Thanks to all for the book suggestions. I'm going to start with "The Perfect Storm" and read my way through the rest. More suggestions are certainly welcome and appreciated. Also, I am learning SO much from the discussion of paddling clothes and what works in what regions of the world, and thicknesses of wetsuits and what to wear under and over them and dry-suits and on and on.... please continue. This newbie is getting somewhat smart :-). One more request - if there are any experienced NC and/or SC sea/touring kayakers on this list who would like to give me some "Carolina specific" tips on water temperatures at various times of the year and appropriate paddling clothes (i.e. lakes, coastal/barrier islands, NC and SC sounds in spring, summer, winter and fall .... I'd love to hear it. I'll be at Hilton Head Island the first week of December and a local outfitter there has a day long paddle on the Coleeton (sp?) River and along the sound shore. I'd like to go, but have no idea of what clothing will be necessary. (Don't own any paddling clothes yet.... am listening to the discussion on this list before I buy anything !!!) Also, just bought Ralph Diaz' book on folding kayaks (thanks for all your input on this list Ralph - very helpful) and look forward to learning about them. I had never considered a folding kayak - sounds like a great idea, but from the little I know at the moment, it appears to be out of my budget (around $1200 for my first kayak) but certainly something to consider for the future - particularly since my brother and his wife just moved to Australia (I'm in North Carolina). What fun to go visit them and take a folding kayak with me !!!!!!! This is a great list, helpful people and I look forward to learning more and more each day. Susan McLaury Biddle McLaury_at_aol.com in beautiful central North Carolina *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> From: MCLAURY_at_aol.com <snip> > them. I had never considered a folding kayak - sounds like a great idea, but > from the little I know at the moment, it appears to be out of my budget > (around $1200 for my first kayak) but certainly something to consider for the > future - particularly since my brother and his wife just moved to Australia > (I'm in North Carolina). What fun to go visit them and take a folding kayak > with me !!!!!!! In that case, you might consider renting a folding kayak. Folding Kayak Adventures ships anywhere in the US for rental to carry to other destinations. Check them out at http://www.foldingkayak.com/ There might be others. I'm not sure but I'll bet Ralph knows. Cheers, Jackie *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Jackie Fenton wrote: > > > From: MCLAURY_at_aol.com > > <snip> > > > them. I had never considered a folding kayak - sounds like a great idea, but > > from the little I know at the moment, it appears to be out of my budget > > (around $1200 for my first kayak) but certainly something to consider for the > > future - particularly since my brother and his wife just moved to Australia > > (I'm in North Carolina). What fun to go visit them and take a folding kayak > > with me !!!!!!! > > In that case, you might consider renting a folding kayak. Folding Kayak > Adventures ships anywhere in the US for rental to carry to other destinations. > Check them out at http://www.foldingkayak.com/ There might be others. > I'm not sure but I'll bet Ralph knows. > That is probably the best consistent national source for rental of folding kayaks, all fully equipped Feathercrafts. But local dealers often will rent on a more informal basis. I know here in NYC, that Randy Henriksen at the New York Kayak Company will do that at times with demo models (http://www.nykayak.com) and I believe other dealers will too. ralph -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
MCLAURY_at_aol.com wrote: > > One more request - if there are any experienced NC and/or SC sea/touring > kayakers on this list who would like to give me some "Carolina specific" tips > on water temperatures at various times of the year and appropriate paddling > clothes (i.e. lakes, coastal/barrier islands, NC and SC sounds in spring, > summer, winter and fall .... I'd love to hear it. I'll be at Hilton Head > Island the first week of December and a local outfitter there has a day long > paddle on the Coleeton (sp?) River and along the sound shore. I'd like to > go, but have no idea of what clothing will be necessary. > We'll be paddling the Darien River, a little south of HH this weekend. I'm planning on wearing fleece and nylon, but I'll have my fuzzy rubber suit along if it gets cool. Forecast is for highs in the mid-upper 70s. I don't know what the water temps are but they're certainly not frigid. I'll be in HH Thanksgiving week doing a course. I plan to be wearing the fuzzy rubber then, maybe with a layer of light poly under it, as I know I'll be in the water a good bit. We paddled HH in January a couple of years ago. Wore noeprene wetsuits with light fleece shirts and nylon paddling jackets. Plenty warm enough. The Colleton River trip is pretty tame, I think, and surf at HH can usually be measured in centimeters, so your chances of flipping are low. As always, it's best to dress for immersion. Let us know how your trip was. I think I'll be meeting your guides in a couple of weeks. Steve Cramer *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
