Reminds me of that old line: "Everyone talks about the weather... but nobody does anything about it!" Anyway, another book, written for sailors, but relevant to kayakers: "Weather at Sea" by David Houghton and Fred Saunders. ISBN 0-87742-959-6. My copy is from 1988. Not sure if it's still in print, but check libraries or second-hand stores. Happy safe paddling, Philip T. **************************************** Mountain Equipment Co-op 1655 West 3rd Avenue, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6J 1K1 Tel: 640-732-1989 Fax: 604-731-6483 email: pid_at_mec.ca Visit our website at: http://www.mec.ca ***************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Folks, I have yet to see mention of the DAVIS INSTRUMENTS -Quick Reference Weather Forcasting Charts. I purchased one from a marine dealer and I think they are a bonus to carry with your map pouch. The plastic board covers everything from colored photo's of weather and cloud formations, numerous other valuable illustrations which cover Frontal Weather systems, Highs & Lows, Air Masses, Cold Fronts, Warms Fronts,STATIONARY & OCCLUDED FRONTS, BEAUFORT SCALE, FOG, GENERAL FORCAST RULES, HAZARDOUS WAVE & SURF CONDITIONS, RADIO MARINE WEATHER channels, Storm Warning for SSB & VHF. This plastic 8-1/2" X 11" card is the cats meow. DAVIS INSTRUMENTS also produces a quick reference card for navagation and sailing. I am sure there is someone out there familiar with these cards to comment further. I paid $14.95 for this gem. Hope this helps. I think having a handy weather reference chart along with your maps is a decent thing to have. The photo examples alone should certainly help the decision making process of when to paddle or not if the memory is not up to par. I know from experience that when I am really cold and exhausted the mind doesn't work as sharp and having a reminder to help keep me objective is nice. By no means is this chart a substitute for a course in weather but it is handy. Best Regards, Philip ______________________________________________________________________ Product Information Department wrote: > > Reminds me of that old line: > > "Everyone talks about the weather... but nobody does anything about it!" > > Anyway, another book, written for sailors, but relevant to kayakers: > "Weather at Sea" by David Houghton and Fred Saunders. ISBN 0-87742-959-6. > My copy is from 1988. Not sure if it's still in print, but check libraries > or second-hand stores. > > Happy safe paddling, > > Philip T. > > **************************************** > Mountain Equipment Co-op > 1655 West 3rd Avenue, > Vancouver, BC, Canada V6J 1K1 > Tel: 640-732-1989 > Fax: 604-731-6483 > email: pid_at_mec.ca > > Visit our website at: http://www.mec.ca > ***************************************** > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ > *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
The Davis quick reference cards are excellent and they or their equal will always have a place in my chart table. The only problem is that the chart table won't fit in my kayak and the cards won't fit in my pocket so I rarely carry them in a kayak. :-)) michael pjwylie_at_planet.eon.net wrote: > > Folks, > > I have yet to see mention of the DAVIS INSTRUMENTS -Quick Reference Weather > Forcasting Charts. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
More on the weaather: Local knowledge and the weather... Local knowledge is also frequently craft-specific. The locals my be accustomed to Sea of Cortez pangas or out-islands Bahamian Carolina skiffs or the inflatable high speed craft used to transport kayakers in the Queen Charlottes. All will understandably have quite different views of "good" and "bad" conditions, what is a "significant" change in rate and intensity of wind, waves etc. Ask about the weather but make considered judgments based upon you own experience. When "local knowledge" is insufficient... We have just returned from kayaking in the Jumentos Cays, 65 miles north of Cuba at the eastern edge of the Bahamas Bank. Population of 30 within 600 square miles. No VHF, NOAA, or other ready made weather broadcasts. In these circumstances we pieced together a patchwork of AM, FM and SSB broadcasts from radio stations in Florida, Cuba and the offshore SSB data provided by the U.S. Coast Guard. The trick was to identify all the relevant frequencies and times in advance and have them handy (pre-programmed into your radio if possible). Most broadcasts are not continuous but less frequent -- every 6 hours typically, and then only if one identifies one's latitude/longitude segment or area. SSB broadcasts used to be the purview of big boat folk but now there is an alternative. The SONY World Band Receiver ICF-SW100 comes with its own tiny active antenna and will receive all frequencies in the AM, FM and SSB bands with excellent quality. It also weighs a whopping 7.8 ounces, is 4.25" x 2.25" x 1" size, and runs on 2 AA batteries. Christmas evening, after our afternoon snorkel, we shooed the scorpions away settled on the sand and prepared a festive meal, then propped this little beauty on a rock and listened to Bahamian regee-Christmas broadcasts from Nassau, BBC carols from London, the news from Radio Havana and danced in our undershorts on the beach as the sun set. Don't ask about the price, but it is is an amazing, compact and high quality radio that is fun as well as functional. Happy paddling and happy New Year to all. -- Richard G. Mitchell, Jr. Department of Sociology Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331 U.S.A. (541) 752-1323 phone/fax mitchelr_at_ucs.orst.edu *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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