Hello Everyone, Like everyone else I am at the mercy of my computer. I upgraded from one system to another the other day and now everything is crashing on me. My new computer won't be up and running for another three or four days so I am not able to answer my email. Bye for now. Doug Lloyd(or Kirby Stevens) *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Ah...the unsinkable Molly.......er........Doug Lloyd. Always out on that sharp end of the rope. If it's not kayaking through the gates of hell to steal Lucifer's costume for a Halloween party, then it's riding that ragged edge that is computer technology. Godspeed Doug ! Jed *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
>Hello Everyone, > >Like everyone else I am at the mercy of my computer. I upgraded from one >system to another the other day and now everything is crashing on me. >My new computer won't be up and running for another three or four days so I >am not able to answer my email. > >Bye for now. > >Doug Lloyd(or Kirby Stevens) Aha! My suspicions confirmed - I've met Kirby Stevens in person, and I've spoken to Doug Lloyd on the phone, but I've never seen the two of them in the same place at the same time, kinda like you never see Superman and Clark Kent, Batman and Bruce Wayne, or Michael and Latoya Jackson together - because they're the same person! This "computer problem" must be just a cover story while Super-Kayaker moves the Fortress of Paddletude/Kayak Kave to its new inaccessible location on the Storm Islands! Philip Torrens N49°16' W123°06' ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Just going through my PW backlog, now that I can retrieve my e-mail again. While away, Philip Torrens said: >>>Aha! My suspicions confirmed - I've met Kirby Stevens in person, and I've spoken to Doug Lloyd on the phone, but I've never seen the two of them in the same place at the same time, kinda like you never see Superman and Clark Kent, Batman and Bruce Wayne, or Michael and Latoya Jackson together - because they're the same person! This "computer problem" must be just a cover story while Super-Kayaker moves the Fortress of Paddletude/Kayak Kave to its new inaccessible location on the Storm Islands!>>> I had to laugh at this and respond to the list. Funny as it is, Philip is a little off the mark. Kirby is actually the equivalent of Batman's faithful servant, "Alfred", while I am indeed the kayak equivalent of Batman (aka Super-Kayaker-legend-in-my-own-mind), therefore, separate entities .Well, at the very least, Kirby brings me back great electronic gizmos from travels afar, and provides navigational/camping aids and other technical support for crime fighting, err, kayak tripping. I, on the other hand, have been very busy while off PW, completing my Bat Cave and Batmobile -- make that "Kayak Kave" and "Kayak Transporter Van". Seriously, my house isn't large, and I've endeavored to utilize every available amount of space in my humble "cave". My canoe and kayak gear takes up a lot of space in the wife-designated laundry room area. I've just completed a great storage system. Using large sheets of 4'x8' white Melamine covered particleboard with white edging, I constructed a wall unit 48" deep by 48" wide by 54" high. This holds six large plastic storage containers (with lids) that are approx. 16" by 16" by 46" deep. These containers slip into individual cubbies, with the 16x16 showing at the front (meaning they go in deep). They are labeled as "day gear, mutliday gear, canoe gear, training gear", etc. A center cubbie holds all my rolled up charts. A large "table top" atop this storage unit gives a place for spread out charts. Above this unit is another one affixed to the wall that is 32" high by 48" wide by 16" deep that holds smaller items (flares, flashlights, pepper spray, tow lines, etc.) in smaller plastic containers, labeled and organized for intensity of trip, etc. Heading out the door for a spure-of-the-moment trip is soooo easy now (or when the Mayor needs me :-) ). My other little "Kayak Kave" upgrade is an electronic recharging station. Formerly, I simply used a powerbar with an integral on/of switch. This involved playing "musical rechargers" and also led to overcharging at times due to lack of attention. I've now made a wall mounted station out of matching white melamine sheet-good material. The unit is 6" deep by 16" wide by 24" high. The top portion is 6" tall by 16" wide with a storage area below for the devices being recharged, as such: ........................................ . . . [1] [2][3][4][5][6] [7] . . ........................