Phil Allen

I'm interested.

Phil

Great pics folks. Sorry I couldn't join you. It looks like a great day.

Phil

I can do Wed and current forecast is for 10-15 NW switching to 5-10 SW late morning. What's the best route with the ~2pm high tide. I'd prefer not to fight the current both ways.

Phil

I'm interested.

Phil

David-

Lorrie and I may join you. It's only a 9' tide but middle afternoon might be fun at LH.

Phil

Thanks Bill. Not sure how I missed this.

Phil

Either would be good.

Phil

Folks-

What's the best way (short of local or published knowledge) to estimate the flow and extent of tidal currents? For example, what's the best way to figure out which way the water's going in the Annisquam river. From the tide table, it looks like the north side is ~25 minutes later than Gloucester harbor, so would that suggest that the current runs from the harbor to Annisquam on the flood?

Thanks,

Phil

Blaine-

That's an interesting idea. I carry a signaling mirror, which if the orientations were close, might work as well.

Phil

I hope people continue to post incidents like this - they're useful to hear.

My most recent experience was a bit sobering. ......

Often times, at a distance, it appears that they're on a collision course, but when they get closer it becomes apparent that they really weren't.

John, thanks for the example.

It's been my experience that "head on" (~180degree direction of travel) or "directly overtaking" (same direction of travel) are the hardest conditions to judge. If they're on a course that they think is going to miss you, the difference in angle between the course of the boat and kayak is small until the very last minute. And if one thinks they're not going to miss you short of an emergency change in course, the direction of escape isn't always obvious. Nothing like a quick sprint towards the path the powerboat planned to use to pass.

Phil

Hi Al-

I'm interested (and Lorrie may be, I will ask). My trip for Saturday has currently fallen apart and not been rescheduled yet, so either day is possible.

Phil

Is it possible that the second boat did see you but was intentionally trying to scare you by coming close? This sort of thing does happen (though it hasn't to me yet -- knock wood)

--David.

David-

Probably not. They didn't come so close as one would expect if they were actively playing chicken. (My experience is that A$$h@le's tend to pass along side hoping to get you with their wake). More likely just up on plane and not focused on the water immediately in front of them. After all, they were in a small boat, so everything they might need to worry about would be bigger than them and obvious, wouldn't it?

Phil

no info, so made other plans. enjoy!

Al-

Looks like Lorrie and I plan on joining you. Should be there by 9.

Phil

Ah, the "show, don't tell" policy. We use that a lot in backcountry skiing around here. I can live with that.

Phil

Rick -

I might be interested (I make a good crash test dummy). Are you talking Charlestown or Galilee (sp?).

Phil

I completely get the tight ball (low to ground) and balls of feet (low contact area) recommendations but what's with the fingers in the ears?

Phil

Gene -It's a good question (maybe add it to the main board?). Given the winds that often accompany thunderstorms, I think I'd be concerned with losing the boat if I wasn't seated in it.

Phil

What Nick's not telling you is that that you can easily see the white water from those "falls" from several miles above. I flew over once and you can also see it clearly in google earth at 10-20 mile elevation.

Phil

Gene-

Thanks for organizing. I hadn't been out of Manchester before and it was quite nice to have two excellent tour guides.

Phil

check your PM

Phil

Ralph-

The NVG isn't available but the specs on the latest generation of image intensifiers are since they're used by more than just the military. Here's a comparison chart from the manufacturer Hamamtsu:

The trend is for broader wavelength sensitivity, so the newer generations expand the sensitivity into the infrared while maintaining that in the blue-green. The newest NVG appear to use the broadrange genIII image intensifiers with very fast electronic control to minimize flashout when the light turns bright. So its likely the NVG available and in use by the CG sees green rather well.

That said, I know nothing about whats on the drawing boards at the kinda places where "if we tell you we have to kill you" goes

Phil

Not to extend this thread, but anybody tried to use one of the foam paddlefloats as a "roll-aid"? If it worked sufficiently, it might be easier, cheaper and more reliable than an auto-inflator based device.

Phil

If you haven't made up your mind on a boat yet, and depending on where you live, CRCK also has a nice "season pass" with takeaway option. It allows you unlimited use of their rental fleet at their locations and something like 15 takeaway days per year. The river's not particularly challenging, but it's still paddling. They have Impex, Necky, WS and P&H boats if I recall.

Phil

Kevin:

I seem to remember a review and field test of green vs. red laser flares saying that green has significantly better visibility than red under a variety of condtions. My memory is hazy, but on the order of twice the range. As a side note, the green laser was also significantly more expensive probably due to manufacturing costs since red is the more common color.

If this is true, it may not translate to flare colors.

Scott

Red "diode" laser's have been around in low to moderate versions for more than a decade (laser pointers anyone?). However, it is only recently (~3 years?) that they've managed to make a cost effective green frequency doubled diode laser with any sort of stability and power. To make the "green" laser, the take an infrared laser diode and double the frequency so that it emits green. So the increased cost is due both to the differences in development "age" and the device complexity. The green is arguable better as the eye is more sensitive to it, as discussed above.

One clear difference between the laser "flares" and trad. flares is that you have to actively point and move the laser flare for it to be effective. In contrast, under good conditions, a trad flare is visible from all directions.

Taking the pointy headed geek hat off now.

Phil