brambor

Thanks Barry.

My son is 11. He started on a sit on top last year and this year we had him in a WS Piccolo. That boat was fine but had no bulkheads which could complicate ocean rescues. I started looking a fiberglass kayak for him a few months ago. I almost bought a Impex Mystic for a decent price but someone swiped it 2 days before I was ready. The Pintail fits the bill nicely for at least 5 years. The LV fit with the ocean cockpit combine into a nice combination for a small person that my son is.

He can paddle but is weak to keep up with adult groups so I usually just try to go solo with him. Short distances are better. I think Cape Porpoise is perfect for a trip with kids. Everything is close by, relatively protected for just exploring and messing around.

I did not meet the caretaker nor did I see or hear a dog. It appears as no one was on the island during our visit.

Rene

Nice pictures! we paddled here in August it's a stunning area. Did you meet the caretaker and her dogs ? Very nice and welcoming person.

How old is your son and at what age did he start paddling ? I plan to buy a tandem for next year to take my 5 year old boy out.

Barry.

Thanks Ed. My cell phone takes decent shots at bright light.

I picked up a used Pintail a few weeks ago for a decent price. I padded it well to give him a reasonable fit. I think next spring the padding will be just about right. The OC is perfect for his size.

Rene

Very neat pictures of your son. An OC Pintail...what more could a boy want?

Next time he will be chopping to go around the outside before coming in.

And then what will Dad do?

Ed Lawson

GC Name is: GC20A3R

Name is: Goat Island Cache

:-)

COOL!!! I'll add this one to my to find list. Is there a name or GC code for it.

I've placed a multi stage cache on islands on Pawtuckaway lake if you are looking for a fun lake GeoCaching adventure.

Pawtuckaway Island Hop GC1Z9V4

Neil

On Sunday we launched from Cape Porpoise towards Goat Island to place a new cache on the island. I know we have some geocachers among our members ...

GPS Coordinates: N 43° 21.485 W 070° 25.460

The sea was wild on the exposed side of Goat Island but Cape Porpoise is protected. Other than us fighting the wind the trip was easygoing and fun.

Wow. Top shot Doug!

Rene

9 of us ventured out of Lanes Cove Sunday 10/25.

Click on attachment for pics:

http://www.pixel8er.net/Other/Lanes-Cove-t...692485343_KC2nL

Doug

curiously, a knee to the groin also an effective means of alleviating sea sickness.

for me the best cure is to throw up...and get to shore to rest.

From what's happened so far, I think that subsequent stuff will be mainly for kayaks.

Kayaking, sea kayaking in particular, is obviously being singled out for attention here, despite the clear evidence that they are much less a safety problem in the end than canoes.

The question is, why?

--David.

maybe we just need to follow the money. If sea kayakers can afford a boat for a grand plus another grand in necessary equipment lthen they could be pumped for further fees.

Can we lobby the senators to include our NSPN logo tailgate flags in the bill?

I forgot to mention that the Senate version of the bill still does not recognize the use of Type V PFDs which include all inflatable, pull over, and rescue vests. While I can't imagine that this would be enforced it still is an issue that should be raised when you call or e-mail your State Rep or Senator to show how poorly drafted the Senate bill is.

Brian,

Do you think my idea of rolling over, then sculling to resurface, get a breath of air and while sculling get into the right position to roll up (probably with a layback) ... do you think my idea is feasible?

If yes then I was thinking this would be a useful skill especially when one gets knocked over in big waves and runs a risk of getting knocked over again at the rollup. It might be better to resurface, check things out and roll up at the right time... ;-) I'm just brainstorming here ...

Sounds like you have indexing and feathering confused. Indexing is the oval shape or "ridge" that is on the paddle shaft. Feathering is the angle between left and right blades.

you are correct. My mistake.

Here are my observations to your article:

When you are describing the trouble in sweeping the paddle 'right' to create a lifting effect - the whole description of right vs left indexing sounds complicated. Wouldn't it be better for the beginner to use paddle that is not indexed?

Ok. I just read the whole thing.

I am one of those. 4 lessons and I still can't roll.

Lesson 1 - Waterboarding.

Great instructor

1-1 attention

Goal: Attempt to start me with a balance brace

Result: Lots of funny near drowning experiences. Total failure to appropriately arch my back and float on the surface. I sink like a rock.

Lesson 2 - Pool session

Great instructors

Goal: Breaking down the steps to roll. Attempting to roll.

Result: Failure to roll and failure to even recognize which way to roll up. Success in learning step 1 of a reentry and roll - the reentry.

Lesson 3 - Pool session

Great instructors but also a lot of soul searching and self learning

Result: improvement in orienting under water, resurfacing on the right side and vague hints of improvement toward the roll

Lesson 4 - Pool session

Much more self learning

Successful reentry and roll with a paddle float all the way until half inflated single chamber. A few 'almost rolls' until left thigh padding gives

a way.