+.............. . + . . + . . + . . l l + . . l l l l . .....l.a.l..........lbl................. #1 through #7 represent outlets with rectangular "Decora" modern style switch plate covers. These are the ones you would normally see on a wall for switching on your house lights, or near the floor for plugging in your TV or lamp, etc. In my particular application, I could not use the older style switches and wall plates as that wouldn't allow permanent mounting of the various rechargers. In the diagram above, the switches/outlets are obviously cut out into a white Melamine face, 6" by 16", much the same way you would cut out a small rectangle to mount a switch/outlet into you walls drywall. In my application, #1 is a 20amp heavy duty timer used for swimming pool filters, etc. The rectangular rocker switch you would normally find in the Decora opening, is divided into 5 sub-switches thus: "constant on", "2-hours", "4-hours", "6-hours", and "8-hours". An inch over from #1, is a five-gang box in-line horizontally with the rest of course, that houses five switches that are each split individually, so that the top of the Decora rectangle has a small on/off rocker-panel switch and the lower half in a single outlet (like half of a normal outlet for plug-ins). This allows me to plug all five of my recharges into the lower part of each outlet, and "power-up" whatever recharger I want to use at a given time. This prevents having all the rechargers turned on, when I only need one on (or having to un-plug those not in use like on the old power bar). #7 is a regular duplex outlet for plugs, and is simply for drills, etc, when I need a handy outlet. #2 through #5 are all wired through #1, so that I simply come along, then place, say, my VHF ("b", above) on the lower shelf recharger platform which is permanently plugged in via the charger above through the wire dangling down to the base, from the recharger (++++++). I then switch on the individual rocker immediately above the plugged in recharger, select the time I want (say, 8-hours so as not to overcharge the unit), and forget about it until needed. I only show one wire dangling down, but in effect, all rechargers are plugged in always and their wires hang down, some to recharger bases (a), some just a 3-volt plug end, or whatever. Given the number of items one needs to recharge these days (VHF, cell phone, GPS, etc), the unit works very well. I also know enough how to "condition" my rechargeable batteries and not create "memory" problems. At the very least, it looks very "Kayak Kavish". Turning my attention to my "Batmobile", my Kayak Van has undergone a bit of reworking too. Being a true "Super-Kayaker" I had my red 97 Plymouth Voyageur lowered two inches, and put on high performance radial tires and custom mags. I didn't want to undo the good height-loss too much with a poor roof-rack choice, so really "racked" my brain, along with a couple of other backchannel PW'ers. I finally went with the Yakima Double Cross system. Some of the following is generic, however. Most newer stock roof-racks that come with a channel, will accept Thule or Yakima "Railrider" type mounts. These are the best way to go if you are going to use the Hulley Rollers, because you want those rollers as far back as possible so as not to dent the rear door of a van/SUV or the trunk of a sedan when loading up the kayak. The problem is, only a few of the current models of channel-mount rack supports come with a quick-remove feature (usually a small plate is left in place behind after dismount, being low profile and not too bad looking). On my particular van, the channel is asymmetrical, meaning the rectangular pieces that mount into he inside of the channel would not grip very securely all along one edge. I opted for the Double Cross, which clamps onto the stock raised rail, and is very secure and strong, and lower profile. The only problem with this set-up is that it is a fairly permanent fixture, requiring you to pull the 1-inch bars completely out of each double set, to get the rack off. Not too big a job, until you add cradles and rollers -- then you have to unscrew each of those pairs every time and slide all those off the bar too, which is an awful thing to do all the time in order to restore aerodynamics. My novel solution was to have 1" continuos aluminum tubing welded up with a plasma welder at the seam, to which the Yak cradles and rollers are independently affixed to it with integral tie-down straps affixed to mounting plates. The rectangular bar in about 30" by 70", and mounts to the Yakima bars at 90 degree cross angles. I used spare Mighty Mounts, round ones on the Yakima mounted