Hey, my new Kokatat drysuit arrived yesterday. It is a Meridian Swift-entry. I took it out on the lake immediately. Water temp was 38 degrees, wind blasting at 40+ miles an hour. Waves 2-3 feet in height, what a gas! It was absolutly PERFECT for practicing my reenter/roll, and a bunch of different self rescue techniques. Lots of fun. I have never owned a drysuit before, but borrowed one from a friend who wussed out on our New Years Eve trip. What I learned - Before paddling in my new suit/new boat (BTW, my FOX paddles great) I put on the suit, PFD, a latex swim cap, dove in and went swimming. The waterpressure around my legs completely inflated my upper body and I felt like one of those sumo wrestlers at the bar. I opened my neck gasket and let out the excess - now I was comfortable. BUT, My hands and feet soon felt the icy needles of pain. No problem, I figured, I ran up the beach and to the car, slipped off the suit and pulled on my waterproof/breathable Sealskinz socks and a pair of yellow latex dishwashing gloves. I jumped back in the suit and headed back for another swim. Being completely in the water gave me a feeling like total bulletproofness. My face was the only skin exposed and the rest of me felt great. I swam/floated for about half an hour in the rather large waves without feeling any leaks, or drips in the system. I paddled in the 70 degree weather for about an hour, using my new Fox to surf waves, and leaping off the crests at full speed. I only rolled once when I got too warm from the hard paddling. I am going to miss that drysuit induced bulletproof feeling when the water temps get warm enough to comfortably wear a wetsuit again. My new Fox is doing well, in fact just yesterday morning, I had the boat on the car rack and was on my way to pick up my new drysuit the University, I was followed for about 3 miles in town by a construction company pickup that swerved out into traffic and wouldn't shake no matter where I turned. I pulled into the parking lot and they screeched in behind me and came running up. "I'm gonna die" I thought to myself as these burly guys approached. "hey!" they yelled, "Where can we learn to kayak?" I talked to them for a while, they left, and I began jogging to class. I began preparing a reason for my tardiness - and I wondered, what the heck do you think their foreman thought when he saw his 3 guys jump in a truck at the site and tear off after me... Sheesh, that never happened when I had any other boats on top, I wonder why it snagged those guys. Anyways, I am really happy with my new boat and suit. You could say they were a little present to myself for finally graduating college. BTW, I figured out that if you pick up little jobs on the side to save for something like a new kayak and just sign over the real checks to the wife, she generally doesn't mind the extra clutter in the garage. Although, I have discovered that my wife, a non-paddler, has applied a three boat limit to our household. I don't know if that is treasony or heresy. But she seems to be standing firm on it. Does anybody have any suggestions for improving my three-boat limit? Please understand, that I paddle 8-10 hours a week, generally while teaching kayaking classes, the rest is on my own and with other family/friends. As a boat buyer, I am content for now, but realize I have the typical male weakness for shiny things. This fever will no doubt strike again - I am simply planning...Though I might sell two of my boats in the future and move towards a Pintail...Arrgh, slap me... I am considering subjecting my wife to a mystical kayak voodoo. I know a few good whitewaterlovin' witch doctors that might be able to help me out. Anythoughts, I'll be holding my reins on the quiver of boats for a while. Might go and paddle that Fox again before work. better get going, Phil Huck huck_at_mhd1.moorhead.msus.edu thekayaker_at_yahoo.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/ ***************************************************************************
Phil Huck wrote: > > Does anybody have any suggestions for improving > my three-boat limit? Please understand, that I paddle 8-10 hours a week, > generally while teaching kayaking classes, the rest is on my own and with > other family/friends. Sounds like you need to use OPG* for a while. Another trick I've heard is to buy all red boats, but this really only works for N > 5. But if you're teaching kayaking 8-10 hours a week, plus paddling with family and friends, you're a pro, and you can always use another boat for beginners, cousins, etc. Steve *--Other People's Garages *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Try this: "Honestly hun, I have *no* idea how that thing got in there, but isn't she a beaut!" or perhaps "Oh that, that was there when we moved in." maybe "Boat, what boat, and have I ever told you how beautiful you look." while your at it "Um, that's Bob's boat, he's, uh, keeping it here while he gets over, ahh, carpal tunnel syndrome." and "I could swear there were only three out there last I looked, are you sure, and have I ever told you how beautiful you look." These might work for a boat or two. -Patrick >Phil Huck wrote: >> >> Does anybody have any suggestions for improving >> my three-boat limit? Please understand, that I paddle 8-10 hours a week, >> generally while teaching kayaking classes, the rest is on my own and with > > other family/friends. > *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> Does anybody have any suggestions for improving > my three-boat limit? Sure. I've dealt with this plenty. First, since you are a professional in the area of kayaking, your boat (and gear) purchases should be tax deductions. Most people don't know much about taxes. Just tell her they are all tax deductable, and that may well end the matter. Second, tell her the next boat is hers. Give it to her as a present on her birthday or something (be sure to also give her a real present). "Dear, this is for you." If she never uses it, then you're home free. If she takes up kayaking, then maybe the boat-buying bug will get her, too . . . meaning automatic expansion of The Boat Number Limit. Third, tell her it was bequeathed to you by a kayaking friend who had to give up the sport because of some catastrophic illness. "Honey, you remember my old friend Schmobl? No? Old college buddy. . . Anyway, he has developed Frankenstein's Syndrome and can't paddle any more. He gave me his boat. What? Yes, it is brand new. He just bought it right before he discovered the disease. (Deep sigh, wipe away slight tear. . . )." This usually only works once. Fourth, tell her you are signing up for a kayak building course on Wednesday evenings. On Wednesday evenings, go play poker with your friends. Then, if you don't lose too much money, after six weeks bring home a new boat. "See, sweety, this is what I made in class. No. Didn't cost a penny." Fifth, as a general rule always pay for boating stuff with cash. No record. Then lie about how much it cost. I have found that cooperative retailers are sometimes willing to give you a fake receipt. This helps. "Yeah, it was on sale. Last year's model, and they *had* to get rid of it. Tremendous deal." Sixth, make things up about the source of the money. "Yeah, I won big at poker last Wednesday. . . . What? What kayaking building course? Oh, yeah, that one. I meant poker last . . . um, at work." Or: "I found $3,000.00 laying by the side of the road." Etc. There is always The Last Resort: D-I-V-O-R-C-E. I did this once over a sailboat, and never looked back. As my Mom says, "There's a lid for every pot." And a pot that loves kayaks might just find a lid that does, too. Anyway, good luck. Mark *************************************************************************** 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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