Lesson 5 - Pool session

I will do this session this Saturday night. The fact that I have tasted success with reentry and roll and with the practice of sculling...I am planning

to try rolling over and then sculling until (I hope) I resurface to get a breath of fresh air and if I manage sculling and staying up reasonably well then

converting this movement to rolling up. Thinking this would somehow help learning blade position in the water to learn on how to rise sweep but dunno ...

This is the last session at this pool. If I don't roll tonight I'll have to wait until another pool session in the spring.

That's the first time I see "uber echt" used in and English essay.

Rolling_a_kayak.doc

I have taken the time to develop a self-learning method for the kayak roll that might be helpful to those who have failed to master it in spite of repeated efforts which may have included professional guidance, pool sessions and friends advice. This too is friendly advice although it provides a lot more detail and may be attractive to those learners "who need to ask too many questions".

While I welcome criticism and suggestions, please keep in mind that what I'm proposing is not a universal approach but an alternative for the recalcitrant paddler who hasn't learned with traditional methods. Finally, and this I freely admit, my method requires patience and self-determination that perhaps not all of us possess in abundance. Bon chance.

(Acknowledgments: The idea of using a paddle float without a paddle was originally suggested during a conversation by Leon Granowitz many years ago. The motorcycle analogy for the motion of the wrist was originally suggested to me by Bob Foote.)

Insulating the cockpit makes sense as the cold does transmit through the hull.

One thing I wonder, though, is how secure the foam pad is. There is the possibility of entrapment (e.g. hooking your feet on the edge of the pad) in a wet exit as well as the pad blocking a fast re-entry in conditions. Seems like is should just lay there, but if you get trashed in surf or chop, a foam pad might not stay put given its flotation and the wave action in an empty cockpit. Think how sponges, pumps and other stuff seem to float away when you exit.

Remember, this time of year your margins to sort things out are significantly smaller as the water gets colder and the conditions rougher.

Dunno what might keep it secure: duct tape? Velcro? Tucked under the seat and a foam bulkhead in front of the footpegs? Gotta be some simple way to do it.

Scott

a doublesided tape running along the perimeter might do the trick. Another thing to consider is to Wellwood glue it permanently and use it year round.

We paddled on Tuesday afternoon until about 8pm at night. It was a beautiful day at first. Crispy clear, nice foliage and no power boats. As the sun set the cold made it self move evident. I also felt it from the hull on my calfs and thighs.

I was thinking that I might need more insulation under my drysuit for november paddling but then I also thought what would happen if I placed a 1/2" or 1" camping foam mattress to extend from the seat to the footpegs?

It's amazing they don't get ejected from their seats for such bumpy ride.

Video of start of mayor's cup surfskis.

I finished replacing a skeg on a Valley boat today. It was a fun ordeal but I do have a question about the final screw on the skeg that holds the skeg wire. Because the screw is angled towards the boat and there is about 3 inches of free room to maneuver it makes it very difficult to use a screwdriver. I ended up using a flat blunt area of a knife to finish the job but next time I will remember to screw beforehand all the way to the threshhold before I install the skeg for the final 20 turns into the wire.

This spring I kinked the cable on my Nordkapp. After I took it to someone who can repair it, I managed to lose the skeg on the way to the repair shop. In addition the nut in the pull knob was totally rusted and could not be removed.

So I took the boat back home and ordered the whole skeg with the wire and the knob. It took forever to get it but when it arrived on Friday I got right to work to do the replacement.

For starters, cutting the plastic knob to remove it was an ordeal as in the middle of the knob is a fairly resilient steel nut which makes the cutting difficult. The plastic keeps melting when you cut it with a power tool and using hand cutter ... I did not have a mini cutter handy to operate in such close quarters. The fact that we are dealing with a fiberglass and tight spaces kept the job interesting.

The wire did go in smoothly but the final affixation of the knob nut to the wire took some jiggling around. I finally had to remove the metal rod and count the number of turns it takes to get to the wire. Then reattach the metal rod and count the turns until I knew whether I was hitting the metal rod or whether I was able to continue turning until the wire was secured.

The cutting of the skeg wire was hard with the 3 wire cutting tools in my basement. The tools managed the wire to untangle. I ended up using a power cutter which cut the cable clean. I did not want to risk cutting the cable short and messing up the whole project so it took 3 cuts to get the right depth.

But now it's all good and done. Yay!

I love reading the trip rreports and there are a few video clips on youtube...but can we please talk more about spending time in the rockgarden?

What elements or tricks are you trying to do and what (not where) type of rock structure do you consider an ideal location?

I just spent a few days outfitting two kayaks in my basement. It was cold. So I used a cheap portable construction lamp with a heating lightbulb. I left it safely shining on the work and that brought up the temperature to 60 degrees.

Phil-The contact cement I use wants 55 F. Wait till Tuesday or Wednesday.

