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From: <Gypsykayak_at_aol.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Florida Paddling
Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2000 17:42:36 EDT
What with a new computer, a trip to Lake Kissimmee State Park and work my 
personal life has been interrupted.

Don't know if this will help the paddler who wanted info on Fort Walton 
Beach,  but check out  www.paddlefl.com

Am now going through packing anxiety for the 5-days on the Suwannee River 
trip at the beginning of November.  I succumbed to buying the Eureka! Zephyr 
XT tent because I wanted the to-the-ground rainfly and vestibules.  Should 
arrive tomorrow.

BTW, the price at CampMor.com  was $139.99.  I called to see if it was on 
sale and was told $119.99, which made the decision a bit easier.  When I 
called a few minutes later they quoted the 139.99, after a mini-shit fit on 
my part, he pressed some other buttons and I got the lower price.  

For a nice site on paddling the Suwannee River check out Bill Logan's site at 
www.canoe-suwannee.com   He has an accompanying book and video (discount if 
you buy both).

Would those of you who want to come to the Miami/Key Largo reunion please 
reply (via the list is OK as others may want to see who/how many are coming) 
and let's decide if we want to do it over the weekend of January 15 (monday) 
or February 19 (Monday) as both are holidays.

sandy kramer
miami
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From: Gabriel L Romeu <romeug_at_erols.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Florida Paddling
Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2000 20:13:41 -0400
most possibly- Feb. 19 better as the january date is too close to the
florida holiday in-law mandate.

gabriel
chesterfield


> 
> Would those of you who want to come to the Miami/Key Largo reunion please
> reply (via the list is OK as others may want to see who/how many are coming)
> and let's decide if we want to do it over the weekend of January 15 (monday)
> or February 19 (Monday) as both are holidays.
> 
> sandy kramer
> miami


-- 
:                         :
Gabriel L Romeu                                                      :
http://studiofurniture.com  furniture from the workshop               :
http://members.xoom.com/gabrielR  life as a tourist, daily
journal         :
http://studiofurniture.com/paint  paintings, photographs, etchings,
objects
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From: <Gypsykayak_at_aol.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Florida Paddling
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2000 17:10:02 EDT
<< We can come Presdident's weekend (FEbruary 19), but not in January, so I
 hope that winds up being the consensus, because we'd like to come.
 
 Joan & Bob Volin >>

GREAT! I prefer Feb also, so we will go with that.  I'll start making plans 
and will keep you posted.

sandy
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From: <volinjo_at_juno.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Florida Paddling
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2000 18:43:53 -0400
Terrific!
Regarding your earlier offer of a Seda - I don't know the kayak, but I'd
probably be willing to try it.  Let me know what we should bring inthe
way of gear - PFDS, spray skirts, paddles, tents, sleeping bags,
thermorests??? 
 It should be great.
Joan

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From: <volinjo_at_juno.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Florida Paddling
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2000 20:22:12 -0400
Yes there is.  Have you given any thought to what you'll do for a boat? 
(You are going, right??)

Joan

On Wed, 18 Oct 2000 19:20:39 -0400 Gabriel L Romeu <romeug_at_erols.com>
writes:
> There is the boat issue, isn't there...gabriel
> 
>
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From: Gabriel L Romeu <romeug_at_erols.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Florida Paddling
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2000 21:03:18 -0400
Much as I would like to have completed a folder by then, I don't think
it is possible.  Rita and I will need boats.  I am beginning to
think...oh my, this really hurts.  I'll think later.

volinjo_at_juno.com wrote:
> 
> Yes there is.  Have you given any thought to what you'll do for a boat?
> (You are going, right??)
> 
> Joan

:                         :
Gabriel L Romeu                                                      :
http://studiofurniture.com  furniture from the workshop               :
http://members.xoom.com/gabrielR  life as a tourist, daily
journal         :
http://studiofurniture.com/paint  paintings, photographs, etchings,
objects
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From: John Fereira <jaf30_at_cornell.edu>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Florida Paddling
Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2000 08:41:22 -0400
At 09:03 PM 10/18/00 -0400, Gabriel L Romeu wrote:
>Much as I would like to have completed a folder by then, I don't think
>it is possible.  Rita and I will need boats.  I am beginning to
>think...oh my, this really hurts.  I'll think later.

This get-together sounds intriguing.  

I'd certainly be ready for a brief vacation in Florida during the heart of
winter in Ithaca, NY.  Are there good rental outfitters in the area where
one could rent a decent kayak?


