Hi Buddy, I live in Omaha and have considered the same sort of trip, but haven't looked into it. I think the Army Coor of Engrs would be the place to get most of the information that you need, or at the least, refer you to where the information can be found. You may have to spend a few bucks on toll calls, to find the right person, in the Coor, that can provide or direct you to the river info. Other paddlewisers will likely know more than I do. Regarding a rudder: go to the mariner kayak site and read the information on paddle technique for paddling without a rudder. http://www.marinerkayaks.com/ Then go out to a lake with 25mph winds blowing and see if you can manage a straight coarse, at most headings, by paddling on both sides of the boat. That should tell you whether or not you need a rudder. You might not have to worry too much about side winds as there would likely be a valley effect with the wind whistling down the river, in most places. I wonder if you could take a kayak paddle apart and use half of it as a canoe paddle (for days with high crosswinds)? I would want some kind of radio to let you know if there are flood conditions developing, and there would no doubt be a ph number to the coor of engrs that would have the best info on this. So if conditions got scary, you could walk into a town and call the flood number and better access the danger of the river. I would guess that the weather channel on a vhf would give you the local weather as well as communication with barge traffic, but I don't know for sure. Are you thinking about paddling all the way from central MT? Mike McNally, mmcnally3_at_prodigy.net > Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2000 14:31:15 -0600 > From: Knox <knoxb_at_lvnworth.com> > Subject: [Paddlewise] kayak trip information > I recently purchased a Folbot GII with a trip DOWN the Missouri River in > mind. I live near Kansas City and would like to fly the boat north and > float home. This is my mid-life adventure...it was this or a Harley. > Surely someone has done this since Lewis and Clark...I was wondering what > information might be available out there. I've never kayaked and I was > born and raised in West Texas where water was for drinking, not floating > upon. > I camp, hike, and fish, so I understand about food, water, PFDs, etc. > What am I missing? What could I do stupid that would endanger my life or trip? > What special equipment should I consider? A foot rudder? > I'm not smart enough to know what to ask. > Thanks, > Buddy Knox *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Hi Buddy, Mike and All, > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > [mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net]On Behalf Of Mike McNally > Sent: Monday, March 27, 2000 8:06 AM <SNIP> > > Regarding a rudder: go to the mariner kayak site and read the > information on paddle technique for paddling without a rudder. > http://www.marinerkayaks.com/ Then go out to a lake with 25mph winds > blowing and see if you can manage a straight coarse, at most headings, > by paddling on both sides of the boat. That should tell you whether or > not you need a rudder. I would agree that going to the Mariner site and reading their tips for boat handling is an excellent idea. Learning how to handle your craft without a rudder is a worthwhile and rewarding endeavor. I do however disagree _strongly_ with the advice to take your boat out in 25 mph winds to see how it handles. If I'm not mistaken, Buddy (the original poster), stated that he was a new paddler. 25 mph winds are very strong for a novice. I would definitely recommend developing good boat handling skills in calm conditions and then slowly building up to more challenging conditions. It is challenging enough learning proper technique when conditions are easy. It is more difficult when conditions are rough. It is important to remember that conditions are relative to past experience. You may find a 25 knot breeze a joy to paddle in, for others it may be 40 knots, but for some 15 will be testing their limits. It is best to build up slowly in a fun, safe, and controlled environment. The best advice I have to offer is to find competent instruction. It will make you a safer paddler and your time on the water will be more enjoyable. If that isn't available in your area at minimum get a copy of Kent Ford's Performance Sea Kayaking video. After all of that you may still find that you want a rudder. They can come in handy for lining up your boat for photos or if you want to sail etc. A rudder is a poor substitute or skills but it isn't necessarily a bad addition to them. >You might not have to worry too much about side > winds as there would likely be a valley effect with the wind whistling > down the river, in most places. I wonder if you could take a kayak > paddle apart and use half of it as a canoe paddle (for days with high > crosswinds)? Werner makes a T-grip for their 2-piece paddles but I don't see an advantage here. Cheers, -- Rob Cookson 3 Hats Design INTERNET PRINT ILLUSTRATION 5201 15 Ave NW Suite 220 Seattle, WA 98107 206.851.8202 direct line 206.784.1641 main office phone 206.784.2231 main office fax mailto:rob_at_3hats.com http://www.3hats.com > > > Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2000 14:31:15 -0600 > > From: Knox <knoxb_at_lvnworth.com> > > Subject: [Paddlewise] kayak trip information > > > I recently purchased a Folbot GII with a trip DOWN the Missouri River in > > mind. I live near Kansas City and would like to fly the boat north and > > float home. This is my mid-life adventure...it was this or a Harley. > > > Surely someone has done this since Lewis and Clark...I was > wondering what > > information might be available out there. I've never kayaked and I was > > born and raised in West Texas where water was for drinking, not floating > > upon. > > > I camp, hike, and fish, so I understand about food, water, PFDs, etc. > > > What am I missing? What could I do stupid that would endanger > my life or trip? > > > What special equipment should I consider? A foot rudder? > > > I'm not smart enough to know what to ask. > > > Thanks, > > Buddy Knox > ****************************************************************** > ********* > 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/ > ****************************************************************** > ********* *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Here's an interesting URL regarding a trip down the Missouri. Not an undertaking to be entered into lightly. (or somebody else might be doing some undertaking) http://www.spokane.net/stories/1999/Sep/26/S638248.asp A web search revealed that the article I mentioned in my previous post was in fact published in Sea Kayak magazine in the Oct '95 issue. Written by Joe Glickman, it was titled, "Hard Enough to Blow a Rooster into a Beer Bottle." Dave Seng Juneau, Alaska *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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