Brian,

I'm not disagreeing with you but just wondering. Kevlar cloth and Fiberglass cloth appear to be just that - cloths. One lays the cloth and then mixes up epoxy resin and then wet the cloth...when the job dries we sand and probably wet again and then do a finish...

That is in my layman's understanding how it goes. I built a wooden boat with fiberglass once...wondering what the difference would be with Kevlar cloth.

And also wondering whether one can lay fiberglass cloth over kevlar layup or vice versa?

Thanks - I'm always appreciative of your expertise. I believe you might have helped me with my wooden boat eons ago at the kayakforum.

P.S. Thanks for you previous tip about surform tool. I got to work with it in the past 3 days and it's a blast.

Hi Brian,

To respond to the excellent points you raise:

"Is there any particular reason you used Kevlar? ... could be done with fiberglass, which would be simpler, easier and just as effective."

I used Kevlar primarily because it came as a tape; a fixed width with finished edges and I happened to have some. It was the toughest cloth product I had on hand. As far as simpler and easier; it was fairly simple and fairly easy.

"BTW, when doing jobs similar to this where the reinforcing fabric tends to lift or curl, simply cover the repair with clear packing tape."

Quite true and that would work well on the materials that lay over the hull. Taping over the material inside the skeg box is not an option so you still need to babysit the repair while the epoxy sets up.

Jon

wonderful report

This was a great trip combining excellent company, stunning Maine scenery and some exciting conditions. I joined Gary, Roger, Laurie and Ellie for the saturday paddle around Southport. The forecast called for strong northerly winds so Roger made the call to head north first to avoid the slog up the exposed side of Southport. Laurie and Ellie wanted to scout out the MITA islands in the sheepscott to stay on on Saturday night. If you get a chance to spend some time with them, do it; I'd love to have had more time to hear the stories. Check out their website, especially the kayak sailing videos.

We landed first on Ram island, a really nice MITA maintained island which would make a great camping spot on a future trip. We parted way here with Laurie and Ellie and continued accross the sheepscott to just north of MacMahan island. By now the wind had stiffened from the north west but the conditions were mild. Laurie demonstrated the versatility of the sailing rig by easily catching us (despite a 15 minute lead) on a beam reach. We continued on the inside of MacMahan, past Gotts cove and on to Five Islands where we stopped for a very welcome lobster roll.

From here we set a bearing for Lower mark island for the approximately 3 mile crossing to the tip of South port. The wind had strenghened and we barely had to paddle to achieve 4 knots. But I had a sense of foreboding that as the fetched lenghtened we would be dealing with some significant seas. Sure enough within a mile we were in the thick of it, surfing down the following waves, mostly stern ruddering to stay on course. Roger, in his beautiful strip built night heron, was thoroughly enjoying himself. A porpoise made a brief appearance and surfed down a couple of waves with us, as if to say "dont worry, look at me!". We decided to change course and get closer to the Southport shore, but there was only brief respites in a couple of coves before we made the left turn at the tip of Southport into the mill pond like conditions in the lee. We landed at a small island there to catch our breath and contemplate the impressive conditions on the Sheepscott. From there it was an easy couple of miles north back to Gray's.

The total distance was ~ 16 miles; my GPS shows that at some point we hit 7.5 knots while our moving average was 3+ knots. Pictures and chart here.

Barry.

My estimate would be between 1 and 2 pounds.

I took off the footpegs and they are around a pound or less. The aluminum racks can't weigh too much...

Another question is if you could find a nice smooth nut for the inside of the screws. Of course another option is to fill the holes but you might need the holes one day if you decide to sell the boat.

Does anyone have an educated guess on the amount of weight that would be saved by removing the aluminum Yakima foot pegs and a FG seat from a boat? Wondering how much I could literally cut off the AA.

Thank you.

Ed Lawson

Those things are 83 dollars? ouch.

Commiserations, Ernie!

The only time I ever lost one was very close to my home and the next day I found it propped up against a telephone pole, awaiting my collection. (Thank you, near-neighbours) Those things are expensive to replace, as, doubtless, you already know. ; ^ (

Great documentary. I wish I was there.

Hi Folks. Sorry I am so late getting to this but my computer at home is crapped out and it took me awhile to figure out how to upload my photos. These shots, though obviously amateur, only touch on the beauty of this area. This trip is definetly going to be an annual. I can't really add anything to Scott's report, it was a great time with great people.

http://good-times.webshots.com/album/575028326hHmkBe

Regards,

Bill

Indeed, the Mystic seems to be our our best choice right now. We were able to sit in one last Sunday. The footpegs had to go all the way forward to the first latch. There we were able to obtain a decent 'lock' with the thighs under the deck. I will have to place a one inch padding on each side for the hips until he grows more.

There are two for sale for affordable price that I can find right now but one is in New Jersey. That puts it practically out of reach unless I get a jolt of insanity (not uncommon )