great_blue

I've used a buntline hitch on a couple of tows; it's fairly low profile and doesn't seem to loosen over time. I have yet to test my new towline that has thicker rope and see if it's still OK. Jon

Mr. Shewhorn, I purchased a "white" one of these a couple of years ago: http://www.essentialgear.com/Safety-&-...oduct_info.html Still works (always attached to my pfd), and has a blinking mode as well. I seems fairly robust and provides a couple of attachment options. I believe I saw them at NESC the las time I was by. BTW, thanks again for the pintail demo.... Jon

Great information....now how about the reverse? I've got some minicel pads under my deck that I glued on with Super 77 and has now become detached. Any recommendations as to how to clean off the glue residue and bits of foam? Acetone, paint thinner, scraper? Thanks. Jon

Well done, Deb. Congratuations! Jon

Congratulations! I get misty-eyed thinking of you guys going from monkey-boys to monkey-men. Well done! Jon

Wow, that sounds like a lot of fun. Great report Deb. Jon

Yup, I caught a bit of that story too while channel-surfing and roasting in front of a window fan at around 9pm. I stop clicking to watch someone in a whitewater boat practicing what looked like a high brace/scull and then it cuts to Suz looking all too comfortable in front of the camera. Perhaps a future in watersports news reporting is in the making........ Hope to see you again on the small screen, Suz. Jon

A large, angled, slotted serving spoon with a black handle, as well as a "Mudd" watch with a pink face and band were recovered by myself at the picnic site. Sound familiar to anyone? Please post to be rejoined with your stuff. Jon

Jason, The answer is yes; I already emailed Tom about that same question. Jon

Hello, I've finally decided that my life is (possibly) worth the $200 or so a vhf will cost me and I've got a few questions about mounting/using it on my pfd. The shoulder strap seems like the most popular and practical place to attach and hear it, but is using the "swivel" belt clip the way that it is commonly done? Also, is it possible to use the radio (to transmit) still attached to the pfd in this manner? And finally, do people use any secondary retaining devices such as a lanyard or wrist strap? Now I just have to decide between the water-proofness of the m72 or the buoyancy and optional AA battery tray of the m34....... Thanks, Jon

Congratulations you guys, excellent work! Jon

Hey Kevin, Do you have any idea when you will be off the water (I've got to be in NH later in the afternoon)? Jon

>Nowadays i sometimes see the same people when I'm launching >and they leave me be. Yeah.....that's only due to your recent decision to wear your sprayskirt in traditional Scottish style..... Jon

Hey Joe, I believe the "reverse" part refers to chine profile along the side ellesmere to be highest (closer to the deck) in the middle and dip down towards the water in the bow and stern. Unlike most hard chine shapes which seem more similar to the line of the deck/hull seam and/or keel line. A frown vs. a smile. Jon

Sounds like fun....Where do launch/park from; the small parking lot near the rotary or the one down at the other end the causeway where it connects to Nahant?

I was wondering what techniques people to use to apply 303 to the latex seals of their drysuits. For hatch covers I just spray on and wipe but I'm concerned about the effect of 303 on Gore-tex. Should I be? Thanks. Jon

Hey Joe, I've always been secretly envious of Walter's plastic thermometer that he simply hangs off his decklines with string, but I can't seem to find a similar model. I looked for pool thermometers, but the temp range was too high; I found some fly fishing models but they didn't look like they could take much banging around. What do you use? Jon

I'll be there. Jon

Congratulations Kevin, that is excellent. BTW, I realize we haven't really known one another THAT long but.....I haven't made out with a **** either, big feller.

Hey Kevin - Thanks for the kind words regarding my surfing "performance". I was actually pretty nervous prior to entering the bay; not knowing what to expect after watching large swells pound Castle Rock in Marblehead earlier that morning. It was a lot of fun and helped me gain more confidence in my bracing ability as well as general boat control in surf. Well.....except for those two dumps....BTW, I need to remember to only capsize in waist-deep water in the future, it makes assisted re-entries quite a breeze. Thanks again. Jon

How could I possibly resist serving as your crash dummy? Jon

Sounds interesting..... Do you think the conditions would suit a relative surf novice? I haven't paddled around Cranes before although I've been off Wingaersheek and in the upper Annisquam. Nice bumping into you at nesc this morning; how'd the Merrimac treat you? Jon

What's your intended route; straight up the coast or over to Marblehead and then head Gloucester? What time are you thinking of starting? High tide's @ 1:03 in Salem on Saturday (although T-Storms are predicted). Jon

Hello, Are you departing from Riverhead Beach? I am considering a paddle from Forest River Park at ~9:00 over into Marblehead harbor, depending on conditions. I was out at Castle Rock (on land) yesterday morning and conditions were quite challanging to say the least. Jon

I'm kind of a knife guy so having something sharp and dependable on the water just seemed natural when I began kayaking. I used to have a Benchmade H2O dive knife (mounted inverted on my pfd), and although it is a well made knife it proved to be a bit large and in the way during some rescues. It accumulated a bit of surface rust on the exposed tang (but not on the blade) after 2 years and no rinsing and has a useful blade shape (modified sheepsfoot). It is also pretty secure in the sheath. I then moved to a smaller Benchmade rescue hook, also in H1 steel, but it has a tendency to come loose from the very small sheath and I’m lucky to still have it. It has no utility other than cutting line which is hopefully all I’d need it for. It also has surface rust. From time to time I use a Spyderco Salt that I clip to the front part of the shoulder strap of my pfd. It is secure and easily accessed but in an emergency a folder is trickier to deploy than a fixed blade. That being said, I have yet to use any of them for anything seriously other than to add ballast to my kayak. Jon