rfolster

42 minutes ago, Brian McCormack said:

Thanks for all the responses, especially about how just one parameter can push the trip up a notch.  

I would like to stress that all too often paddlers try to pigeonhole their skills into one of these levels, but that doesn't really work.  Because paddlers tend to continually improve different skills over time, they may not necessarily line up with the chart.  If someone has done a lot of lake and river paddling to a point where they can easily paddle more than 6 miles, maintaining a 3-knot speed in winds of 10 knots or more, doesn't automatically make them a Level 2 paddler because they haven't experienced waves over 1'.  That just means they need to approach a Level 3 trip with honest caution about their abilities and make sure the organizer and group are comfortable with them being on the trip.  After all, the only way we really learn and improve is to push beyond our current experience levels.

1 hour ago, alcoons said:

Suggestion, it would be very helpful in a refresher on radio use to include the limitations of the use of radios from kayaks, particularly how the limitations may apply to our typical environments.

Are you talking about functional limitations or legal limitations?

51 minutes ago, Pintail said:

Recognize this quote: <click on the STORE tap, and then select MANAGE PURCHASES. In there, you should be able to find your annual membership and renew. Using PayPal is the fastest way to get your membership renewed>?

I actually don't recognize that quote - can you tell me where it is located so that I can provide the membership@nspn.org email to it?

Parks and recreation confirmed that they plan to have picnic benches under the pavilion.  We typically leave the cars at Riverhead while we go over to eat, but if you decide to drive over, parking is $20 cash.

The Annual Solstice Paddle Returns!!

Date: Saturday June 19th, 2021
Location: Probably Riverhead Beach, Marblehead (across street from Devereux Beach on the Marblehead neck) - watch for updates!!!
Time: Ready to launch 9:30am, back for potluck by 4:00pm

Trips: We typically have a large group that breaks into separate pods based on experience and goals for the day.  Based on a cooperative group concept, trips will not have assigned leaders, but instead will call on the skills and leadership within each group as needed or designated.  The shortest and easiest trip will be a Level 2 group (along with experienced leaders), a moderate trip will be Level 3, and the most ambitious group will be Level 4.  The actual trip parameters will be based on weather, sea conditions, and participants, so breakout discussions will occur as information becomes available.

PPPO: Tradition calls for a Post-Paddle-Pig-Out, where we all meet for a pot-luck gathering and share tales of the day,  catch up with those we haven't seen lately, and make new friends.  Although we have usually held the paddling trip out of Riverhead Beach, then crossed the street to picnic benches at Devereux, the benches were removed last year and parking severely restricted, both physically and financially.  I am waiting for the Parks & Recreation department to provide an update, and a reconsideration of this location may be necessary - please stay tuned.

Requirements: Please note that this is a sea kayaking trip, so boats appropriate for the ocean are required.  I loosely define this as a boat with integral flotation front and rear (or added for skin-on-frame kayaks), deck lines around the majority of the perimeter, and cockpit coaming that accepts a spray skirt.  PFD's are required, as well as appropriate safety gear for your level of experience.  If you are unsure about your equipment or experience, feel free to reach out on the forum or directly to me for answers.

Participants: This trip is open to all active NSPN members (please email membership@nspn.org if you have any issues), regardless of experience.  Please be honest with your trip level selection, and be prepared for a possible adjustment based on group makeup.  If you are unsure about what trip level to list, don't hesitate to ask.

Registration: Please POST TO THIS THREAD if you plan to attend, and indicate what trip level you might be interested, with the understanding that you are not committing to a particular trip, but just gives us an idea of what the general size of the different groups might look like.  Any additional information about what you might like to get out of the day could also help us determine pod designations as well.  also, if you would like to share what you might bring to the pot luck, that is always nice, too.

If anyone would like to volunteer to help out with this workshop, please get in touch with me via PM or email ntskw@nspn.org.  Here are some examples:

• Bringing boats, gear, or clothing to be used for examples and demonstrations
• Presenting one or more topics to the group (we can help first-time demonstrators if you want to try)
• Participating in break-out question-and-answer sessions (good stepping point for future presenters)
• Help with setup beforehand & packing up afterwards

It really does depend on what their ambitions and goals are (even if short term).  Recreational kayaks are attractive because they are easy, and if the goal is to occasionally spend an hour or so messing about a local pond or stream, then that's fine   The more you venture towards a longer/narrower boat, the greater the learning curve.  Nothing wrong with that either, just don't want to steer someone into a boat that will frustrate them enough to not want to kayak again.

I am sure there will be a flood of opinions on what models make "good starter boats".  What might be a good starter boat (or second boat, or advanced boat) for one person, might not be that good for another, so instead of naming boats, I prefer concepts.  Wider is easier to get in and out, but slower to paddle.  Shorter is easier to turn, but harder to go straight.  More rocker makes a longer boat seem shorter, so see last comment.  Rudders may seem to make boats easier to steer, and actually do, but sacrifice true maneuverability as well as some ergonomics (depending on the control mechanism).  Skegs are not as effective as rudders, as well as not intuitive, but less prone to mechanical failure, and allow for more solid foot placement.

