Re: [Paddlewise] magazine recommendations

I might add one good thing about SK is book reviews - I've bought some I've become aware of through SK. These then constitute a good source of technical info.

My overwhelming experience though is that other sea kayakers are the best source of ideas. For example, and I'm sure other places are like this, the people I paddle with here are a tremendously experimental bunch who love fiddling in sheds, trying out new ideas and boat modifications, and digging up new materials, fabrics, sources of good netting, foam of various sorts etc to make what is needed etc. The somewhat hybrid (or falling between the cracks) nature of sea kayaking means a lot of adaptation and inventiveness goes on - people prowl hardware stores, yacht chandlers, electronic stores, builders suppliers, foam and rubber stores, fibreglass dealers,........ This list is a very good adjunct to this process.

Then there is endless conversations on the pros and cons of various boats, hatches, techniques, paddle design, clothing etc. Any weaknesses (in design or manufacture) in manufactured equipment are quickly ferreted out and get around. Such info does not always get into printed material I observe. SK boat tests always strike me as a little superficial (despite, or perhaps because, of their technical wizardry - my eyes glaze over), esp. in their reviewers comments which generally are less than critical and tend to cover a limited range of issues. 

I personally find a lot of this sort of thing best discussed in the flesh with the object, esp. boats, in view 


nick



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