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From: <Gypsykayak_at_aol.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Florida Paddling
Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2000 13:37:30 EDT
In a message dated 00-10-19 11:17:42 EDT, jaf30_at_cornell.edu writes:

<< Are there good rental outfitters in the area where one could rent a decent 
kayak? >>

Absolutely!  contact Frank or Monica Woll (or Bill) at Florida Bay Outfitters 
kayak_at_terranova.net  305-451-3018. 

Tell them you're with the Paddlewise group that Sandy Kramer told Monica 
about and give them the February dates.  

My friends and I have spare boats for those who are less concerned about a 
"decent" kayak and want to save some $$$.

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From: Victoria LOdge <torilodge_at_hotmail.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Florida Paddling
Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2000 17:15:34 GMT
*sigh*  well.... I'll be in Fla. with my three boys and my kayak the first 
week and a half in March... will think about y'all when you're there, but 
can't do two!  (but if anyone wants to put our rowdy bunch up for a night 
when we ARE down there, you can let me know!) I go every year to the gulf 
off Ft. Meyers for a week of camping and this wil be my first year taking my 
boat with me.  :) Looking forward to it, and maybe to stopping on the way to 
or from to play in some of the places you all keep talking about.....

Tori



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From: Luke Hoffman <lukeh_at_hiwaay.net>
subject: [Paddlewise] More on the Perception Eclipse and Kayak Fit
Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2000 13:48:12 -0500
Thanks to everybody who provided input on the Perception Eclipse.  I went 
down to the outdoor store at lunch and tried it on. I found entrance and 
exit a little difficult. This kind of surprised because several people in 
my size range (around 6' 2") through the cockpit was roomy.  When I was in 
the cockpit it felt pretty good, but when I was getting in and getting out 
the thigh braces blocked me a little bit.  I ended up having to wedge both 
knees together and then come out.  It wasn't pretty.

Is this a normal kayak fit? I've been paddling my Acadia too much to know 
the feel of a *real* touring kayak.  But I think I have the bug now.

If the seat could have been adjusted, that would have helped.  Just an inch 
or two more leg room would have done the trick.

The Eclipse is probably  OK, but it just didn't feel right to me.  I also 
sat in a Perception Vizcaya which was a little wider.  The sales guy said 
he had some Perception Captivas coming in later.  I'd like to take a look 
at them too.

I had a couple of other good boat suggestions form the list 
backchannel.  Unfortunately, they're on my home PC and I don't have them in 
front of me right now.  But I'll add them to my list of stuff to look at. 
Other thoughts?

                                         Luke

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From: Dave Kruger <dkruger_at_pacifier.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] More on the Perception Eclipse and Kayak Fit
Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2000 13:25:48 -0700
Luke Hoffman wrote:
> 
> Thanks to everybody who provided input on the Perception Eclipse.  I went
> down to the outdoor store at lunch and tried it on. I found entrance and
> exit a little difficult. This kind of surprised because several people in
> my size range (around 6' 2") through the cockpit was roomy.  When I was in
> the cockpit it felt pretty good, but when I was getting in and getting out
> the thigh braces blocked me a little bit.  I ended up having to wedge both
> knees together and then come out.  It wasn't pretty.

Be leery of this.  Were you wearing your "normal" paddling togs and footgear? 
If not, consider that a 3 mm wetsuit will make the fit tighter.  Are the thigh
braces of a type which can be shaved somewhat to fit you better?

Also ask for (and get) a demonstration of how the seat cam be repositioned
rearward an inch (no more!) if that's what you need.  I have not done that with
the seat on an Eclipse, but it is not too tricky on earlier models of sea
kayaks Perception makes.

Don't move the seat more than an inch -- you can seriously alter the trim of
the boat and that will affect its paddling performance.  If you really love the
boat, and have to move the seat to fit it, then you will have to always paddle
with some ballast in the front compartment to get the trim back to where it
should be.

Although it is normal to do some outfitting to make the cockpit fit you,
personally, moving the seat back should be done cautiously.  Matt Broze can
probably elucidate the whys and wherefores for us.

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
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From: Luke Hoffman <lukeh_at_hiwaay.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] More on the Perception Eclipse and Kayak Fit
Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2000 07:29:45 -0500
At 01:25 PM 10/19/00 -0700, Dave Kruger wrote:

Luke Hoffman wrote:
 > <snip stuff I wrote on trying on trying on a kayak
 > Be leery of this.  Were you wearing your "normal" paddling togs and 
footgear?
 > If not, consider that a 3 mm wetsuit will make the fit tighter.  Are the 
thigh braces
 >of a type which can be shaved somewhat to fit you better?
I was wearing street clothes.  That's a good point.  Although around here 
(North Alabama) we don't need wetsuits most of the year.  I believe the 
braces could be modified and someone told me offlist that on the Perception 
boats you can actually remove and exchange the thigh braces.

