Kayaks and Airstreams

[doorgunner]

WHAT a PERFECT wave!!!!

nose plug?

I have a Valley Avocet on loan, can't wait to get to the pacific 75 miles away for a test run...

[nickcrowhurst]

[QUOTE=doorgunner;1077158]nose plug? QUOTE]

We use nose plugs routinely when practising multiple rolls and rescues , rock-hopping and surf play, or when a tidal race is seen ahead. With repeated immersion when inverted, water can reach the vagus nerve, with potentially fatal results. There is a detailed discussion of it in the link below. Don't read this if you are an animal lover. There are some dreadful experiments reported here:

http://www.forensicpathologyonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=101&I temid=125

Personally, I get a severe and disabling headache if water gets up my nasal passages under pressure. Many people I know do not have this problem.
Last month my paddling buddy and I paddled out through a surf break. When we were about 150 yards offshore, and outside (we thought) the break, for some reason my buddy paddled over, grabbed my deck lines, and rafted up, just as "the biggest wave of the day" whacked us, and we both capsized instantly. Without nose clips I would probably have had to exit, and attempt re-entry in the surf break, after fitting my nose clips. As it was, with drysuit, helmet, gloves, sprayskirt, and nose clips, it was simple and painless to roll up and continue the fun.
I keep one set of clips on a short lanyard on my helmet strap, and another on a lanyard in a PFD pocket.
BTW, you made a great choice of the Avocet for a rough water boat, IMHO.
Nick.

[mutcth]

Originally Posted by doorgunner

I have a Valley Avocet on loan, can't wait to get to the pacific 75 miles away for a test run...

You'll probably love it - I loved paddling my Avocet RM, but my Scorpio LV is much more comfortable and didn't sacrifice that much performance...

Just bought a pair of Lendal full carbon paddles (at steep discount) to go with our new folding Folbot Citibots. Can't wait to try them out in Florida in 6 weeks.

Tom

[Zeppelinium]

Interesting article on how to build a Shearwater Sport.



All the techniques are covered in 51 photographs and captions, plus the loft information for the panels.



Looks just like the Pygmy techniques, except for a few clever innovations in applying the putty and attaching the deck. I've been thinking that a sport boat (eg, surfing) would be good to have...

Zep

[doorgunner]

Nick;
I was just jiving you about the nose plugs, I've a set attached to my helmet strap. Good article BTW.I have more of a problem with cold water in my ears so I'm looking into the nice earplugs that you can still hear the outside world. Have not tried the Avocet in the ocean since I injured my hip in late october. only got 70 days on the water because of that, I was hoping to break 100.
Tom;
I've a Lindal bent shaft with the touring blade, my favorite blade when paddling more than 10 miles at a time.
Zep;
you really need to build something other than those pygmees. lol
I'm converting my CLC Chesapeake 17LT into a crabbing skiff. Got 2 traps and will be on the ocean just north of san franscisco with about 30 others. We're towing the drainpipe over for 3 nights the last weekend of this month. should be a hoot. I'll post a few pics.

[Zeppelinium]

Originally Posted by doorgunner

... Zep;
you really need to build something other than those pygmees. lol
I'm converting my CLC Chesapeake 17LT into a crabbing skiff. Got 2 traps and will be on the ocean just north of san franscisco with about 30 others. We're towing the drainpipe over for 3 nights the last weekend of this month. should be a hoot. ...

Drainpipe?! How totally funny.

Wish I could be there with a Pygmy! Sounds like fun--30 yaks out on the ocean? Is this in a protected area/bay, or along the exposed coasst?

Zep

[doorgunner]

Zep;

We're camping at Doran campground, Bodega Bay, home of the tastiest Dungeness Crabs on the west coast. bounce over and join us, no snow to drive thru, yet

[BaroloRed]

Have you tried Pro Plugs? Doc's Proplugs: The Doctor's Choice for Ear Protection
Helen Wilson recommended then during a roll class when I became nauseous. They've helped a lot.

[doorgunner]

She's quite the paddler huh. We're lucky to have her out here on the left coast. yup those are the earplugs, my local kayak shop never seems to have them in my size.. guess I'll try the swim clubs. That's the nice thing about these earplugs , with the choice of sizes you actually get something that works. nice

[doorgunner]

We had a blast last weekend!! perfect weather, fun group of folks and plenty of crab!
Doran Beach campground is a nice spot, right on the Pacific Ocean. prime realestate for $28 a night.
Here's a few pics, I did not win any prizes, Linda Lu won a "T" shirt in the raffle.
93 participants and almost that many others that were supporting the crabbers or playing in the surf, etc.

[doorgunner]

got a few more to share.also wanted to say thanks for the sponsors that provided the prizes, A new sit on top fishing kayak, Promar for some traps, crab hawk traps, spirit paddles, and more that I cannot remember.one of the most FUN weekends I've ever had with my airstream.

[herrick51]

Hello,
Has anyone tried the kayaks by MOKAI? They have a 7 1/2 hp suburu jet drive .Very well built.Mokai Manufacturing Inc.

[doorgunner]

interesting watercraft to say the least. starting off @ $3800 actually sounds like a fair price. I'ld have one hell of a time portaging that thing very far. made in new york state.here's my powered watercraft I built a few years ago.enough of the powered stuff, back to kayaking

[doorgunner]

Hey nick and other Brits
got any info on this yak.?
MI designs, I got very little info on a google search, any info much appreciated, I think this is a 10 year old boat and they were used in the Avon Decent back then.
thanks

[nickcrowhurst]

DG, the MI Designs 415 is, in my best guess, designed for speed in moderate white water. My guess is it could be used for races down rivers up to Class 3. Would you like me to ask our UK kayak forum for any knowledge of the origins and history of the design?
Nick.

[doorgunner]

Thanks Nick,
whatever info you could get would be appreciated.
I've paddled a pyranha speedster on the river before and this MI has quite similar lines. kind of a wildwater slalom thing.
I got this boat for a lady friend of mine to do a 10K downriver run.(2 class 1 rapids} She normally does the ironwoman thing but will be doing the paddle part only of a tri this july.
Thanks again

[nickcrowhurst]

DG, in the view of my contacts, the MI 415 is a rather heavy basic flat water touring boat made by a company in the Midlands, England,in the late 1980's. The MI stands for the initials of the two guys involved, Martin Spencer and Ian Freestone. 415 represents the length in centimetres. Martin Spencer is now believed to be involved at Teksport sit on top, recreational, fishing and white water kayaks Any more detailed information could perhaps be obtained from that source.
I hope this helps.
Nick.

[doorgunner]

never woulda guessed it to be a flat water touring boat.just have to put the old stop watch on it.
Thanks again Nick, much appreciated!!

[Zeppelinium]

It looks to me like most everyone on this thread are ocean kayakers (no offense to you crazy white water folks, if I missed you). What I want to know is, is it reasonable to plan a trip down a river in a touring/ocean kayak that has maximum rapids of class 2? There seem to be lots of interesting river segments in the West hwere class 2 is the maximum listed.

What does class 2 look like, anyone got photos? This page has a few photos and almost looks like a class 3- is possible in an ocean kayak, but I think the perspective from a river kayak is a lot different.

Zep

[nickcrowhurst]

Post 158 on this thread shows me on a class 3. Post 159 shows some unknown paddler on the same wave train, Triple Drop Rapid, River Dart, S.W England.
A modern white water boat is much easier in those conditions. Nick.