Jim Snyder

I threaded in some paracord until I get to a store and it's working surprisingly well.

I just checked and they're still wildly different. I wonder if they will converge as we get closer. Do you find the GFS more accurate for waves? MSW is out to the 17th now and looks pretty good. I have a conflict on the 18th so it looks like I will plan this trip somewhere between the 19th and 25th.

I did think of that but trying to keep it simple. I also thought of getting a new cleat because the thin line works so well otherwise. I've replaced my share of starter ropes but I'm thinking that is more of a cotton product.

Any suggestions for best rope on a 98 vintage NDK rope skeg? I replaced the braided 2 or 3mm cord that was on it because it seemed almost too thin to catch in the cleat. The thicker braid I replaced it with generates too much friction in the pass through to the skeg box and it is reluctant to deploy. I may just put the skinny one back...

I know we're still pretty far out but the "Windy" forecast for the 17th is 12' medium period swell and 15kt wind. Incidentally the same forecast has Boston Harbor at 4' and 20kt. We'll see what happens.

Water temperature is likely to be between 50 and 55 degrees. While everyone is different in their cold tolerance, I would want more protection than that. I have a spare semi-dry suit size large.

"Please please someone schedule this route again next season. I'd love to do it.-Ken" Watching conditions and hoping to make this trip an annual event. The weekend of the 17th or 24th are possibilities. Here's last year's planning thread: And here's the trip report: If you're interested in this trip, please weigh in here and follow for updates. I think we should limit the number of paddlers to eight. Also please indicate if weekdays are possible for you.

The point of failure was a spring to plate contact inside the case. This can't be helped where the battery contacts are but it seems like a design flaw to have a connection like that buried internally.

Just as a followup, I've been on a couple of trips and the battery is holding a full charge. I will wait until it is below 50% to charge it.

I read a lot of positive stuff about these boats in reviews. I think Paul should buy it!

Where is your ancient courage? You were used to say extremities was the trier of spirits; That common chances common men could bear; That when the sea was calm all boats alike showed mastership in floating.

Since once I sat upon a promontory,And heard a mermaid on a dolphin’s backUttering such dulcet and harmonious breath,That the rude sea grew civil at her song,And certain stars shot madly from their spheresTo hear the sea-maid’s music.

A cause more promising Than a wild dedication of yourselves To unpath’d waters, undream’d shores, most certain

Sorry, I'm out.

My new battery arrived and sadly it refused to charge either. I got to work with my meter to try to trace the failure. There was good voltage at the charger so I cleaned the contacts on the side of the radio with electrical cleaner. Still the contacts in the battery housing seemed to have low voltage. I reluctantly disassembled the case and cleaned the four internal contacts. The voltage at the battery contacts went up to .6 v. I have no idea what the voltage should be but the charging icon came on when I put it on the charger. On a whim I put the old battery back in that the tech told me I had ruined charged right up. Now I have a spare battery.

As we discussed I'm interested.

I'm getting ready to put my Carbon Kevlar Cetus HV up for sale.

So my lithium battery in my Standard Horizon radio failed after about 2 years. I was talking to the tech support because the battery was still metering at the rated 7.5 v but wouldn't power up the radio. He said that it would drop immediately upon being loaded which my meter just confirmed. The interesting thing he told me which is the reason I'm posting is that I was ruining my battery by leaving it in the charging cradle all the time, that I should only charge it when it is low and then remove it from the cradle. What experience do others have?

After much research I replaced the day hatch cover on my Explorer with a Sea-Lect: http://topkayaker.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=18_95&products_id=1588 It's a little weird to put on, you have to press down in the middle as you're pushing it into place, then it pops back up and seems to seal well. There have been a couple of times when I thought I had it on right from the cockpit only to find it wasn't. Mine has a tether hole. Mine is a 1998 Explorer, I don't know if the hatch rims have been consistent over the years.

