ejwilliams

I use a women's NRS Siren PFD now. I really like it's simplicity and comfort, no zipper, and it's easy to adjust (including shoulder/height adjustment) and non-restrictive for paddling. It does seem well made. Has useful pocket accessed from both sides. Only complaint is knife attachment is in awkward position. After having old Lotus Designs Lola for many, many years, I tried the new one and it wasn't the same, much stiffer and fit was off.

Thanks Joe for organizing this trip. It was a lovely day out there with a great group to paddle with. Enjoy your time up North. Elizabeth

I have wanted to join these trips since summer began. I do plan to join you in Marblehead tomorrow for this one. My paddling this summer has been on the river, and its way past time to dust off the big red boat. Elizabeth

I visited some friends in Gloucester yesterday and they told me that greenheads have been particularly bad this year out on the Annisquam and other marshy areas around there

Bob and I went last year to the NH location. It was fun.

I am signed up for pool sessions on 3/9 and 3/24, but not 3/16. Elizabeth

Great offer, I would definitely be interested. I must admit I have lost my roll. I also was hoping I could unlearn a C-to-C and learn how to do a Sweep roll instead. My offside is also history. What pool session(s) should I sign up for? I was about to sign up for this Sunday and could also sign up for other dates. Thanks, Elizabeth

Congratulations to Rob! Congratulations to Kevin and Jeff too. Impressive accomplishment.

Bob and I would like to join you, we have been paddling on the river this summer, and would love to get out in the big boats around Rockport. Will send you our float plan info in case you don't still have it.

Rit makes a dye now for synthetic material -- this might work? I have limited experience dyeing cotton things but not nylon. Black can be hard to achieve -- I often get some blotchy shade of gray when item is all rinsed and dried. General dyeing suggestions would be to follow instructions carefully, use the hottest water you can, and be careful not to dye other things (like hands, sink, etc.) that you didn't intend (these things seem to take the dye the best). Good Luck!

In my opinion, It is always a good idea to tie a bow line from a secure attachment point in the front of your car to the front of your boat, just for insurance, in case there is any kind of loosening or failure of your rack or straps. I am extra safety conscious and always do this, even with my short WW boat. It can prevent a boat from flying off the car and causing serious trouble. You can use a length of good quality rope and a trucker's hitch. I buy rope by the foot from REI. Once a friend narrowly missed losing her sea kayak on the Maine turnpike because she had a bow line on it. Also, maybe you know this, but with a fiberglass or fiberglass/kevlar boat it is important not to pull the straps too tight, you can possibly damage the boat. A good way to tell if the boat is tight enough is if you can shake the car a little by shaking the boat. I would skip the extra foam, might interfere with the boat sitting snugly in the saddle mounts. Have fun with your new sea kayak! Elizabeth

Bob and I would like to join you. Sending PM with float plan info.

Beautiful to watch. Hope everyone is safe. Thanks for sharing this.

Congratulations! Very cool.

Prudence, I really appreciate your generosity and honesty (and photography skills) in sharing this amazing adventure. I enjoyed taking extended time to read every word and look carefully at every photograph, trying to imagine the experience. I loved seeing the changing light, water, rocks (loved the stripey ones) and icebergs, as well as the mountains, camping spots (that fox is so cute) and villages. Who knew icebergs could be so varied and beautiful? It was helpful to me that you shared about worries and bad days as well as the good. This trip report was good for my soul, I can't imagine what it was like to be there. Elizabeth Williams

I agree that looks really cool. I am impressed.

Sorry I can't help with information about repair of a Snap Dragon skirt, but if this is of any help, in my experience, spray skirts do not age well. Old neoprene can start to leak, and old nylon and rubber can get crunchy and brittle, which makes it difficult to sew without further ripping. So you may be better off looking into replacement rather than repair.

That's so cool. I hope the loon gets what he or she needs to be healthy and safe there.

I wanted to confirm that I RSVP'ed on the Calendar listing, but my husband Bob and daughter Abby are also coming, both experienced in sea kayaks. Bob and I were hoping for a experienced but still really out of shape for this time of year type trip, so if you need people to go along on a beginner trip to be helpful if needed, we could do that. He has a tow line. Also, would anyone be bringing a grill that we could throw some vegan hotdogs on, if possible? Thanks, Elizabeth Williams

I am so sorry about the accident Janice, and glad that you were not badly hurt. I hope you heal quickly, please take good care of yourself. You probably know this, but even if your current Thule rack doesn't fit the new car you want, you can re-use the bars and buy new towers. The Thule website can give you the part number for car year,make and model and which type of cross bar. EMS (and REI) were having a 20% off deal so I just picked up new towers to fit a pair of old cross bars onto my daughter's Honda CRV. Her CRV has built in attachment points for the towers for a very secure set-up, however you cannot adjust the distance between the bars.

I was just going to post this: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/02/video-seal-kayak-wildlife-encounter/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_content=link_fb20170216news-sealkayak&utm_campaign=Content&sf56597128=1

This seems like a good article: http://www.paddlinglight.com/articles/how-to-adjust-a-sea-kayak/

Even with too much inactivity and not getting any younger, I have found that small adjustments with outfitting can make a big difference for me. In my whitewater kayaks, slight adjustments with hip pads, backband, height of front of seat, thigh braces, and footpegs or bulkhead make the difference between being stiff and sore, struggling to even get out of my boat, to being comfortable all day. Lots of paddlers can jump in any boat and they are fine, but I need my boats to fit me well. Bob put small minicell foam blocks in his Caribou positioned under his upper calves and found this prevents lower back pain for him. Looks weird and not sure why it works, but it really helps him. Before he taped them down, he had them loose in his boat and tried different positions, and adjusting the shape and size to see what worked best, then taped them down.

Good cause and great video, thanks for posting this and to those who contributed. "...listening to the ancient conversation between the water and the stone..."

Bob and I would also like to say thank you to John Huth for sharing his time and knowledge. We agree that this was an incredibly interesting and helpful presentation. Elizabeth Williams and Bob Taylor