. Recall Houstonites wearing the same winter garb that I would have donned up North, during a one-year "visit". The locals guessed I was an outsider by my wardrobe of shorts and light polar fleece in the balmy 50-degree days of their "cold snap". It's all relative.

Ed's right. Discounts for the sake of discounts are not always the right choice. I spend most of my sea-time in Maine, and will donate extra for the benefits of visiting and camping in sea kayakers' paradise. Still feel there is a benefit to the NSPN/MITA alliance, as shown by the results of MITA's survey indicating most of the island visits are via kayak. Hopefully the NSPN Board will continue to support and promote island stewardship/clean-up as a top priority. Gary

Nope, but still prefer not to drag along a gravel beach, or load a sand-encrusted kayak atop my car. As I said before, I can't help it. Or in the words of Popeye "I yam who I yam" (whose favorite vegetable BTW is Sweet Potato, not to be confused with Sweet Pea, whose genetic linkage to either Bluto or Pops is still a mystery to me).

Please remind me how I can do this through the NSPN site in one fell swoop, as I just received my E renewal notification from MITA, and would like to take advantage of the dual-member discount. Thanks.

Ditto. I'm sure I have a reputation of being too meticulous (recall the comical images of my new kayak resting atop noodles on the blacktop!). ALL my salt water/air-exposed gear gets a dunk in the freshwater tub after EVERY saltwater paddle. No proof that it prolongs the life of my gear, but, like global warming issue, what if? Admittedly, don't get to the sea often enough, but given the dollars I've spent on all the gear, it deserves extra attention. Not sure I'd be so obsessive if I paddled with the frequency of Kevin and others, but that's my practice (I can't help it!). Gary

All caps DRIED suggests it wasn't air-dried?

Did Valley really switch the day hatch covers from starboard to port on the composite models and keep them on the starboard side for the classic and polyethylene models? I've got a 2004 Aquanaut HV (Argonaut), day hatch on starboard. A recent (2007-2008) catalog shows hatches on starboard side as well. Anybody have a new Valley to compare?