josko

Vineyard Sound is forecast to be in its' full 5* glory on Sunday (7/23) with a spring afternoon ebb against a strong SW seabreeze. I expect to launch from Woods Hole ~1000, catch the last of the flood over to West Chop (MV), play the Middle Ground tiderace, and eventually surf down back to Woods Hole. Please let me know if you'd like to join me. Familiarity with tideraces, downwind surfing and some endurance would be a good idea. (I don't think this is an 'NSPN trip', so feel free to delete or move as appropriate.)

I'm considering switching to a Stellar footplate. Could anybody who's paddled with both comment on the difference between a footplate and footpegs? Thanks in advance

When do the sharks launch? http://mspnews.org/2014/09/msp-marine-fisheries-release-photos-from-shark-attack-aftermath/

An 'experienced' kayaker crossing from Westport to Cuttyhunk in a 99 lb, 12' sit-on-top? Alone, at night? http://www.capecodtimes.com/news/20170712/happy-ending-for-overboard-kayaker-found-on-elizabeth-islands

Speaking of sprayskirts.... Both weekend days, after lengthy sessions in 'sporting' conditions, I'm noticing a gallon or two of water in the cockpit. Following up, we set up a kayak with a (snapdragon) spray skirt on the lawn, and directed a hose up along the hull towards the spray skirt connection. And sure enough, under the 'right' conditions, a considerable amount of water makes its' way past the spray skirt seal and into the cockpit. To reinforce that, I can occasionally feel little squirts of water, particularly when the coaming is submerged, also indicating water is making its way past the spray skirt seal. The skirt is very tight, about as tight as I'd want it. It seems the main leakage occurs along the fairly straight sides of the coaming, just ahead of the paddler's hips. I've tried this with both Reed and snapdragon Sprayskirts, with comparable results Is there anything I can do to minimize leakage across the sprayskirt-coaming 'seal'?

FWIW, a new Taran (euro) seat completely solves my lower back issues. Would anyone know of a drop-in footplate for the Taran? Is there a local place that would stock and install it? (It seems that Onno has disappeared as a viable vendor of kayaking equipment.)

I'm very happy with My Suunto Ambit. If it only had an accelerometer so I could get cadence without extra gizmos, it'd be perfect for me.

I've got a bit of a late start (with summer conditioning), but am trying to do what I can to catch up. I've learned to protect my shoulders and elbows (chronic early-season sore spots) but seem to have issues with my ankles this year. It seems I'm (over?)working my ankles to push off the pegs, and they're quite sore and cramping up. I haven't experienced this before and am wondering if anyone else has. Boat's a Taran with stock footpegs - I realize that switching to a whole footplate or foamout might help, but I'm wondering what this is telling me about technique; I think it's a technique problem and want to fix it before moving to gear workarounds. Thanks in advance.

FWIW, Jeff's mastery of Dutch Oven kayak camp cooking is amazing. If my post doesn't jinx it, you are in for one heck of a treat.

I'm a little uncomfortable in this commercial column. Feel free to P M me.

FWIW, I'm not making any money here - just trying to be helpful. Feel free to delete if inappropriate.

I'm scouting the Croatia trip Sam and Carl Ladd are doing this Sept and want to say that those of you who are going will be very, very happy. There's finally a P&H dealer/center in Croatia, and trips they've set up are awesome. We've been paddling selected route sections. Boats are Scorpios, and guides are up to our standards.

Would people come to Woods Hole for a fish-viewing-snorkel-rolling trip? Right now, there are 3 lb bluefish EVERYWHERE. In a month or so we should have our usual invasion of peanut bunker, and then a crop of Molas in the sound. I'd be glad to keep an eye on things and post a trip in prime fish-viewing season. For the slightly braver, we usually get a crop of basking sharks in the sound in late June, and for the brave-brave, I'd be glad to arrange a Monomoy trip with hopefully a close-up (inverted) look at a great white.

I'm noticing fiberglass kayaks with pigments mixed in with resins. I'm familiar with pigmented gelcoats but always thought that mixing pigments with resin weakens the bond with fiberglass cloth. Does anybody know about the issue pigmenting resin, and does it reflect at all on laminate stiffness or quality?

I get max ebb at the Race at 11:15? 2017-05-06 11:15 EDT -3.52 knots Max Ebb

Minuteman VW in Bedford is currently selling 2015 buyback diesels (with the fix installed, of course). I told them I'd order a '17 as soon as they can get me a production number and expect they'll contact me shortly. That's the only 'news source' I have on the topic. Seems a shame to crush vehicles if they're legal to drive in the US, as the updated 2015's are, VW still doesn't have a fix approved for earlier TDi models. Back to the original topic - I really do find mine ideal for hauling kayaks and love the diesel's extended range.

I think my Jetta smartwagon TDi is close to ideal for a kayak trasporter. Dieselgate notwithstanding, it'll carry 3 sea kayaks on the roof, enough gear for a 6 week self-contained 2-person trip, starts fine in -25F and is awesome in snow for a front-wheel drive car. I also love my 700 miles between fill-ups and long-term avg of 46 mpg.. I've got 215k miles on mine with no hiccups. FWIW, I just learned (from a dealer) that VW s now reselling all the 2015 buyback cars as certified-used, and they're bringing in the 2017 TDi Sportwagen this summer. I'm trading in mine for a new '17.

In summer Woods Hole typically gets a peanut bunker 'invasion'. I routinely carry goggles and encourage paddlers to just put them on, roll over to watch the millions of 3" fish, and just roll back up. Most absolutely love it. it's also a great way to observe molas, turtles, basking sharks and whatever other sea life we come across.

Maybe it's time to find a pool that's not so trigger-happy.

Ml and I are game to get together somewhere after this Saturday's (1/7) pool session. Anybody know a good place nearby?

Came up on a (Epic V10) surfski paddler at Ft. Wetherill this weekend. No PFD, no wet suit, air <50F, water 60F, 3-5' surf. I don't get it.

Congratulations to all who passed.

I was actually thinking of making it up to Walden for some rolling practice. Is anybody planning to be there?

"...because most PFDs impede your stroke..." I'm now wondering just how much an impedance to paddling a PFD is. Has anyone looked just how much time not wearing one could shave in a time trial?

Change of plans: surf Nantasket - meet at 1000