*************************************************************************MCLAURY_at_aol.com wrote: > >(SNIP) > Also, just bought Ralph Diaz' book on folding kayaks (thanks for all your > input on this list Ralph - very helpful) and look forward to learning about > them. I had never considered a folding kayak - sounds like a great idea, but > from the little I know at the moment, it appears to be out of my budget > (around $1200 for my first kayak) What good luck! :-) Folbot is having a one day sale on their folders, on the 15th of this month. The 15' Kodiak is on sale then for $1195.00, and shipping is free. http://www.folbot.com/ James >but certainly something to consider for the > future - particularly since my brother and his wife just moved to Australia > (I'm in North Carolina). What fun to go visit them and take a folding kayak > with me !!!!!!! > > This is a great list, helpful people and I look forward to learning more and > more each day. > > Susan McLaury Biddle > McLaury_at_aol.com > in beautiful central North Carolina *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
James Lofton wrote: > > *************************************************************************MCLAURY_at_aol.com wrote: > > > >(SNIP) > > Also, just bought Ralph Diaz' book on folding kayaks (thanks for all your > > input on this list Ralph - very helpful) and look forward to learning about > > them. I had never considered a folding kayak - sounds like a great idea, but > > from the little I know at the moment, it appears to be out of my budget > > (around $1200 for my first kayak) > > What good luck! :-) > Folbot is having a one day sale on their folders, on the 15th of this > month. The 15' Kodiak is on sale then for $1195.00, and shipping is free. > http://www.folbot.com/ > > James That sale is a good deal as all models are reduced by something like $300 or so. The Kodiak is a particularly nice boat, which I reviewed favorably earlier (I can still email that review if you contact ASAP). A couple of things to note about Folbot customer policy that rivals anything else in the folding or rigid kayak field. Stack your own kayak manufacturer's policy against this: 1. Its customer satisfaction guaranteed policy. Fairly simple. Receive shipment of one of their kayaks. Test it out for a few weeks. Assemble it at home or in the field. Get it wet. Paddle it (it's not like buying hiking boots, which are yours once you step off the store's rug). If you don't like the boat, return it no questions asked (other than marketing type ones that you don't have to answer). No need to make up stories about contacting a fatal illness backed up by a note from your minister, priest or rabbi. No restocking fee. You are out only the shipping (UPS average of around $40 or so coast to coast). 2. Its lifetime waranty. Break any part of the frame at any time, even through complete dumbness on your part, and all they ask is which model and year. Your invoice comes back with a big N/C on it for no charge. Hull situation is subject to normal wear and tear provisions. But if say a seam comes apart in say 8 years, which is not supposed to happen, you get it repaired free of charge. Needless to say, I do not work for the company and have no affiliation with it. And, at times in the past, they have considered me a bit of a persona non grata because of a bias they preceive I have toward other makes. I even got into a conflict with their Canadian rep over this nonsense (He called Folding Kayaker, The Rosenheim Times; Rosenheim is where Kleppers are made). Sometimes they have dragged their feet in letting me see a new model, etc. So the relationship is certainly very arms-length. Speaking in their defense, I think some of their sensitivity comes from the tendency of people to unfairly look down on Folbots in general because of their basic designs and earlier reputation decades ago for inconsistent workmanship. I think they are good enough boats for many paddlers and have stellar customer policies and service ...said with absolutely no bias. ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
KayakherSC_at_aol.com wrote: > > Hi Steve, I'm curious! I live in Bluffton and I've never heard of the > Darien River. Is it around Savannah somewhere? I guess I could rustle up a > map, couldn't I? Always on the lookout for new paddling locations within > driving distance. Also, what sort of course are you doing at Thanksgiving? > Are you hooked up with Outside Hilton Head at all? I think I recall that you > teach kayaking, but whitewater comes to mind. I'm strictly into sea, uh, > actually river and creek kayaking. Our local paddle club always appreciates > new connections, which accounts for this interrogation; also I'm just plain > nosy when my neck of the woods is mentioned! :) Sandy The Darien river goes through--woodjabeleevit?--Darian, GA, about 1/2 way between Savannah and Jacksonville. It's actually one of the major braids of the Altamaha River delta. The Altamaha, which most people have never heard of, is one of the biggest rivers on the east coast. There are a bunch of destinations in the area. We paddled from the Darien docks out to a little marsh island called Queen. It's on Doboy Sound, not on the ocean, but you can see it from there. NE is Sapelo Island, SE is Little St Simons. About 8 miles from Darien as the sea gull flies, but the river route is about 12 miles. There's a small area above high tide to camp. A slightly tricky landing due to the oyster banks, plus you arrive at a short mud bluff instead of a sandy beach. Coming back we took another braid and passed by some ballast islands, acres of rocks dumped by sailing ships taking on lumber at Darien during the 18th and 19th centuries. Another trip that I'm told is fun is to start upriver and paddle down to Darien on one of several rivers, camping halfway. One route features a side trip through an old oxbox called Alligator Congress. Don't you just have to go there? Mike Moody at Altamaha River Outpost [http://broadriver.com, which also has pix of Queen] can give you plenty of info and provide shuttle, guides, boats, etc. A warning: If Mike says a route will take 3 hours, it'll probably take 5. Re the course: it's my Coastal Kayaking Instructor Cert Exam. I wasn't going to mention it until I passed (which of course may be a long time from now). No, I have no connection with Outside Hilton Head. Or Sea Kayak Georgia, the sponsors of the course. Sandy, Susan, we'd love the opportunity to take people back out there. Maybe in January or February when the bug die off. Steve *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:05 PDT