cfolster

Indeed, Gene is correct. My first (and current) boat is a composite and it has never been damaged by another boat from any activity, other than minor color transfer scuffs - which come out nicely by the way with Mr. Clean Magic Eraser used carefully and sparingly. The only repair I've had to do comes from rocks - but as Pintail wrote, gelcoat repair is quite easy and was a nice feather in my cap when I figured out how to do it from the helpful posts on this site! So think about whether the thrill of playing in rocks is in your future, but most importantly, get your butt into the boats you're considering and test them first.

Todd, Here's what I know: The Piscataqua river feeds Great Bay and has one of the fastest currents in North America. There are areas like around Fox point that it reaches 4 knots or more. If you put in at Adams's Point, there can still be current there because the point narrows the opening. Stay south of the point in the open water. If you go North and up around into the Piscataqua, expect very fast moving (fastest on Ebb) of 4 knots or more gradually decreasing to the mid 2 knots by the time you exit into the ocean. Lots of tricky spots and major shipping channel . . . Odiorne is a nice put-in, but you're right, it's a mudflat at low tide. There's a small lot on the south side for a few cars - be sure your car is well up by the road, or it will be under water when you return at high tide. The formal parking lot across the street is much larger and not subject to flooding. Great access to Portsmouth Inner Harbor which is very nice to explore, gives you access to go out and peak at the ocean between the jetties at Odiorne Point and Fort Stark to see if conditions are good. Also good access to sample the lower portion of the Piscataqua and/or circumnagivate New Castle Island. Hampton Harbor is a nice put in with a great parking lot. As you can see from a chart there's a HUGE tidal marsh area to the west of the bridge between Hampton and SEabrook. Due to the size of that marsh and the small opening under that bridge, the current there and out to the ocean is significant and you can get lots of chop and big standing waves. Best to time it to go out and in with the current. Be careful exploring the marsh area, being aware of the tides, or you'll be sitting in mud and it's very easy to get lost in the twists and turns out there. When the warm weather comes, theres a Wednesday night surf session at Hampton Harbor (kayak surfing). Please do look into a dry suit rental until you get one. We're already at the point up here where water temps require that cold shock protection. Happy paddling!

I will add sun glare. I know, wear sunglasses; but I find that even with them on when the sun is at a low angle, the glare can make it quite difficult to 'read' the water ahead of you. I know it just makes me want to put my head down and paddle, which is the worst thing in conditions.

Thanks - just added the book to my Christmas wish list!

We're planning our December camping trip to a MITA Island in the Sheepscot River and are considering a conservative day trip in the area. Looking for any info on Townsend Gut west of Boothbay harbor at the Northeast edge of Southport Island. It looks quite narrow near juniper point and a little twisty on the map and just wanted to know what the currents are like at ebb and flow. I've seen a number of folks mention it in trip reports without remark, so I'm hoping it is not remarkable . . . Thanks!

It was in Halifax. It's Teddy the Tugboat, a Canadian cartoon character. The tugboats were made to go on a tour and now reside in Halifax as tour boats.

Indeed it was kind of a starting point, as I've never looked at wind chill data before. I think there's a whole swath of that table that should say, "What are you nuts, why are you out here?" but that wouldn't be accounting for the beauty and silence of a winter landscape with the mist rising off the warm water in the cold air in the early light of dawn.

I will bring 1 Appetizer and 1 dessert.

After the cold water clinic and as I've been preparing to join the crazies (Robert and Warren) on a camping trip in December, I found this wind chill chart from NOAA that I found helpful to put the risks in perspective and to know what I'm facing at any combination of wind/temperature. Hope you find it helpful . . . link here . . . http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/windchill/

Great picture for the holiday party slide show!

Oops, I thought I was being funny by putting my sarcastic post in the same 'broken' style.

No it looks fine to me [smiley] [smiley]

Never boring Leon! You do the most to keep this board interesting. I'm waiting on pins and needles to hear the answer, but I also wonder why more folks are not attempting to answer . . . this is fun!

Leon, Since I'm bored and you put this out there for all to answer, I'm going to attempt it simply using logic. You will be able to sprint at 6 knots in the new kayak, because if you were able to overcome the drag in the old kayak at get it up to 5 knots, you will be able to overcome the same amount of drag in the new kayak and get it to it's max speed of 6 knots. Now I'll let those who are better at math and have actually done velocity calculations answer correctly. Cathy

She should find a later, more developed hominin to help her reduce the size of the image. I'm happy to help if she wants to send it to cathyfolster @ gmail dottie com or PM it to me if they allow an attachment of that size.

No smugness assumed! Yes, it is not nearly as efficacious, but it was still fun to try all methods, including edging, as there were simply so many opportunities to do so with different shaped curves, differing winds and current. I did find that edging was the most efficacious of the three, but even that needed a bit of help from a bow rudder in some cases with the wind determined to push me in an unintended direction (yes, guilty, I could probably have leaned farther).

It was indeed a great place to practice not only the bow rudder, but the stern rudder as well! I still hit the side a couple times though :-)

Ha!! Nearly spit out my lunch laughing! (bearded recluse's wife)

I would like to join and would be interested in circumnav or creek return, whatever the group and mother nature decides.

Thanks Nate and Barb! Yes, we will be there Sunday - see you then - with blue bags!

We will be up in Nova Scotia starting next week and may have some time to get out on the water. Can anyone recommend an outfitter for any of the following towns/areas: Halifax, Gaspesie/Perce, Charlottetown, La Baie, Quebec City We'd really like to kayak out to Perce rock, but would need to find the right outfitter and see if we have enough time for the trip and if the tides are right. Thanks! Cathy and Robert

Big frowny face, we were looking forward to one more! See you next year . . .

The colder, the better. That's 1/2 the reason I haven't been on the last couple trips!

Good topic for the upcoming Annual Meeting - what does the charter look like in action - are people happy with the amount of safety and other education being done by NSPN?

I can say the paddle is quite secure under my decklines (and bungies - I wonder if that helps?), but again, not tested by waves. Sounds like I need to get out in some waves and give it a try!! This week on the lake however will be attempting the back deck roll . . . report to come on that too.