Hi Guys, I'm back from 2 weeks in Spain. Great time. I did not paddle but just missed out on doing so. Seems Nautiraid's importer in Spain is located in Barcelona where we spent most of our time and he is partners in a touring outfit on the Costa Brava just 2 or 3 hours north of Barcelona. I got email from him during the 24 hours I was in New York between my San Francisco trip and going off to Spain; he was asking me something but did not say where in Spain he was located. I sent him email saying that I would be in Barcelona but did not hear back before leaving home. Within a few hours of arrival there, he called me at my hotel (waking me from a jet lag sleep). But my mindset and gear was not set for going paddling for a whole day out of our itinerary. The location sounds great...lots of caves to explore, etc. and a nice rugged coast line. He gave me a copy of a book written by an Austrian, Paul Fidrmuc (who was a paddling champion in Austria and Germany in the 1930s), called A Kayak On the Costa Brava, written in 1948 about his adventures in a Klepper along that coastline. My copy is in Spanish, Una Piragua en la Costa Brava. The book translation is quite poetic...I don't know if it is because of the original book or the translator. It catches all the trials and tribulations of a folding kayak owner but with the affection we all have for this very special breed of vessel. He named his Klepper Don Tonto (means Mr. Stupid; as an aside when I was growing up as a boy in a Spanish speaking household I could never figure out why the Lone Ranger was calling his partner Stupid but I justified it to myself because what Tonto called the Lone Ranger, quemo sabe, sounded an awful lot like the Spanish "quien no sabe" or he who doesn't know anything :-)). Fidrmuc called his boat Don Tonto based on what a friend remarked when seeing him about to launch in it into enormous waves breaking on a beach. "Vas a salir con esto? Que tonteria!" You're going out in that? What stupidity! OK, enough digression...back to basics on this PaddleWise Mingle in NYC this coming Memorial Day Weekend. We are planning 3 days of paddling and get-together on a very informal basis and show off our PaddleWise T-shirts (I assume mine is waiting at the post office for me). The venues for the 3 days are diverse and offer an interesting array of paddling opporunities. Please let us know if you are coming for any of those days. (me at rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com or Joan Volin at volinjo_at_juno.com) Day 1 (Saturday)is a paddle to the Statue of Liberty from the Downtown Boathouse that starts with us _on the water_ by around 11 am (plan your arrival accordingly), with other shorter trips possible later in the day before a get-together for dinner in the early evening at the Boathouse or vicinity. I will post driving instructions again in later email or you can ask me directly by phone or private email (phone: 212-724-5069). Out of towners can stay at my place in Manhattan's Upper Westside, Saturday nite. You can also create a good map through mapquest (http://www.mapquest.com) and aim at Laight St and West St. The location is just across the Hudson from NJ via the Holland Tunnel. Parking is free across West St. from the Boathouse (which is Pier 26, the northmost of the two docks that show on the mapquest map). Day 2 (Sunday) is a paddle out of West Point, 40 miles or so north of Manhattan, and a beautiful fiord looking part of the river (the river actually is technically a fiord all along its way even if it doesn't look it). We meet in late morning and either paddle right away at noon and picnic downriver at a waterfall (5 miles south of the put-in) or eat up at West Point. Based on Joan's suggestion I am now inclined to go earlier down river than I originally planned. That night we will have a barbeque at the Volins not too far from West Point. Out-of-towners will be able to camp out there. To get to the launch site, use a map to get to West Point. The Main Gate is just past a MacDonalds (on your right). Drive in (the sentry will salute you assuming you are an officer...how nice!!) and go past the Thayer Hotel and take the right that goes sharply down hill to the South Dock area. You cross RR tracks at the bottom of the sharp hill, go left (you can only go left) and drive a few hundred feet until you see a boat ramp on your right or kayaks. Day 3 (Memorial Day Monday) will be a paddle out around City Island and several lighthouses in Long Island Sound, followed by dinner at a fish place on City Island for those who can hang around. We will start paddling out of the launch site at around 11 am (so plan your arrival accordingly for getting gear set up or a folding kayak assembled). Currents are quite confusing around City Island but this gets us out of the Orchard Beach Lagoon on the ebb and back on the flood. Use a map to get yourself to Orchard Beach (in the Northeastern part of the Bronx just shy of City Island). Drive into the parking lot (you may have to pay...I don't know when they start charging) and go sharply left within the parking lot. There is an official City Parks Kayak Launch site near the Northwestern corner of the parking lot. You will likely see some kayaks there. I will make certain that one stays on a car roof as a marker until the last minute before we launch. These plans could be altered by consensus as we go through each day. Again, this is NOT an official PaddleWise event but rather a group of like-minded people who have enjoyed each other's company mainly on the PaddleWise listserver and who wish to meet and mingle and show-n-tell on gear, boats etc. Whether you are a noisy participant on PaddleWise or a wise lurker, you are most welcome to join in. Bill Leonardt who did a great job of pulling together the order for T-shirts will be with us. The weather at this reading is not the best, but we have seen this before, i.e. bad weather forecasts, that managed to not prove true and given us some wonderful paddling trips. The Leonardts and the Volins no doubt remember such a dire forecast a year ago for our Shackleton paddle and museum visit. Again, please let us know if you are coming or need further details. best, 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/ ***************************************************************************
