josko

FWIW, it was my sheath clip that rusted out, not the knife. NRS admitted they make two grades of knife, for salt and fresh water, but only one grade of sheath. I did keep that knife sharp and oiled, but the quality of steel was pathetic.

Can you open oysters with that one? Best feature of the NRS pilot. (I do carry a smooth-edge Spyderco in my day hatch.) Actually, I need a knife mostly because people seem to expect their kayak leaders to be rigged like Ninja warriors.

What's the deal with the NRS 'Titanium' knife? I ask because titanium doesn't really hold an edge and is not a reasonable knife blank material. Is it made out of some uber-stainless steel alloy? Do they also upgrade the spring clip material over the 'pilot'? I ask because the spring clip on my NRS co-pilot finally disintegrated over the winter and I need a new knife.

There are important differences in how SPOT vs PLB/SOLAS search and rescues (SAR) are conducted. For instance, in the Bahamas, (and most likely everywhere, but I saw it in the Bahamas) the USCG has PLB equipment installed in their choppers. Before a recent paddling trip, I stopped by the USCG base on Andros with SAR questions. They wanted to see my PLB, copied down the pertinent info, and were nice enough to give me a little tour: base dispatcher has a screen (monitored 24/7) where a PLB signal is automatically geolocated, and initiates a required false-alarm reduction procedure. Once that procedure is completed, information is downloaded to a SH-60 helo which has automatic PLB DF/locating equipment and can essentially fly straight to it and land on it. Delay time is dominated by the false-alarm reduction procedure. My showing up at the base with PLB and float plan was sufficient to bypass false-alarm reduction procedure. I got essentially the same story from the Canadian Coast Guard and SAR team in Nain, Labrador. They had PLB SAR equipment there, rescues (and false alarm responses) are paid for by the Canadian government.(although I was warned they reserve the right to prosecute deliberate frauds). They copied down our PLB info, took our float plan, and told us that was sufficient to bypass the false-alarm reduction process. They could activate a SAR mission within seconds of our PLB going off. Both places told me of woes they've had with SPOT SAR activation. According to them, it's coordinated by a for-profit center in the US, which can dispatch both private and Government assets. Both told me of rescue victims being handed six-figure bills!. A SPOT beacon purchase includes insurance against rescue costs. It is VERY IMPORTANT to read the fine print on that insurance to find out just who in your party is covered and what the prior relationship between the owner and victim is! I understand things have gotten better in recent years, but there are plenty of expensive anecdotal tales out there. Finally, PLB's are a part of SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) and are intended for maritime coverage. I understand things run quite differently away from oceans and open water. Great lakes may be fine, but I'd research just what the response might be on a remote inland river, for instance. SPOT is intended for inland rescue. What I wrote above may not apply to inland areas.

Did anybody see the dawn today in Nantucket sound? About as red as I've ever seen it. Clear sky in the east, and overrunning stratus clouds somehow created a red waveguide. Don't think it had anything to do with atmospheric dust in the instance, but the high stratus cloudcover worked to reflect and intensify the red color. There IS a storm coming, and the redness was accentuated with high storm clouds.

I worked with Keirron Tastagh and Nigel Dennis for open water nav, 5* training, and night nav, then Pete Jones for incident managtement, and then Keirron and Ciro de la Vega for high wind rough water paddling and downwind surfing. Keirron was a bit hard on us, but I learned a ton, partricularly about managing situation overload.

A few comments from my nighttime nav. class last week: with red light (headlamp) I couldn't read my boat-mounted compass (too far), my hand-held compass (some idiot made the marks in red), or read my chart (too fine detail). All students started out with red lights, but ~hour into it, everyone was flicking on their low-power white lights to get anything done. Big difference between a shipboard chart room and kayak deck.

Just back from the '15 Gales, and can hardly wait for next year's. A fun event with top-caliber coaching in truly hairy conditions. Particular thanks to Keirron for repeatedly destroying (and rebuilding) my self-confidence and to Ciro for herding us cats on the downwind run. Congrats to Kevin Beckwith for his hard-won Celtic paddle.

I second Beth's endorsement of the AMC winter hiking school. it's an excellent stepping stone towards doing it in the wet. I confess I shudder when I see basic discussions of sleeping pads in a winter kayak camping forum.

I just want to see and not loose my night vision. Have any of you folks actually tried reading maps by lightstick at night? For me, the lack of shading defeats the purpose.

Try it.

What do people use for chart illumination during nighttime navigation? My BD headlamp does have a low-power red mode, but finding it typically involves cycling through several high-intensity/white light modes and resultant loss of night vision. I'm thinking about a tiny red pen-light, but haven't found just the right waterproof one yet. Any favorites out there?

I wear progressive lenses on the water, and haven't had any significant issues.

To me, this was a bit of a letdown. It seems BOFSK is really focused at the 2* crowd - got a good 3 days of 2-3* instruction, but really came away wishing they could at least have found us some current >2 knots. After the symposium, we went looking for conditions and fond them aplenty.

Any NSPN'ers on the Portland ferry tomorrow night?

I just signed up for the full 5 days. Any other NSPN'ers coming?

I tried it with a 'regular' Camelback 1.5 l, and it didn't work for me. Is there something specific about the Camelback Antidote bag? Here is the related note I got from Astral: Hey Josko, The Sea Wolf will accommodate a hydration bladder. There is a space between the very back panel of the PFD and the mesh lining that goes against your back. You can fit a bladder there and attach it to the webbing loops that are located at the top of this space. You can run the drinking tube through the loops on the shoulder strap. We’ve discovered a bladder made by Camelbak that works perfectly with the Sea Wolf. You could also try to use a bladder that you already own, however, it may not fit as nicely or attach as easily. Check this out: http://www.camelbak.com/Sports-Recreation/Accessories/2010-Antidote-Reservoir-50-oz.aspx * It is the right dimensions to fit in the back without sticking out. * It comes with a little hook that hangs easily on the webbing at the top back * It has a quick-release from the drink tube, so you can leave the drink tube attached when you take the bladder out to clean it. * It's not uncomfortable. (it does have the big plastic opening for filling and cleaning, but if you face it away from the body you really can't feel it) * It costs $30 retail, is available to all retailers and customers and does not require any after-market alteration! I hope this helps. Thanks, Kevin Mulligan A S T R A L Asheville, NC USA 828-255-2638 I tried it and it didn't work for me. www.astraldesigns.com

FWIW, there's also a Boston AMC trip that day going from City Point to Graves light. One can still sign up on outdoors.org, or maybe we'll just see you on the water.

So we have a group of 4 going over on the ferry Thursday, 9/25 and paddling around Nova Scotia for a week after the symposium. Still looking for ideas on where to paddle the week after the symposium. (Shubie looks too chocolatey to be appetizing.) Do we have any NSPN-ers going?

How do folks feel about paddling with topographic maps vs hydrographical charts?

sent you a p.m.

FWIW, Mel and I are leading a beginner (level 2) trip in Buzzards bay this Saturday. You are welcome to join us, although AMC will want you to sign up via: http://activities.outdoors.org/search/index.cfm/action/details/id/85272

Found a great new use for my paddle float: keeper of oysters (legally) collected enroute. Doesn't get ripped by oysters like a regular shopping bag.

I'm getting about a quart an hour leak in the cockpit of my P&H Bahiya. Pretty sure it's not coming through the coaming or spray skirt. Is there a way to check the deck/hull seam and/or the skeg control box for watertightness?

Deerfield? What class water are you looking for?