NateHanson

These are a staple of larger boat navigation, and being a sailor before I was a kayaker, I was really keen on having one for kayaking. The "hockey puck" style hand bearing compasses used on sail boats are too big for kayak use, in my opinion, so I was really excited a number of years ago to find a Brunton baseplate compass (now discontinued) that had a lens in the bezel, and works just like the hockey puck style compasses, yet is no larger than a normal baseplate compass. You can easily take bearings to within 1 degree. It was about $100, quite nifty, and I carried it for years. Though I am a bit of a navigation nerd and generally do more navigating than I technically need to do when paddling, I rarely used the sighting function of that expensive compass. The reality is that I navigate differently in a kayak than I do on a keel boat, and a hand-bearing compass isn't really necessary, so I gave up carrying that $100 compass in favor of a $15 baseplate compass a few years ago. Basically, everything in a kayak is plus/minus 10 degrees, so taking bearings with your bow, or with your baseplate compass is accurate enough. Keelboat navigation is less forgiving, and every degree counts when being 50 feet this way or that way could mean hitting a submerged ledge (where you might then spend the night living at a 45 degree angle). In a kayak, we just paddle to the ledge, and look down to see when we're on top of it.

Congratulations Rob!

Thank you Sherry and Peter for arranging this! I look forward to working with all of you in a few weeks. Feel free to call or email me if you have questions about how this course will work for you. My number is 207-669-2174, or pinnipedkayak@gmail.com Thanks, Nate

Late to the party, but I can confirm that the only place you can carry over on Islesboro is at the Narrows, half-way up the island. There is a put-in at pendleton point, but I don't believe you can park there overnight. Overnight parking is free on the islesboro side of the ferry and launching is easy at a ramp just east of the ferry slip. The ferry can be busy, so don't aim for the last ferry of the day. Parking is $10/day at the Lincolnville side of the ferry. Easy launching at all tides on the ramp just north of the ferry slip. The ferries to Northhaven/Vinalhaven are much busier. Reservations sell out on the day they are released - 1 month before sailing. Can get in line on the day of or the day before, but on busy days it could be tough. Kayaks can only be carried on cars for all three ferry routes. Sand beach on the west side of Deer Isle is another possibility, but I don't think you can park overnight - best to check with the town office. The Colwell Ramp in downtown Stonington (behind the ferry dock) is a good option. Park at the Oil company office, where Rt. 15 turns right 90-degrees as it comes into downtown. I think it's $3/day. Only a couple extra miles to get out to Vinalhaven that way, nice short crossings if you go up to Hardhead Island.

I am in the habit of spearing the tops of waves in rough conditions, particularly in beam seas where stability can feel harder to find. More than hitting the crests, I'd say I'm avoiding the troughs. Every forward stroke provides a bit of support, and in rough conditions it's a substitute for bracing - A missed or slipped stroke can be a quick way to capsize in steeper conditions, so by planting strokes in the crests you're ensuring that there's water there to support each stroke. Upwind or downwind I don't pay much attention to where my strokes fall with relation to the crests.

Thank you Doug and Phil!

The 2015 event schedule is now available on the Pinniped Kayak website. From Tidal Currents to expeditions along the Bold Coast - take a look at the trainings and adventures we have planned, and let us know what catches your interest, or if there’s something else you’d like us to offer. Since many of our students travelled quite a distance to paddle with us last season, I’ve made an attempt to cluster classes by skill level, so that those wishing to sample some of the “best-of-the-region” can take part in a handful of classes while visiting. For example between July 6th and 9th I plan to teach Rocks & Ledges, Tidal Currents, and Incident Management, followed by a Journey in the Petit Manan area (puffins!). You’ll find groupings like this throughout the calendar this year to allow you to get the most out of a visit to the area. We have also expanded our Journey series for 2015. These courses-on-the-move provide the opportunity to apply the skills you’ve been working on, and refine them in the context of exploring some stunning paddling destinations in our area. These journeys range in length from single day itineraries to a week-long training expedition along the easternmost coastline of the United States. I hope you all find someplace warm to paddle this winter (whether that’s in the pool, or the tropics) and I look forward to seeing you in the upcoming year, paddling in Downeast Maine. Thanks, Nate Hanson Pinniped Kayak www.pinnipedkayak.com www.facebook.com/pinnipedkayak

I'd certainly recommend it. I've been at both of the previous 2 symposiums, and I think it's been a very well run event. Great paddling locations as well, and a good range of courses for everyone from comfortable beginners to experienced thrill-seekers. The ferry to Yarmouth should make for a convenient trip from Southern New England. Though the drive to the Saint John Ferry isn't bad either.