Pardon me if this topic has been thrashed about previously, but I could find nothing on the Paddlewise website (the NBSC link there is dead). I'd like to wear an inflatable PFD sea kayaking. The USCG now certifies non-automatics (I think); I'm planning to get an automatic (for those unfamiliar with inflatables, they are kinda like a fabric horseshoe secured by a chest strap or harness; they inflate automatically when a pill in a capsule dissolves, or by pulling a ripcord, or manually, with a breath tube). My reasons: my existing sea kayaking PFD interferes with my roll, and my whitewater PFD is perhaps too small for long time submersion; all foam PFDs for kayaking have less flotation than I'd like, although certainly they have enough; I like the option of NOT having to have flotation (playing in surf). Another big reason is that since I've gotta have one for sailing, I don't need another one for sea kayaking. Does anyone *who has actually used these in a kayak* have any pointers? Thanks, Rob *************************************************************************** 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 07:01 AM 10/7/98 -0400, John Winters wrote: >This past year I have been carrying an inflatable PFD and am impressed with >them for a number of reasons. > Dear List, For most local paddling, I am reasonably happy with my conventional Type III PFD, however, lately, I have been fantasizing having a folding boat and flying to exotic places to paddle. The folding manufacturers have managed to get their package sizes down to a reasonable carrying size but, of course, you need to bring more equipment than the boat. I am interested in learning more about inflatable PFDs, first to save space when packing for an airplane trip and, second to potentially increase the comfort level and versatility of PFD use. I am requesting anyone with inflatable PFD experience to post to this list and tell us how you use your PFD and your impressions, etc. I also request John Winters to identify the brand name of his inflatable and, possibly, provide a web address to the manufacturer. Thnks, Bill Leonhardt *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
>I am interested in learning more about inflatable PFDs, first to save space >when packing for an airplane trip and, second to potentially increase the >comfort level and versatility of PFD use. I am requesting anyone with >inflatable PFD experience to post to this list and tell us how you use your >PFD and your impressions, etc. I also request John Winters to identify the >brand name of his inflatable and, possibly, provide a web address to the >manufacturer. > >Thnks, > >Bill Leonhardt I would use a Stormy Seas http://www.stormyseas.com/vests.html inflatable short vest with Maximum Buoyancy: 21 lbs. But I would also keep my foam vest on the back deck incase I come to a situation where it would be needed. I know all about the what if's about a inflatable but if you are wearing one when you would not be wearing a foam one you are still better off. with a puff or two of are it will help float you till you pull the cord. No it would not float you face up with a couple of puffs but you stand a chance if you are conscious to orally inflate or pull the cord. It would be better than nothing. Dana *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
At 09:26 AM 10/7/98 -0400, you wrote: >At 07:01 AM 10/7/98 -0400, John Winters wrote: > >>This past year I have been carrying an inflatable PFD and am impressed with >>them for a number of reasons. >> > >Dear List, > >For most local paddling, I am reasonably happy with my conventional Type >III PFD, however, lately, I have been fantasizing having a folding boat and >flying to exotic places to paddle. The folding manufacturers have managed >to get their package sizes down to a reasonable carrying size but, of >course, you need to bring more equipment than the boat. > >I am interested in learning more about inflatable PFDs, first to save space >when packing for an airplane trip and, second to potentially increase the >comfort level and versatility of PFD use. I am requesting anyone with >inflatable PFD experience to post to this list and tell us how you use your >PFD and your impressions, etc. > >Thnks, > >Bill Leonhardt >_________________________________ I purchased a Stormy Seas Short Vest (model SV100). You can contact stormy seas at their web site, and request a video and catalogue of their products. They also have a toll-free phone number, and are quite knowledgeable at answering questions I own a Transport Canada approved PFD as well, but like the SV100 as it is compact, therefore easy to store, is light, therefore I don't mind wearing it, even in 80 degree summer air temperatures. I have never needed to inflate the vest via the cylinder, but if I venture out on a windy day, can orally inflate the unit, assuming that a dip may be imminent. I do orally inflate from time to time to check for leaks, but find that the material stands up well. I bring two spare cylinders when on multi-day trips, and have purchased Aquaseal in the