BigBird

Thanks for all the great posts and video links! General consensus is to stay calm and enjoy the view? Guess I better learn how to roll...

Thanks for the link Rob - I saw that video with our friends last weekend while we were searching for any evidence of shark sitings along the Maine Coast. Our friend Gayle who was one who saw the shark also thought it might be a Basking Shark.

Ed, I don't think I could pick out a seal vs a sea lion so you are likely correct. Interesting to learn that sharks are in and around the Maine coast - they were in a relatively calm bay so I was surprised that they could encounter a shark in those waters.

We were up in Maine last week paddling in Casco Bay and our friends encountered a shark. My wife and I were not with them on this particular paddle. They said they were about 30 yards from shore and it was about 10 yards further out from them. Seas were fairly calm so the fin could not be mistaken for a buoy or something else. Both of my friends got a good look at it.

It swam parallel to them for a bit and each time the fin went below the surface and then returned. Suddenly, it turned toward them. It came close enough that my friend Mark said it was about 6' in length and he said the body was grey but the fin was jet black. They were terrified as their 9 year old daughter was with them in her own boat (and struggling against the tide). They have no idea what kind of shark it was as they put their heads down and paddled as fast as they could back to shore.

The next day, my wife and I were out paddling in the same area and a sea lion popped up about 30 yards from us. We decided to stay closer to shore for the rest of our paddle.

So just wondering if anyone has encountered a shark while paddling? If so, what is the recommended course of action?

Thanks Les! As of now it looks like I won't be able to make the next Wednesday, but plan to be there the week after. I'll see if I can pick up a spray skirt and nose plugs for the next session.

Just wanted to thank all of you for making a newbie feel welcome last night! Special thanks to Bill who spent much of his time teaching me my first wet exits and rescues! Thanks to Carpi who also gave me great instruction on rescues. Thanks to Les for organizing these sessions! Watching all of you roll was truly inspirational and I hope to try that myself before heading to Casco Bay this Summer.

-Bob D.

Hello BigBird,

Yes--please come and people will help you develop wet exit skills--new to kayaking folks always welcome to skills sessions--

Just remember to dress for submersion if you want to do wet exits--

Les

Great - look forward to meeting all of you.

-Bob D.

Hello - is the clinic on for tonight? I've never done a wet exit let alone a roll, but want to learn both - is this clinic open to newbies like me?

Thanks Pru - makes sense. Unfortunately, I totally blanked that this Wednesday is my 7 year old's birthday so I'll have to wait until the following week.

Talked to the ranger at Walden tonight - she said the water's already in the mid to high 70's. Lots of people in the water without wetsuits. So I guess wetsuits are optional for Wednesday?

Matt, you may want to drop off your boat at the boat launch and then park up at the main lot. This will give you an extra half hour to get your boat and gear put away. I'd think the real benefit of these sessions is learning techniques in your own boat.

Not sure if anyone made it tonight? I plan to be there next Wednesday.

Looking to start the much-talked-about Walden Pond Skills Sessions starting the first Wednesday in June, 6/3/15.

Feel free to join me and others for kayak fun and festivities starting around 5:30 pm and off the water when the ranger yells at us about 7:15 or so --

The sessions are free but there is a charge for parking at the boat launch (about 5 buckaroos each time) -- season's pass is highly recommended.

Les

Thanks Les - I'm looking forward to this. I too would be interested in starting earlier May 20 or 27? I have an annual park pass, but I've never parked outside of the main lot - is there parking at the boat launch?

-Bob D.

^^ Thanks Rob.

My wife and I will definitely become members. Which stores in the area have the greatest selection of PFD's to try them on?

Thanks everyone for your feedback! I understand that your favorite PFD may not be mine, but it's nice to see some general consensus on PFD's that provide all day comfort without salty chafing! I'm going to check out the Astral, Kokotat, and Stohlquist PFD's mentioned.

Anyone have experience with a Stohlquist Brik? It's got solid reviews, but it looks to be an older model and I'm not crazy about a black PFD?

Also I saw on the trip reports forum that some folks will be paddling at Walden soon so I hope to meet up with some of you. Thanks again and keep posting!

Thank you all for being so helpful with my introductory post about getting started in sea kayaking. Alas, time has flown by and I wasn't able to get to any of the pool clinics or intro to sea kayaking workshops. Now that the warm(er) weather is here, I'm planning to start paddling at Walden and at the Concord River. If there's going to be a clinic at Walden in the near future, please let me know!