Sea To Summit "Big River" is durable, flexible, and slippery.

I have this exact same statistics question about my 8-year-old son's pants. They are backwards way more than 50% of the time. If he just isn't paying attention, this number should be 50%, but I think there must be some as yet undiscovered x-factor which is skewing the result disproportionately towards backwards pants.

Some skills are useful even though they're useless. Standing up in the cockpit, kissing your bow and stern, paddling with cross-bow forward strokes, etc. I've decided that everything you do in a kayak makes you better at everything you do in a kayak. Messing about in boats. It's all good.

Interesting to hear that your VHF was so poorly received Suz. I've had good luck talking to the CG and harbormasters around here, and have generally thought that the very tall towers that the CG has positioned along the coast would make very few VHF dark areas around here. One thing to consider is that DSC calling (the digital distress beacon that is a part of GPS-equipped VHFs) has the potential to improve transmission of messages in marginal coverage areas. Might be another reason to consider one of these more-expensive (and larger) VHFs when people have need to replace their existing set. (I too have found that the extra size of the M93 is not noticeable when stowed in the handwarmer pouch of certain vests.) I thought all boats had to have a name... I believe that only "Documented" vessels are required to display their name in certain places on the hull. (This is basically a way of registering your boat with the federal governement instead of with state governments). Documented vessels are identified by their name and port, and therefore don't necessarily display registration numbers outside of the boat (though their documented number must be carved or welded into a visible structural member on the inside of the vessel.) The vast majority of pleasure boats are just registered like a car though, and are only required to display their registration numbers on both sides of the boat in 3" tall numbers.

The Astrals are tough for people with larger feet. I can't fit inside my boats (even fairly large boats like the Delphin 155 with the Brewers or Rasslers. But I have size 13 feet, and I know many other people (even with moderately large feet) who like there Astrals a lot. Nate

Big boats (sailboats, powerboats) use a seasonal application of marine wax (maybe more often in Florida) to protect gelcoat from UV fading. Since 303 will wash off in water, I'd recommend saving that for your rubber parts, and stick with a good marine paste wax to minimize gelcoat fading.

If the blades are rotating independently when stuck together, then something has come unglued inside the ferrule. (Either the tip of the male end that has all the splines on it, or the bit inside the female end that engages those splines.) Werner will fix it for much much less than the cost of a new paddle.

Yes, that's the one. The loop isn't sewn back onto the fabric of the skirt - that's just the way things line up in that photo. (I'd be wary of any grabloop that's sewed through the neoprene in the middle of the deck fabric. I suspect that would tear out fairly quickly. That's why grabloops are generally secured to the bungy or rand instead.) The grabloop has stiff tubing over it to improve the grab-ability. Not a bad skirt. Doesn't fit my narrow sea kayak coamings so great, and I don't like the strap, as mentioned, but it's held up fairly well for me. Fits my whitewater boat better. I'm now using a Seals Shocker 1.3, which is an excellent fit on my sea boats, and just generally seems like a really nicely made product.

I've got an IR skirt with the "implosion strap" or whatever that webbing across the lap should be called, and it has given me a lot more trouble than assistance. Always getting tangled during rescues, scrambles, etc. For those looking for a way to keep the grab loop accessible, Seals has a great, low-profile solution on their Rental skirt. It has those little tabs on the side of the skirt, (referred to above). They run a piece of bungie through the grab-loop, and through loops on either side, near the front of the skirt. This makes it impossible to put the skirt on with the grab loop under the deck.