event of a puncture of the vest. Rick British Columbia, Canada *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Hi Rob, We actually use automatic PDF's (salt capsule- or cord activated, manual also possible). We paddle a double Klepper Quattro, a increadibly stable kayak, especially with all four air tubes inflated. We feel that with this kayak you need a PDF primarily for life threatening situations (the ones that you pray to avoid at any cost). In such cases you may expect that you are unable to swim, than only a automatic PFD, provides enough bouancy and a head-above-water-position. We carry our PDF's all the time, never used them. In addition, a Klepper Quattro does not require frequent rolling so a automatic PDF can be used: > My reasons: my existing sea kayaking PFD interferes with my roll, and > my whitewater PFD is perhaps too small for long time submersion; all foam > PFDs for kayaking have less flotation than I'd like, although certainly they > have enough; I like the option of NOT having to have flotation (playing in > surf). When you drope your automatic PDF in the water or by rolling, a split seccond later it is fully inflated. An that is exactly what they are supposed to do. Rolling or any submersion is no option with the salt-tablet activated PDF. A cord activated does not inflate in the water, but its requires YOUR action to inflate and is therefore NOT safe (to our taste). A automatic inflatable PDF for kayaking is, in our opinion, only for kayaks that do not require frequent rolling and is then for life threatening situations only. By the way, do not forget to replace the salt tablet at least once a year, it very hydroscopic.. Our prefered way of replacing the tablets is.........rolling. Diana and Nico-Dirk van Loo Rotterdam The Netherlands > > *************************************************************************** > 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/ ***************************************************************************
> Pardon me if this topic has been thrashed about previously, but I could find > nothing on the Paddlewise website (the NBSC link there is dead). > > I'd like to wear an inflatable PFD sea kayaking. The USCG now certifies > non-automatics (I think); I'm planning to get an automatic (for those > unfamiliar with inflatables, they are kinda like a fabric horseshoe secured > by a chest strap or harness; they inflate automatically when a pill in a > capsule dissolves, or by pulling a ripcord, or manually, with a breath > tube). My reasons: my existing sea kayaking PFD interferes with my roll, and > my whitewater PFD is perhaps too small for long time submersion; all foam > PFDs for kayaking have less flotation than I'd like, although certainly they > have enough; I like the option of NOT having to have flotation (playing in > surf). Another big reason is that since I've gotta have one for sailing, I > don't need another one for sea kayaking. > > Does anyone *who has actually used these in a kayak* have any pointers? > > Thanks, > Rob Rob I use a gas pfd sea kayaking, foam on ww rivers. There are pros and cons to each type. On ww rivers buoyancy is important in and out of the boat, and the foam provides a nice cushion against all those rocks while river running, but sea kayaking I'm only going to need buoyancy in the worst case scenario of swimming and losing my boat. This is a scenario worth wearing a pfd for, but (touch wood) it isn't actually going to happen. If it does, the inflatable jacket holds your head out of the water which a foam buoyancy aid doesn't. That's the worst case scenario. The pros and cons for normal sea paddling? Pros: The gas pfd allows much more freedom of movement than a foam jacket, full lie back for rolls etc, infact it pretty much doesn't interfere with your paddling at all. For long days touring, adjusting clothing, playing with rolls etc etc its superb. I really like it. Cons: There is an argument that a foam pfd provides insulation which the gas jacket doesn't. I prefer to use clothing for insulation, and not my pfd. As you might guess I recommend the inflatable jacket for sea kayaking, my only question would be why do want auto? - I suspect that both pressure and tablet automatic jackets are going to inflate on you when you roll, and once its deployed, that's it apart from blowing into it until you expensively re-arm it. I went for the manual gas option with a rip cord / oral inflation. I live in the Scotland btw. PFD is not a term which we use. Foam jackets are 'buoyancy aids', and inflatable jackets are 'life jackets'. There are different categories for each depending on the amount of buoyancy, but we have no legislative requirement to wear any pfd kayaking, and I have no knowledge of USCG etc regulations. HTH Cheers Colin Calder 57º19'N 2º10'W *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Colin: Thanks for the advice. > > As you might guess I recommend the inflatable jacket for sea kayaking, my only > question would be why do want auto? - I suspect that both pressure and tablet > automatic jackets are going to inflate on you when you roll, and once its > deployed, that's it apart from blowing into it until you expensively re-arm > it. Since I also use it sailing, the auto option is nice. One of the most common ways to end up in the water sailing is to get knocked off the boat...often by the boom. That can mean getting knocked out on the way over, hence autoinflate. The SOS life jacket's autoinflate can be turned off easily for kayaking use. Rob *************************************************************************** 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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