Jim Snyder

Gary, I might try a product like this on a raincoat but I wouldn't trust it on a drysuit. If the points of entry are small I would consider trying Aquaseal, you've really got nothing to lose. Alternatively I would try Outdoor New England. They've done good work for me at reasonable prices.

If you have any trouble with the discount code, please let me know, I might need to renew it with them.

It was a beautiful day off the New Hampshire coast, feeling more like late October than late December. We were only three, Sandy Blanchard, Paul Sylvester, and me. We expected a muddy launch, less than an hour before low at Odiorne and weren't disappointed. We managed to get out without walking although I suspect a half hour later would have been a different story. Soon we were on the open ocean with small long period swells creating a little action around the many rocks south of Jaffrey point. We landed in small surf at Wallis Sands for lunch, managing to catch a little bit of a ride on the way in. Heading home after lunch we picked up a light tailwind and enjoyed the low sun on one of the shortest days of the year. After a couple of months where good conditions were sparse, this was a great day on the water. Track_12-30-22-101151AM.kmz The link should open in google earth.

Very short notice but conditions look nice for a paddle from the Goat Island launch near Newcastle tomorrow. Post or message me if you'd like to join, a paper float plan will be filled at launch. This is winter kayaking! Drysuits, proper seakayaks and winter experience are required.

Hi Max, There are some of us who paddle all winter when conditions allow but often short notice and informal rather than posting here. If you join the club you can be reached by private message or you can email me (address in profile) then I can let you know if there's something happening. The ocean's been pretty windy with some big conditions lately which has made it hard. Edit: I see you did join but are still listed as a guest. That should be fixed shortly.

My new warranty replacement suit beads up nicely. I guess I'll revisit this if it stops.

Why am I just hearing about DWR? How do you know if your drysuit has "persistent beading surfaces"?

I recently sent mine in for a test which I agreed to pay for. They replaced it under warranty and didn't charge for the test, if they did it.

Welcome to the club and congratulations on rehoming the Explorer. They're great boats. A lot of us with NDK boats have abandoned backbands in favor of a foam block glued to the bulkhead. It can be shaped for comfort.

Trying to be actually helpful this time. Here's a thorough article on Valley skegs. It recommends epoxy putty from the inside. It seems like this is more likely to form up well. https://www.kayakacademy.com/pages/valley-sea-kayak-skeg-cable-replacement-pre-2011-models

I'd be inclined to live with an occasional drip rather than put a bunch of goo in there...

If you were looking for thrills and high adventure, this was not the day for it. If you wanted beautiful weather and easy conditions you came to the right place. We ended up with four, me, David Mercer, Peter Brady, and Sandy Blanchard. Leaving Odiorne, the biggest excitement of the day was some one foot swell piling up on the shoals outside Jaffrey point. We proceeded out to Whaleback with the intent of working our way over to Fort Foster. Some of us hadn't been to Wood Island in years so we stopped there to see the improvements. A big ship loomed offshore, possibly waiting for high water and an escort. On to Fort Foster for a leisurely lunch. We talked about a plan I have for a "Hot Lunch Paddle" coming soon. This would be the perfect location. Crossing the river, we made the decision to paddle up the river, which was pretty much slack by this time, to Goat Island and back to Odiorne that way. Thanks to everyone for a relaxing enjoyable day.

Conditions still look nice for Tuesday. As a reminder, if you're joining don't forget to add your info to the float plan found here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1v7sEBTcvGh9W6NU4OUlSEovvvxwE7mSr8oblQxqw2p0/edit?usp=sharing

In the spirit of the WLP, this trip will take advantage of mild conditions and launch from Odiorne at 10am. Lunch is planned for Fort Foster but other venues are possible as well. High tide is at 12:41 pm and it's a big one, with the full moon directly opposite the sun over our heads. I'm not sure if a reservation is still needed, as a NH senior I don't need one. Although the sun will be warm and the wind light, the water temperature is cooling into the high fifties so please dress for the possibility of immersion. Please sign up on the float plan using this link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1v7sEBTcvGh9W6NU4OUlSEovvvxwE7mSr8oblQxqw2p0/edit?usp=sharing

We ended up with seven for this trip. Me, Mike Habich, David Mercer, Jim Doscher (on his first NSPN trip!), Karen Volkman, Sue Morin, Fred Goodman. We set out from the campground at low tide. If it had been three inches lower we would have done some walking. The sky was leaden, on the very outer edge of the Hurricane Ian system. We managed to surf some micro waves washing up on the little beach beyond the bridge to warm up. I got to ride one backwards but sadly no picture. Outside the harbor we immediately found the small swell to be providing some fun on the ledges. Some provided surfable waves, then we proceeded to the beautiful chasm below Bald Head Cliff. On past Perkin's Cove to the river mouth at Ogunquit. There was some surf there but it was kind of erratic and we were getting hungry. We ate on a beach so flat that we found ourselves edging our boats up every few minutes on the rising tide. On the return we stopped for a stretch on a very steep beach that was just slippery enough for reverse seal launches. This is a wonderful stretch of coastline that never disappoints. Thanks to everyone, and especially to Sue and Jim for additional pictures.

This trip is on for this Saturday, with definitely fall like weather. If you missed this one, I intend to do another, maybe in November.

As of now the big conditions are out of the forecast so this trip is a go. I will start a thread for the people who responded here tomorrow.

Thanks for the response! I will keep a list in the order of posting. If conditions aren't favorable I will reschedule to the next appropriate day (if we had to go with today's forecast for 10/1 we would have 8' waves at the mouth of the Ogunquit River). I hope to make a decision or reschedule by Wednesday of that week.

This would be the 4th annual October Ogunquit trip. Still tentative as to the date, too far out yet for conditions. This year Ogunquit parking has changed. It's $35/day until the end of October! So I'm reversing the trip route. We will launch from Cape Neddick Campground where the fee will be $10, although they implied they would reduce a rate for a group. The added benefit is lunch on beautiful Ogunquit Beach! This trip is intended to be level 3, and I will be looking for suitable conditions. Rock play and surfing are expected. Please indicate your interest here and I will start a message thread for participants. Here's a report from last year:

Sadly we were unable to work out some liability and insurance details in time for this to happen this fall. Hopefully we'll revive it next year.

I keep SEAiq on my phone because it has the old charts, for now at least. It doesn't do tracking, although it has some other features that are kind of unique.

When I was looking for my first seakayak I wish someone had told me to check out one of these. Would have saved a lot of buying and selling... https://maine.craigslist.org/boa/d/brunswick-ndk-explorer-expedition-build/7531606030.html

We had great weather and conditions for a trip outside Gerrish Island. We were me, Jody Harris, Vlad Gersht, Joyce Carpenter, Fred Goodman, David Mercer, Don Martin, Barbara Ryan, Prudence Baxter, Nick and Ali Pearson. The direct route to Brave Boat took us past Whaleback Light so we started in that direction. As is often the case there was a lot of tidal current moving around Whaleback. While the swell was small, it was long period and provided occasional interest around the rocks. Even with the small swell, Brave Boat provided some easy surfing opportunities, which some of us took advantage of. Following lunch in Brave Boat, we split into two pods, one going back the way we came and the other continuing on the Gerrish circumnavigation. A light onshore wind turned things pretty choppy on the outside on the return, the Chauncy Creek pod can weigh in below. Thanks to Don for the above pictures!

Stay tuned, I have organized a trip launching out of Ogunquit in October the last few years. It's the opposite of what Peter said but I like it better.

This trip is closed. If you'd like to be on a waitlist please pm me.