josko

Can't make it all the way on one tide. On the ebb, you'll have ~100 yds between the rocks and main (~2 kt peak) current flow, with occasional 'pinch points' at minor headlands - all easy to get through. On the flood, you still have ~100 yds of slackish water, but can ride in the waves for an extra couple knots. Beware the main swell that makes it all the way inshore at slack tides. pm for rmore info if you'd lke. We made if from Cross island to Baileys mistake in one day, followed by an easy run from Bailey's to Lubec.

BIngo - that's what i'm trying to sort out myself. I recently moved from a P&H 'carbon poerformance seat' to an NDK standard seat. Had no back 'n glutes trouble with the former, and now need to find out where there are any adjustments I can make. Specifically, what kind of adjustments can I make to help reduce my glutes/back pain? Any ideas on what I should be lookign for as I adjust my seat/padding/stance?

I've got that same problem on my Ikelos after 2 seasons of use. Guess the Werner ferrule is just not up to snuff.

After lengthy paddles, I'm getting stiffness in my glutes and lower back area. The body just doesn't want to fully straighten out after getting out of the boat. A few minutes' walk is usually enough for it to go away , but I'm wondering if anyone else is experiencing this and what a good fix is. I'm wondering if it's something about my seat or maybe stance. or maybe I'm just paddling longer trips.

We had confirmation of a 7' shortfin mako shark near the Weepeckets yesterday. So, not every shark is a dangerous great white.

Is there any evidence, data or reason to believe this is actually true? That a flexible hull actually reduces drag in seas?

Interesting. Under what conditions would a flexible hull be faster or more seaworthy than a stiff one?

What are the advantages of composite (carbon and/or kevlar) boats over fiberglass? I know they are lighter and harder to repair, but how much of an effect does their additonal stiffness have?

BTW, if anyine wants to see a major cormorant rookery, check out Weepecket islands in Buzzards bay. Hundreds,if not thousands of cormorant chicks are still flightless, the size of chickens, and are busily learning to dive. It's no wonder small sharks are hanging around.

Only 'bout a 7'er.

Just watched a shark snack a cormorant off the surface 200' in front of me.

I humbly confess to having carried a VHF in my misguided past. But I never spoke French on it.

Gave him my group's location and course and got back 'I have you on visual'. That was all I needed to hear.

Time for the white sharks to run away: https://www.facebook.com/capeshores.charters/photos/?tab=album&album_id=513416752183382 Orcas have moved into Chatham. If the link doesn't work, search FB for 'Capeshores charters.)

Ok, Rob, touché. 'Ninja' was over the top. I just got overtired of people with every conceivable piece of techie 'safety' gear that EMS or LLBean can sell them, and not much of a clue of what to do with any of it, nevermind their strokes. I am trying to sort my kit into categories and not bring everything everywhere. And no, I've never made a Securite call in a kayak, but I did have a useful VHF interchange with a tug (and barge) that was bearing down on me once.

Multiple tow belts, VHF's, flashing lights, PFD-mounted Ninja knives, PLBs, SPOT beacons,...

Still thousands of gray seals around the island. Also, striped bass density was greater than I have ever seen. They were potting on a great show herding and savaging schools of sand eels just off the flats. We picked up the ebb current at the cut and rode it down to the tip, catching a ~3 knot ride around. On the gear topic, I routinely see people carryng way too much 'safety' and other equipment they know little what to do with.

Mel and I are doing Woods Hole to Menemsha Saturday. If anyone is up for a 30-miler with a 12 mile downwind/into current surfing run at the end of the day, please let us know, and we'd love you to join us. Pace is prob'ly 4 - 4.5 knots, tides are favorable (~2 knot push all morning), and weather forecast is calling for ~15+ kt SW in the afternoon, making for some nice long downwind surfing runs. Lunch at Larsen's in Menemsha is a classic.

John, FYI, I've attached our Monomoy route (clockwise). Monomoy 061916.pdf

Yeah, thanks folks; It's just that I looked at my 'pile' of stuff, and it struck me that it's waay over the top. It's time for reassesment, and I'm wondering if I should try to sort things into solo, follower and leader mode. Monomoy was spectacular. Since it was an AMC trip, we had a wide range of skills, so had to tow to make schedule in the morning, but were rewarded by a perfect downwind surfing run back from the tip.

While setting out on a solo paddle recently, I started wondering why wear a towbelt, and in general about my expectations for aiding kayakers in trouble. I know USCG says 'one must assist if it is safe to do so', but doubt anyone would quibble with a kayakers statement they did not feel safe towing or actually, offering any assistance. So I stuck my towbelt in the day hatch and left my big 'group kit' ashore. After my attempt at rescue some years back: I've become a bit leery of approaching unknown kayakers who appear to be in trouble. So what do folks do and think about this? Do you set out with a full complement of group gear on a solo paddle?

The questionis whether you can rely on your bracing while a shark is treating your boat like a popsicle.

Kayaking on Cape Cod is dangerous: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/06/how-does-this-shark-town-cope-with-its-summer-visitors-/ Watch the video at the end of this link.

I was a bit surprised to read Blackpool uses chopped glass mat (in combination with glass cloth) for Taran construction. I'd thought chopped mat to be an inferior building method - it certainly is in power and sailboat construction, but I wonder how that applies to kayak. Is there ANY reason other than cost for a kayak maker to choose chopped mat over fiberglass cloth? Or are folks just buying the carbon/vacuum bag versions of Blackpool boats?