Phil Allen

Some of you know I'm a bit of a geek, so I found this interesting: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57620573-1/custom-3d-printed-kayak-is-a-homemade-work-of-art/ not quite commercially practical, but you can imagine the future. Design you own boat, change the design of an existing boat to fit your size and weight..... best Phil

with that in mind, might be worth packing both the tape and a "splint". For backcountry ski trips I take a piece of 18" long aluminum bar (maybe 1/4 by 1/2" dimensions) for pole repair etc. best Phil

Don't forget the humble blackfly, either. Several folks on the newfoundland trip last summer were worried that customs was going to deny them re-entry as their swollen hands, neck and faces made them look like stars in some communicable disease horror movie. best Phil

Rob- Don't beat up on John. As many have said, your cold hands and feet could have been due to core temp, or your choice of restrictive clothing and foot wear (the neoprene socks). I'm glad you figured it out for you on that day. We are all different in our tolerances to hot and cold. best Phil

I'm debating getting an Outex cover for an older large sensor camera and using that for better images on the water. For those who haven't heard of them, it's basically a condom for the camera, with glass lens and back ports. Alex Boyd Peskin (Chicago paddler) has gotten some great shots with one. best Phil

Nikon actually has a largish sensor (1") water-resistant camera with interchangeable lenses that allows one to shoot raw & JPG. Be aware that some folks on the web have had issues with water penetration through an overly compressed lens gasket. best Phil

Actually Rob, I'd say that the first signs of potential hypothermia are the grumps. Just like some people get hangry when their blood sugar drops, many get cranky when their core starts getting cold. best Phil

Hi Rob- After lunch, food calories and the cag would have kept you warmer overall. It's likely you were cold, and the blood flow was being shunted away from your extremities, an early indicator you could be on the way to hypothermia. That said, cold hands and feet could just be a symptom of restricted blood flow from clothing (tight gaskets and tight overstocks) with an absolutely fine core temp. Only you know what's right for you, so use what you know. An aside, did you mention to your paddling partners your issues with being cold? Often, they're the best judge of our condition when we're on the hypothermia slide. best Phil

I've used the panasonic TS series. First couple died over a year or two, with I expect salt water corrosion (even with washing in fresh etc). Made a neoprene slip case for the latest and it seems to be holding up better (2 years now I think). If you want batteries to last a while, turn off all the extraneous features like GPS, compass, WiFi. best Phil

and just to be more clear Jen is a BCU L5 coach. ;-) best Phil

I'd say it's hard to have conversations or share a snack if everyone is wrapped up in their individual bivy sacks. I guess it depends on what one looks for in shelter. If I know the odds were good that I might spend the night out the bivy would be my choice. If I and my buddies needed a quick snack out of the rain then the hut is the way to go. Phil

Hi Rob- Interesting points. Do you bring that entire list on your winter paddles? Seems like there's quite a bit of redundancy, particularly when it comes to shelter. If I'm paddling with a group of competent paddlers i.e not expressly leading, my winter kit is: 1 pair hat and mittens for shore, often stuffed in my drysuit when paddling 1 synthetic fill oversized coat, and if it's above freezing my storm cag 1 pair synthetic puffy pants (for inside the drysuit if I need to sit a long while) 2 pair of neoprene hood/beanie and 2 pair gloves 1 pair of pogies 1/2 of a thermaridge pad (sit pad) an extremely small and light weight bivy two contractor size garbage bags 1 compact 4 person shelter 1 large thermos of hot tea or a jetboil like stove reusable heat packs (4) The best way to treat hypothermia is to manage exposure so that you don't get cold. Lots of breaks, lots of snacks, hot food and hot liquids. And If everyone has a hypo kit then you can use the cold persons gear to warm them. And it's just me, but I really think that down gear is unlikely to stay dry when used in an emergency scenario during paddling. I can't see down really keeping it's loft wrapped around a paddler who took too long a swim. best Phil

Like every issue before it (that I've seen anyway) the final was full of useful and insightful writing. And an excellent review of Nick Schade's Petrel Play. Also sad. Phil

is a "Zdarsky hut" what the Brits call a Bothy bag or sometimes an nylon Igloo? Lightweight multi person floor-less shelter? If so, I carry both the multi person shelter and a very light weight bivy bag in the winter. The Bothy is great for a quick group warm up out of the wind. The bivy (along with a puffy coat, puffy pants, hat and mittens) is for me if I have to sit for more than a short while. best Phil

I'm going with your longer waterline length allowed a greater top speed before having to overcome the bow wake. BUT I forget the math/physics to justify my answer. Getting old ain't for wimps. best Phil

Lot of 'beliefs' in that statement for an engineer, Leon ;-) . All these tools have their place and I believe that not one has the ability to most efficiently deal with all circumstances. Being able to use multiple methods keeps you efficient and safe. best Phil

an addition to Johns method if you've got long crossings with multiple current velocities over time is to add all the current vectors (distance and direction) to your start position. The heading from the end of the sum of your current vectors to your destination is your average heading for the duration. Good news is its a lot simpler than dealing with different ferry angles through out the day. Bad news is it doesn't give a good estimation of your local position should you need to report it. best Phil

I use it when storing the boat or if the weather has gone crap on a drive. I always tether it some how as the first one disappeared on a drive. But as Suz mentions, they're a pain if you don't have two folks to load/unload the boat from the car. If you're planning on putting gear up in the cockpit, keep an eye on the weight and the limits of your car rack. Nothing worse than the whole thing stopping on the road behind you (or in the windshield of the car behind you). best Phil

not sure if this helps, but you can download the pdf for that chart and print it yourself the link is: http://www.charts.noaa.gov/PDFs/13270.pdf best Phil

Nice bow stall, but you're supposed to pop back up!

I read a really great book over the holidays " Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time" by Dava Sobel. Covers the history and sociology of the quest to find one's longitude at sea. It's not a new book (2007) but I found it quite enjoyable. best Phil

re: sighting compasses (mirrored sight for getting bearing to landmark). I've had the mirrored backing corrode off in a season or two from constant salt water immersion and drying. best Phil

Leon and John, Got it. Had to do it out graphically for it to make sense (to me). best Phil

John- I hate to ask a physicist to check his math, but wouldn't the 3kt current, 3kt paddler case just be 45 degrees? best Phil

There are a couple of PLB or PLB like devices. In my understanding, PLBs do one thing: call the calvary and report where the message was sent from. PLB like devices do that and also have functions like tracking, message sending and texting through you cell phone ACR has made PLBs for big boats/crews for years and has brought out small ones for personal use (Firefly?). Spot, Delorne and a few others have brought out PLB like devices for the last several years. I have the original SPOT, and while I've never had to push the "911" button, its only missed 1 "I'm OK" message in many years of use. One thing that should be stated loudly and clearly about PLBs and the like is they're not likely to get you a fast rescue response. All the companies that provide these services investigate any message before initiating a SAR call. Be prepared to sit for a while or use some more direct method like the radio. best Phil