Congratulations Warren! Your rationale for taking leadership and guide training, despite not planning to work as a professional guide, perfectly reflects my philosophy of the role of leadership in the outdoors. Leadership is not a list of actions one person goes through when leading others through an environment. Leadership is a mindset that every member of a group can be employing silently throughout every adventure. If every paddler employs a leadership mindset (preparation, paddler assessment, risk management, etc.) the whole group is far safer. Kudos to you for biting off big chunks this season! Glad I could be of some help with your successes. (And rumor has it you didn't just pass the exam - you knocked the examiners' socks off!) Nate Pinniped Kayak

The video title might more accurately read "Kayakers paddle gently onto whale's head".

That's a bummer Michael. A couple years ago, my lifeproof developed a pinhole leak in the ear-speaker membrane, and they replaced it pronto. I hope they're not outgrowing good customer service.

Hey Marshall, I've always been curious, how much weight do you you need to lift to raise a kari-tec 3-boat rack system up onto the roof, with boats loaded in it? Thanks, Nate

I've had a look at the new Northwater Dynamic Tow Pro, and it seems to work well. I think it's well designed and the price is great. I could be wrong, but I think Northwater may not be making the Sea Tec Pro (the burrito-bag style tow that's been popular with coaches around here) for retail anymore. So if you're thinking about getting one, you may want to grab the stock that's still in local stores. Nate

Actually Tiderace does have a US Importer and a dealer network. Ryan Rushton at Geneva Kayak Center in Chicago is the man in charge of Tiderace in the US. He imports Tiderace, and distributes the boats to dealers. You can contact him for details about local dealers. (As far as I know, MaineSport is no longer a Tiderace dealer.) For the original poster, Ryan will be travelling through Saint John in September with a trailer full of Tiderace Demos, on his way to the Bay of Fundy Symposium. There will also be demo boats available from Valley. Might be a great opportunity to try out everything you're interested in, (and maybe even pick up a deal on a demo.) For details about the symposium, visit www.bofsks.org. I also have a handful of boats from Valley (Gemini SP, Etain, Aquanaut), for people to use during my classes, and I'm just a couple hours from you. If you'd like to come give one a try, let me know. Nate Hanson Pinniped Kayak www.pinnipedkayak.com

You'll find that this delay of slack current vs. high tide, is not just caused by river current competing with the tidal current - it occurs in large part because all that tidal water that's been pushed up into inlets can't drain back out as fast as the tidal level at the Fort is dropping. This effect is quite noticable even in purely tidal embayments (where there is no fresh water river contributing to the flow), merely because the water can't flow in or out through a constriction, as fast as the tide goes up or down outside of that constriction. The effect is most obvious at someplace like Blue Hill Falls (where the Salt Pond takes almost 2 extra hours to continue filling after local high water passes).

Hey Paddlers, We have a couple excellent multi-day training trips on the schedule this season. Each 3-day trip is a great opportunity to review your navigation, trip-planning, and boat-handling skills, as well as enjoy the amazing, unsettled, and challengling coastal environments of Eastern Maine. Over July 4th weekend, there is a 3-day journey training in the Isle au Haut area, near Stonington, Maine. http://www.pinnipedkayak.com/sea-kayaking-classes-calendar/2014/7/4/sea-kayak-journeying (This course is preceded by a 2-day trip-planning and navigation course, if you wish to get even more out of the experience.) Additionally, in September, we will be venturing further downeast, to the stronger currents and more exposed paddling environment of Jonesport and Machiasport. This 3-day journeying course will cover similar skills, but in a slightly more-demanding environment. http://www.pinnipedkayak.com/sea-kayaking-classes-calendar/2014/9/7/sea-kayak-journey-l3-l4 I'd be happy to discuss these or other opportunities with you. Call me at 207-669-2174, or email pinnipedkayak@gmail.com. To view our schedule of courses for the 2014 season, visit http://www.pinnipedkayak.com/sea-kayaking-classes-calendar/ Hope to see you on the water! Nate Hanson www.pinnipedkayak.com www.facebook.com/pinnipedkayak