One of the posts that stuck with me was the importance of your PFD. I need to purchase one for myself and my wife. There seems to be endless choices from several manufacturers. So, please post your favorite PFD and why it's your favorite? Thank you!

Hi Bob D. welcome to the wonderful sport of seakayaking. I owned a Lincoln Chebeague and found it to be a remarkable boat for coastal exploration. After your PFD, a spray skirt is most important. Get a paddle float and learn how to do a paddle float rescue. This time of year a pool session might be in order.

Thanks Gene! Glad to hear good things about the Chebeague. I was fortunate to buy a package deal including paddles, spray skirts, paddle float, and pump.

Bob,

Welcome !

I would highly recommend trying some of the NSPN pool sessions , which run through March. Perfect setting to meet other paddlers , see what gear they have (boats, paddles, pfd etc ) and try their stuff out (people are very accommodating the way) and also a perfect setting to practice skills in a comfortable setting that are essential to paddling on the ocean ; wet exits, rescues, self rescues, bracing, etc

Then , starting in late spring/early summer, practise sessions (last year at Walden Pond, Chebacco Lake, and Seabrook, also in southern NH) continue these opportunities in a comfortable setting.

Peter

Thanks Peter! I hope to get in the pool for a session or two. Walden is very close to home so looking forward to getting out there before the ocean.

Welcome Bob:

For me, one of the most important skills to learn early on during your paddling career, in fact, the very first skill to learn, is practicing a wet exit with a spray skirt on. You can do dry runs on land: Practice tucking your upper body forward and then release the spray skirt via its handle with EITHER hand by pulling FORWARD and up (or down when you're upside down). Also practice peeling the side of the sprayskirt off with one hand without using the handle (in case you inadvertendly tuck the spray skirt handle inside the cockpit). Practice all this on land (at home?) with eyes closed. Make sure your sprayskirt has the right fit for your cockpit coaming, neither too tight nor too loose (at the beginning, err on the side of loose). Next, take all this to the pool and practice there. From my own experience, I can tell you that there is nothing more sobering than finding yourself upside down and entrapped in the cockpit. Unless you practice a wet exit in a controlled environment, you just won't know how you will react, especially when, either in the pool or in the real world, you capsize unexpectedly without "setting up" the capsize intentionally. Make a habit of always checking that the sprayskirt handle is outside the cockpit and check whether the other paddlers in your group have theirs on the outside as well. This will become second nature eventually.

Thanks for the solid advice!

At the pool session tell someone first, before your first few capsizes. Pretty much everyone will be happy to float or stand right next to you during your first few wet exits to assist you just in case. They will probably follow that up by helping you practice an assisted reentry. (Of course, if you are not careful they might start teaching you how to roll next!)

Thanks Bill - hope to get in the pool soon.

Thanks Bill for your posts! Exactly the sort of information I was looking for.

Thanks Leon. I've rented boats from CRCK when they had the boathouse by the Marriott in W. Newton. I'll look into their programs in Spring.

Thanks Sal. I'll keep an eye out for the new to sea kayaking workshop. Where is it usually held?

Hello - thank you to those of you who maintain and contribute to these forums! Last year on our annual camping trip to Hermit Island, we decided to rent a Kayak from EMS. It was a WS Pungo 120. Since we only had one boat, my wife and I took shifts while the other kept an eye on the kids. It changed the whole camping experience for me! Casco Bay provided a whole new world to explore!

While paddling to the various beaches around Hermit, I noticed that while my boat was very stable, it was dog slow (or was that me?). I also drooled over the sleek boats piled up on the beaches (Current Designs Gulfstreams, Lincoln, NDK, etc.) I knew I wanted to buy a couple of yaks, but which one?

After checking out several boats, I fell for the Lincoln brand. I scoured CL daily to see if I could find a Winter deal and I did! Just before New Years, I picked up two Lincoln Chebeagues for my wife and I. Problem is we're clueless. So, knowing what you all know, what would you recommend for PFD's, and other essentials before getting on the water? What classes should we sign up for and with who? TIA and looking forward to paddling with some of you this Summer!

-Bob D.

Chelmsford, MA

2013 Lincoln Chebeague (Big Bird)

2013 Lincoln Chebeague LV (Red Rocket)