I have two sea kayaks and am interested in making some changes. I love my older yellow explorer but feel the cockpit is a little tight on my long legs and big feet. I'm looking possibly for a Romany Surf and plan on demoing one soon. I also have a CK Cetus HV which I like but don't love. When I'm done I want to end up with one long boat, maybe my Cetus or Andy's Explorer HV and one Romany type boat. If you're interested in either of my boats or have something I might be interested in, let me know.

Actually Prudence, it turned out fine. We found a new place to launch and kept close to shores and away from the mostly nonexistent traffic. I will admit to consulting Gaia on my phone to make sure I was on the right return track as I'm not as familiar with that area as some of you. I'm just not sure about the logic of closing for fog. Sure, the ocean side was very limited visibility but there were many safe places to go. Will they next close for swell over 3'?

My wife and I planned for an afternoon paddle today out of Odiorne. We made our reservations a couple days ahead and arrived around noon. To our surprise the gate was locked. We drove down to the gate at the science center and were told the launch was closed due to weather. To be fair it was foggy and I can imagine rec paddlers could get in trouble pretty easily but they can do that in any condition. And my wife and I could have too but that should have been our decision to make. I pointed out that we made reservations and had driven over an hour. I was told the reservation was for both the launch and the science center and that we were welcome there. We drove to an alternate launch and had a lovely paddle amongst the islands west of Newcastle in the light fog. So be aware, a reservation may not be a reservation. Leaches Island

Found dead three miles offshore. https://www.seacoastonline.com/news/20200901/portsmouth-kayaker-found-deceased-off-maine PORTSMOUTH — A Portsmouth kayaker missing since Sunday was found deceased Tuesday off the coast of Maine, said local police. In a press release, Maine Marine Patrol said Donald Vardell Jr., 53, was found by a fisherman at approximately 10:30 a.m., three miles east of Ogunquit and approximately 12 miles from his kayak. His body was recovered and taken to a local funeral home, according to Maine Marine Patrol. Portsmouth police Capt. Darrin Sargent said local officers had drones in the air searching for Vardell for a second day on Tuesday. Vardell’s unoccupied kayak was found Sunday off Wood Island in Kittery, Maine, at the mouth of the Piscataqua River. Assisting with the search were the U.S. Coast Guard, Portsmouth Police Department, the Kittery harbormaster, Kittery Police Department, New Hampshire Fish and Game, and the New Hampshire Marine Patrol. An investigation into the circumstances of Vardell’s death will be conducted by the Portsmouth Police Department, it was announced.

https://www.seacoastonline.com/news/20200831/search-on-for-missing-portsmouth-kayaker PORTSMOUTH - A search by multiple agencies is being conducted by land, sea and air for a Maplewood Avenue man whose unoccupied kayak was found Sunday off Maine’s Wood Island. A spokesperson for the U. S. Coast Guard said the kayak was reported as found in the water on Sunday at 2:43 p.m. by a recreational boater in the area. The missing man was identified as Don Vardell Jr., age 53. A search was conducted overnight by the Coast Guard and Marine Patrol units from both Maine and New Hampshire, the spokesperson said. The Coast Guard suspended its search Monday, but the Marine Patrol units continued the search with Kittery, Maine police and the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. Search efforts will continue until dark, then resume Tuesday if necessary, according to Maine Marine Patrol. Oversight of the investigation is being handled by the Portsmouth Police Department. Police Capt. Darrin Sargent said his department is overseeing what is now considered a missing person case. Vardell was last seen Sunday at about 2 p.m. kayaking away from Esther’s Marina, in the area between Round Island and the New Castle causeway, in Portsmouth’s back channel. Sargent said the Portsmouth Police drone unit was deployed to conduct a search of area waterways for Vardell from the air. Vardell’s kayak is a yellow Wilderness System 165 Tsunami and anyone who saw him paddling Sunday, or has information about his whereabouts, is urged to call Portsmouth police at (603)427-1500.

Judging from your track, ocean levels have risen some since I was last there...