prudenceb

I'll be there on Wednesday -

prudence

Les - I've managed to misplace (aka lose) the contact info that you gave me on Wed. Assuming the trip will be on, could you either email me at:

prubax@aol.com or leave contact info on this thread so we can arrange either going up together or in convoy. Thanks! I'm looking forward -

prudence

Hi Prudence,

I call Walden before I make the effort to see if it is closed and when they will open again. I have had no trouble at 5 even on hot days like today. A word of caution, if they state they are going to open again at a certain time--get there at that time. I understand your reluctance given today's temp.

Les

Do you perchance have the Walden phone number you use?

I would definitely like to get upside down this evening!

So it's going to be a gazillion degrees today and everyone on earth will be wanting to get cool. Any thoughts of likelihood of parking being shut down at Walden at 5ish this afternoon because of crowds? I generally go in the morning when it isn't an issue. Would hate to go through hassle of getting boat on car, getting gear etc, driving a half hour and then finding I can't get in!

prudence

judging by all the impressive photos I've been seeing on posts of nspn members up to their heads in rough surf, I think earl should be just another day at the beach for y'all...

prudence

I'm interested in thinking about it - If I make it to Walden on Wednesday, perhaps I could find out more about it and decide then - earl willing, of course...

prudence

This Wednesday join a motley crew of kayakers for a skill session at Walden.

All welcome,

Arriving between 5 and 5:30 pm--we paddle to the farthest end of the pond and practice until they call us out, usually around 7:30 pm.

After 5:00: free admission.

If there is rain, this practice session is cancelled.

Hope to join this "motley crew" on Wed for the first time if work schedule allows!

prudence

Love silly questions and cool kayak decals. Might I ask where you found the latter. I have a carbon/kevlar avocet and have every hope that they would stick to that!

prudence

It sounds like an installation error to me. Pru, try to get a third compass from somewhere -- whether hand-held or on another kayak -- and use that one to tell you which to trust; <then> adjust the installation by moving the lubberline (white marker that coincides with your heading) of the apparently-erratic compass. While you are at it: check the lubberlines of both boats by holding a string from bow to stern and make sure of alignment.

Declination should not be any problem -- and certainly not deviation, since we only paddle few miles at a time. I do not believe these compasses are adjustable internally: they are <fairly> elementary devices, that is.

Good luck!

Oh, last-minute thought: take both boats to Mr. Nystrom! He'll get yer right!

Thanks - if it comes to that, how do I get both boats to Mr. Nystrom? Mr. Nystrom, how do I find you?! (other than in your response above, that is) - prudence

IMO, Ernie's last paragraph is the most likely answer - you don't have to move your bow very much to get a 10 degree difference. A 5 KT wind with a little chop can easily do it. When you and your friend were comparing headings were you lined up one behind the other, or side by side? If you were side by side, a 10 degree difference doesn't surprise me.

I'm not saying you shouldn't check the other things people suggested - they're all good ideas from experienced paddlers. But if you can't pin down a hardware reason for this, don't be surprised. There might not be one. There's only so much accuracy you can expect in a human-powered craft.

Kevin

We tried it different ways - lined up, side by side, on land on sea - all 10 degrees difference. So I'll search for a hardware answer - or else do what we did - one of us always just subtracted 10 degrees and we ended up going the same way!

Wow! Quick responses first thing the morning!

Yes, both are good Brunton compasses, installled, not bungeed, in the boat. I'll take a look at the directions you link me to, and will look at those lubber lines and see if that's the issue.

Thanks - prudence

A friend and I were paddling for the first time together. Both of us have compasses on our boats. We found that the two were consistently giving readings 10 degrees apart. We checked to make sure neither of us had anything metal near our compass that might be affecting the reading. We didn't; the compasses stayed 10 degrees apart when both boats were totally empty. We didn't have a handheld to see which compass was reading correctly.

Assuming that we figure that out, what to do with the compass reading inaccurately? Is it an installation problem (both were installed by experts)? A compass problem? How can we fix it?

Any advice appreciated.

prudence

wish I could be there, but unfortunately (not!) will be up at Acadia, perhaps finding a past full moon there - prudence

I've been going to Walden early in the morning some wknds - say 7:00-7:30 am. No parking hassles and other than bumping into all the long distance swimmers, it's pretty calm and beautiful for practicing rolls. I'll likely be out one or both mornings this wknd - 7/24-25 (unless someone posts another north shore trip for this wknd) and would welcome any company

prudence

valley avocet day glo orange/white

No personal knowledge of Winter Harbor area.

Dorcas Miller's "Kayaking the Maine Coast" has some info about that area including islands to visit.

Mel and Mark at Carpe Diem Kayaking in Bar Harbor are very nice and knowledgeable folks. I'm sure they would have good suggestions. You could do a great deal worse that paddling with either for a bit to get a feel for the area and to broaden your friend's knowledge and skill.

Might be worthwhile to see what these folks have to say.

http://mdipaddlers.wordpress.com/

Ed Lawson

Thanks - I have the book and will also try the folks at Carpe Diem - prudence

I'm going to be up in Maine in the beginning of August with a friend who's pretty new to kayaking. Can anyone suggest any nice and calm places to paddle in the Schoodic/Winter Harbor area, including where put in's can be found. Island destinations would be nice! Thanks for any advice -

prudence

I'll be there

prudence

valley avocet orange/white

I'd be interested in either day. I'm new to the network and this would be my first trip. I understand you want the following info since you don't know me:

Name: prudence baxter

boat: Valley avocet orange/white

how to contact me: prubax@aol.com; 617-661-6399

paddling experience: MIKCo rough water symposium this year is most recent class