rpg51

Thanks Prudence. Hope you are well. I have his number. I am happy to report that i will be retired effective January 3. Not a minute too soon.

I have what I think is a minor gel coat repair job on a P&H Aires. Need to find someone who can do a good job. Its on the white portion of the hull. I don't think it damaged anything but the gelcoat but not 100% sure. Need to be sure that the cloth was not damaged and do whatever repairs are called for. I'm in Vermont but I will travel to get the canoe to a capable person. The kayak is othewise in excellent condition and fairly new.

Absent any other more elegant solutions - I may give this harness a try: https://rickyoungoutdoors.com/basic-ultra-light-bino-harness/

Young persons game.

I frequently carry my waterproof binos around my neck with a fairly short strap while paddling a kayak or canoe. I use them a lot for navigation and to see wildlife etc. I wear one of two pdfs. One is a standard kayaking type pdf vest. The other is one of the minimalist inflatable horseshoe type that sailors often use. It depend on the situation I am in. Warm calm protected water? I use the inflatable. Cold. rough, exposed? Vest. I find that the binos bounce around a lot when using just a strap. Have any of you sorted out a way to use a harness of some sort to hold binos over your pdf, close to your chest and ready for use, without a lot of bouncing around?

A tarp might be a good addition.

Is this still for sale?

i pulled off the braces on this 150. I cut off the saw tooth ends on the back band straps, and looped the remaining strap through the black metal loop/guide that is bolted to the front seat bolts. I used a plastic strap gizmo to form the loop. It works very well. I ordered a replacement set of back band straps with the saw tooth ratchet gizmos so I can put the boat back to stock if I ever sell it or decide to go back to the stock braces (not likely). My wife finds this set up is far more comfortable than the whitewater style thigh grips. Jonathan - I thought you replaced the combing to a Cetus combing in your Aries - no? Anyway, could you post a picture of the thigh brace padding you have in place? I might try to glue some thin padding to boat in the thigh brace area. Not sure.

Thanks for the good advice folks.

That orbit looks nice. I'm not sure my wife would like it, but I'm intrigued. Worth considering for sure. It would be nice to hear from a few paddlers of the female persuasion.

My wife needs a new PFD for sea kayaking and canoeing. She is not interested in tons of pockets etc. She does not carry a lot of gear. One or two pockets is sufficient. She just wants something well made, and comfortable.

Is it possible to remove the white water style thigh grips, and add some simple padding similar to a typical sea kayak? Perhaps attach the back band straps with stainless bolts/washers through the side of plastic seat frame similar to the way my Aries is set up from the factory, with the Cetus style coming and thigh braces.? I'm trying to make the boat a little more roomy in that area for someone moving from rec kayak to sea kayak for the first time. I want to be able to put it back to original in the future, and it seems that should be doable. I am just a little worried about whether the boat will have enough of a thigh grip without the white water grips in place. But, she really does not need a ton of thigh bracing at her level right now anyway, and it seems this would make the entire experience a bit more relaxed for her, which will likely pay dividends down the road. At least that's my theory at the present moment. Edit: after watching this (see link below) I am more convinced that she does not need thigh bracing at all right now - maybe down the road, but not yet. Agree? Comfort v. Aggressive Bracing for new sea kayak paddler just starting out. Rob G.

Thanks. I'm thinking of zip tying my foam blocks to my crossbars and I'll try these ideas out. Sounds like we are struggling with the exact same issues. I've been carrying a small step stool which helps when tying off etc. I keep looking at trailers. But, the good ones are very expensive and they are a PIA when parking and to store etc. Plus, you have deal with registration and insurance, keeping the lights working, poor visibility, etc. I really don't want to go that route if I can avoid it. The title of this thread should be changed to "Geriatric Car Topping Woes."

I like it! I'll give it a try tomorrow. Maybe lay a towel over each bed rail, push the boat on the rails, climb in the bed and lift it onto the rack. Sounds like a darn good idea to me. Thanks. Have you figured out a way to attach the foam blocks to the rack cross bars so they stay put if you slide the kayak on them?

After a life time of car topping and truck topping with every configuration known to man I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that unless I come up with another way I am going to have to start using a trailer in my old age. I don't want to do it. Trailers are a PIA to store and futz around with. I like to use my full size pick up for trips for a whole host of reasons. My habit now is to clamp two "Spring Creek" racks on the open bad and I use simple shaped foam blocks on the cross bars. It works well. But, I am really struggling to get my boats up on the racks. Especially when I am alone, but lately even when my wife is along to help. Given how high the rack is, I think my only option is to find a way to load from behind, placing the bow up on the rear rack with the stern on a pad on the ground. Then lift rear and push the kayak up onto both racks. I can barely reach the bottom of the hull when it is up on the racks, but I would not be opposed to using a small step stool as long as I don't have to have the full weight of the boat while standing on the step. Is there a cradle, saddle, or similar item that will enable the kayak to slide easily as I push it along? Any good ideas? Is there a way to slide it up on some sort of cradles without destroying the hull? I am using composite boats so some care needs to be taken not to destroy the hull.