We hope to have the New To Sea Kayak Workshop announced soon, at which we will go over different boat types and styles, among other things.  It is a really good opportunity for those looking to get started in kayaking, or for transitioning into sea kayaking.

9 hours ago, Brian McCormack said:

 Is there an standard level definition?

There is no one standard "Level Definition", however standards have developed across the industry over time.  American Canoe Association and British Canoeing have had the most influence by developing a set of progressive programs based on both skill and conditions.  Most everyone has either copied or averaged the two sets of criteria to come up with a list of level definitions, including NSPN.

I agree with Mike that this is a US chart, not UK.  What I find most intriguing about it is the Pace is in MPH, not knots.  Not a true giveaway as to where it came from, but definitely a clue.

On 5/2/2021 at 2:27 PM, Brian Nystrom said:

Does anyone else find this new Captcha really annoying?

I am not aware of any Captcha, so would be very interested to understand where you ran into one.  Please comment here or email membership@nspn.org

Heather, as you can see, opinions and suggestions run a wide range, so let me try to give you a few different things to think about to either help or hinder!  Grab a snack and a drink, it's a long one!!! 

Your current boat is stable, but slow.  This is a common combination, and you should understand that, for the most part, a faster boat will be less stable than you are used to.  However, with a little bit of practice and patience, you should get used to it.  Therefore, when demoing boats, don't let any feelings of twitchiness or instability affect your decisions too much.  This is just a natural step of the development process as a paddler.

You have done a lot of overnight camping trips already (assuming in the Sedna?), so any boat with an equal or larger storage capacity will suffice for continuing overnight trips.  If you are looking to more extended trips, the only extra room you might need is for the additional food, water, and maybe an extra change of clothing.  That will not take up much additional room compared to the amount of gear that is always needed for ANY camping trip, whether it is for one night or many.  Even just an upgrade to a more packable tent or sleeping bag can offset the additional space needed.  Generally speaking, going to a 16+' boat from your current 15' will probably have more storage space.

You are looking for a boat that is "pretty fast" - but to the people on this forum, that can mean many different things.  Are you just comparing to the Sedna, which is probably making it hard to keep up with other paddlers, or do you want to really cover some miles!!  If you are just looking to go faster than the Sedna, then most any longer and/or narrower sea kayak will suffice.  There is also differences in hull configurations that can get pretty technical, but basically a boat with a greater taper from the bow to the cockpit should be faster.  Boats with vertical or "plumb" bow (think butter knife front) like many of the Rockpool boats, will really slice through the water and be a very fast boat, but with that high speed comes some sacrifice of maneuverability.  Some might argue this, and say they can maneuver their boats just fine, but it is basic boat design physics.

You ask for a boat that is "pretty stable", but that again is perception.  If you want a boat faster than the Sedna, it will be less stable.  The question you need to ask yourself is, how much less stability are you willing to work with in order to get the speed you want?  As I said before, you should be able to get used to it, but it is just a matter of how much effort and time you want to put it.

Ruddered boats is a big area of controversy.  Many sea kayakers view boats with rudders as "cheater" boats, or for the less-experienced paddlers.  That is, until you get into specialized boats like surf skis, then rudders are ok?  My thoughts about rudders (and skegs) are that they are a tool.  Period.  Different tools have different uses.  Boats with rudders generally need them to turn because their design does not lend towards turning the boat just by leaning or "edging".  I would suggest you look further into what the differences are, how each work and why.  Then make a decision on whether or not you want to stick with a rudder.  My only advise is,, don't just stick with something because you are used to it.

I will combine the ruggedness (dragging over rocks) with weight, as it is a mixed conversation.  Basically, plastic is most rugged (nearly indestructible aside from warping), and typically heaviest (although can be similar weight to some "expedition" fiberglass boats with additional coats of glass and resin).  Carbon fiber is stiff, but brittle and challenging to repair, but also the lightest.  Fiberglass is most common, being a little lighter (in general) to plastic, a little flexible (but can develop cosmetic spider cracks), and relatively easy to repair.

I don't recommend plastic because of the weight and speed (sorry everyone, but I believe that, taking direct comparisons, plastic is slower than fiberglass or carbon).  I would also be against carbon fiber for you because you don't want to be dragging that over rocks.  One option is to get a "50/50" which has fiberglass bottom and carbon fiber top, but that is typically a custom-ordered boat and might be hard to come by right now.  I don't think you will go wrong with an all fiberglass boat.

Overall, I think your budget is fine, unless you start looking at brand new custom-built 50/50s or expedition layups.  Other options like custom colors, sparkles, or a select number of manufacturers can add to the expense.  Buying a used boat has the advantage of getting something that you can easily sell again if it just doesn't work out for you, typically near the same value you paid, or at least for less than the cost of renting a couple of times.  You can always opt to sell and buy a new version if you fall in love with the model.

Sorry this is so long, but hopefully it was a little educational.  Don't be afraid to continue reaching out to the club for help.  Many people have been willing (at least pre-pandemic, and probably will soon again) to let others try out boats to get a feel for them, so it never hurts to at least ask.  This is especially true if someone might be thinking of selling their current boat.