van, and square ones on my Thule mounted sedan car. The new aluminum "cradle-extender" I had made up used four of these Yak Snap Around mounts, such that four bolts mount the entire aux. cradle to either my van or my car in a matter of seconds. The advantage here is that support for the kayak is extended forward and backward along the kayak. I also don't have to reposition the cradles or rollers for each vehicle, as the stand-alone cradle can transfer to any vehicle. It also kills two other birds with one stone: The Double Cross Yakimas will not allow full mounting to the back of the stock channel type tracks as do the railriders, because the stock rack requires a 6" factory mounting platform below (on all four corners, actually). My cradle extends the Hully Rollers back a couple of extra feet, so much so, that for solo lifts up onto the van, I don't have to fool around with pads at the top of the lift gate, as the bow sits nicely above the van at the back by a couple of inches. Simply go around to the stern of the kayak, lift and push forward, and my British heavy is loaded up and my back and van are still in one piece. This worked well with the sedan car too, as it extends the very short spacing of a sedan's roof-line and prevents dmage to teh trunk. I even sewed up fancy adjustable 1' web straps that hook up to hooks under the bumper via "D" rings. The straps come up 2' from under the van, then charge over to thin rope up to the bow (and stern on the rear end side), so as to reduce windage by not using continuos web strap, yet not have rope cordage digging into the modern bumpers. On the rear, I have a red canadian flag especially sewn to some 1" webbing with plastic snap clips that swivel. The flag is a high-wind mesh one, and flapps nicely behind the van giving the appropriate warning and legal caution. Anal or what? Paddlewise to the max! I could tell you about my solid 1" paneled oak computer hutch I'm finishing up, 40" wide, 20" deep, and 72" high with four big pocket doors, such that when opened up, it revels a 17" monitor and complete computer system with printer, hand-held PC cradle, etc, with a pull out keyboard tray, pullout drawer, and pullout writing desk, all with a flip-up overhead low voltage lighting and built in spot for a future fax machine and scanner -- but I won't, lest you think I really am a Bruce Wayne/Batman wannabe. Really though, I'm just a very avid paddler. (I am not a very good servant of the New World Order, BCU, or anything else). BC'in Ya Doug Lloyd *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
At 01:47 AM 5/5/00 -0700,Doug Lloyd <dlloyd_at_telus.net> wrote: Big, big snip >Turning my attention to my "Batmobile" ..................... > >My novel solution was to have 1" continuos aluminum tubing welded up >with a plasma welder at the seam, to which the Yak cradles and rollers >are independently affixed to it with integral tie-down straps affixed to >mounting plates. ..... Doug, I like the sound of this. Any chance for pictures???? Bill Leonhardt *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
I said: >My novel solution was to have 1" continuos aluminum tubing welded up >with a plasma welder at the seam, to which the Yak cradles and rollers >are independently affixed to it with integral tie-down straps affixed to >mounting plates. ..... Bill said: Doug, I like the sound of this. Any chance for pictures???? I'll get some pics done up once the rack is completed and painted, and then put them on a web page. I took the rack- cradle in this weekend to get some modifications tig-welded on. I wasn't happy with the way the Yakima accessories clamp on. The cradles especially don't seem very secure, unless one turns the clamp tightener (four per cradle) and even then it doesn't sit even on the round bar. I fabricated some 1/4" aluminum plates on Friday, 4" by 24", one on the front, one on the back. I'm having these welded to the large continuous tubing I describe in the last post. This will give the front cradles and the rear rollers a much more secure, flat surface for mounting, and I will use bolts that will be much more difficult for a thief to undue, than the stock fasteners. I slotted the holes in the metal plates so that the mounts are adjustable if I get a different kayak some time. Off the front of my kayak carrier cradle, I mounted a fabricated wind deflector from Plexiglas, and it awaits my new PW sticker! BC'in Ya Doug LLoyd *************************************************************************** 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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