1 hour ago, spider said:

Just reactivated my membership (if I did it correctly) after letting it lag for a few years.

Welcome back!!  Just so you know, as a Guest you are welcome to post to the General Message Board, and Classifieds forums, as well as view the Trips and Trip Reports Forums, but won't be able to post to them or use the Private Message system.  If you would like to reactivate your full membership ($15 for twelve months), please let me know by posting here or send an email to membership@nspn.org and I will have the system generate a renewal email for you to.

On 4/19/2021 at 1:52 AM, NeXterior said:

 Hi! Is it better to use tiedown straps for kayak?

I want to make sure that we are getting terminology and concepts right.  What exactly do you mean by "tiedown" straps?  You definitely need straps to hold a kayak to whatever transport system you are incorporating, whether it is foam blocks, j-bars, cradle feet, etc.  If you are asking about whether or not to use a bed-rack with mounting system vs just laying the boat on the cab roof and tail gate using only straps and padding, you are better off with the bed-rack since you put less stress on the boat and the truck and it is more secure.

You will want something to protect the boat from the bars, since two hard objects against each other will cause damage to the softer object (your boat!).  J-hook support systems are popular, but since they hold the boat on its side, they create the highest overall height, and not ideal for taller vehicles like your truck/rack.  Cradle-style feet (like on the car in the above pictures) will support the boat well, and can be used on your truck rack.  The only downside is that they hold the boat top-side up, and so the bow and stern will create high points to be aware of.  This is also true with the foam blocks (seen on the truck), but they tend to be less expensive than the cradle feet and less bar-shape specific (round / square / oval).  I have even seen "pool noodles" put over rack bars as a cushion, but keep in mind that they are not made for that purpose, and so effetiveness and lifespan will need to be taken into consideration.

If you are able to manage it, mounting the boats upside down (as mbhazeltine) suggested using foam blocks on the bed-rack will offer the lowest overall height.  The boat topsides are also flatter than the bottom sides, so you get more support upside down than right side up.  What you need to watch out for is that the bow of the boats may curve down enough to hit the cab of the truck, which would be bad.  You would need a tall enough rack to prevent that from happening.

Hopefully this will help you understand that the actual truck bed rack you choose, whether it is the Bakflip CS carrier or some other brand of rack, doesn't matter as much as what mounting system you want to secure the boats to the rack.  You should consider that first, and then decide if the rack you want will work with it.

Short answer.... Yes.

Walden Pond sessions have struggled in the past years due to overcrowding of the parking lot, so those sessions tend to be more sporadic, but still a long-time favorite due to its location and history.  Chebacco Lake sessions typically start mid-May to early June, depending on weather and water temperatures.  There are occasional algae blooms to keep us away, but tends to be rare.  There have also been some salt-water-based practice sessions held around the Portsmouth area (if I remember correctly), which has lot's of sheltered water to play in, as well as opportunities to explore open water.

I don't see any overwhelming reasons why these sessions couldn't run again this summer, albeit there will be the potential conundrum of vaccinated and unvaccinated people commingling together, so I would expect social distancing protocols to remain in effect at least into the summer.  My recommendations would be to keep an eye on the Trips forum as well as the calendar for posted sessions as they get scheduled.

Dan, I took the liberty of changing the title of the post to reflect your change of plans.  I hope that is OK.

Quite a paddle, Andy!  The "relive" video-map thing is pretty cool.

Sent you an email just now, so you can follow up with me through that.

17 hours ago, alcoons said:

I do wonder if the "returning from a lower-risk state" criteria of the exemptions fits

[https://www.mass.gov/forms/massachusetts-travel-form]

but which metric is that measured by?

The current list of COVID-19 lower-risk states and territories includes: 

On 2/14/2021 at 12:47 PM, Jim Snyder said:

A member just texted me that they're having tech difficulties responding to this thread.

Could be a membership issue, since non-members can read the trips forum, but not respond.  If you want to PM the member name to me, I can have a look into it.

i believe Rick Crangle has done this.  Might be worth reaching out to him.

On 1/31/2021 at 10:59 AM, EEL said:

So why would it not be easier to deduct two hours from the Eastport tides?  Or have I totally mangled the times?

I think it comes down to who is creating the tide predictions.  NOAA does not have any predictions for the Narrows, but Canada does, probably because it is part of the greater Canadian waterways of Passamaquoddy & Fundy.  Since St. John is the closest major port, all tide predictions are based on that.  Another indicator of this is to look at the chart depths.  Most NOAA charts are in feet, but the couple of that include Canadian waters have soundings in Meters.  Want to guess where they might be getting the bulk of their chart data from?

Just got an email from Snapdragon confirming that they have shut down.  They are hoping to partner with another manufacturer, but nothing firm yet.  Let's hope that they can, so don't count them out just yet.

Alex, there was an issue with your automatic renewal not being applied. I will let tech support know to fix it, but in the meantime, I have given you the access you need to use the forums. 

Joe, you have come a long way from that cold and windy morning on Devereaux Beach not so long ago.  I know that you have worked hard for it - Good job!!