 >Don't move the seat more than an inch -- you can seriously alter the trim of
 >the boat and that will affect its paddling performance.
I'm glad you mentioned that.  I hadn't even thought of that.

I've gotten several back channel responses from other tall folks, and 
evidently this is not an uncommon problem.  I have gotten a couple of other 
boat suggestions, plus I remembered Wes Boyd's Boats for Big Guys page at:
http://www2.dmci.net/users/wesboyd/bigguy.htm

I'm going to check out some of those too.

                                           Luke
  
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From: Wes Boyd <boydwe_at_dmci.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] More on the Perception Eclipse and Kayak Fit
Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2000 09:13:51
At 07:29 AM 10/20/00 -0500, Luke Hoffman wrote:


>evidently this is not an uncommon problem.  I have gotten a couple of other 
>boat suggestions, plus I remembered Wes Boyd's Boats for Big Guys page at:
>http://www2.dmci.net/users/wesboyd/bigguy.htm

You know, it sure gives my ego little smiley faces inside to see other
people put up pointers to that page. I guess it's providing a useful
service to somebody, which makes me glad that I thought of doing it.

Well, now with the weather getting colder, the days getting shorter and the
kayaking season winding down, maybe it's time to think about spiffing it up
again, adding some boats, cleaning up some minor errors, jazzing up the
page appearance, etc. From this topic and a couple e-mails I've had
recently, I can see I need to put more emphasis into boats for the plus-six
footers, especially those with big feet. Does anybody have any suggestions,
ideas, or pointers (I mean, over and above what's been discussed in this
thread?)

>I'm going to check out some of those too.

One of the few areas where men can share in the joy of shopping that women
often seem to extol is searching for a new boat. It gives plenty of
opportunity to try out different boats -- which can be habit forming, just
ask Matt Broze -- or stand around talking kayaking, or just get out and see
new scenery, thinking about what you want in a boat, wondering how you're
going to pay or it and/or explain it to the wife, the thrill of finding the
perfect boat marked off 40% at an end of season sale, and so on, and so on.
In other words, shopping for boats is fun and habit forming and an
excellent way to pass the time. Plus, it's certianly better for you
(although perhaps no less expensive) than drinking or drugs.

Joking aside, shop around. It's worth it to try out lots of different
boats, especially if you're an odd fit. You can learn a great deal from
looking at the different approaches to the same problem. As I said on the
above-mentioned web page, "A boat can haul a load that could break down a
pack horse, track like an arrow, turn on a dime and be fast as the wind,
but if you can't get in and out easily, and be comfortable in it for
several hours, it is not the boat for you. The only way to be sure it fits
you is to try it on; if it doesn't fit, look elsewhere."

Have fun with it!

-- Wes

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From: Kevin Stevens <Kevin_Stevens_at_bigfoot.com>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] More on the Perception Eclipse and Kayak Fit
Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2000 21:40:11 -0700
> Thanks to everybody who provided input on the Perception Eclipse.  I went
> down to the outdoor store at lunch and tried it on. I found entrance and
> exit a little difficult. This kind of surprised because several people in
> my size range (around 6' 2") through the cockpit was roomy.  When I was in
> the cockpit it felt pretty good, but when I was getting in and getting out
> the thigh braces blocked me a little bit.  I ended up having to wedge both
> knees together and then come out.  It wasn't pretty.
>
> Is this a normal kayak fit? I've been paddling my Acadia too much to know
> the feel of a *real* touring kayak.  But I think I have the bug now.
>
> If the seat could have been adjusted, that would have helped.  Just an inch
> or two more leg room would have done the trick.

The Eclipse is an extremely typical touring kayak.  I have a terrible time with
most current boats, as I like to sit somewhat crosslegged and brace with my
knees.  Most of the _at_#$$% thigh braces catch my legs way too high.  One thing
you should definitely know with the plastic Perception boats is that the thigh
braces are REMOVABLE and EXCHANGEABLE - they have different sizes and lengths.
Changing (removing in my case) the braces makes all the difference in the world
to me - it isn't that the cockpit is too cramped, it's that my damned legs are
pinned to the floor.

If you're looking at an Eclipse be sure to take the brace adjustments into
account.  If it still doesn't fit you well, I strongly recommend trying the Cape
Horn from Wilderness Systems.  It is a newer design that you don't hear a lot
about, a bit short for a full-out touring boat at 15'5.  However, I fit into it
like a charm, and it's a boat that just plain worked for me from the moment I
got in it.  For 2001, they've introduced a shorter (14'7" and longer (17'3")
version of this boat.  At a recent Paddlefest I paddled the original version for
an hour during a stroke clinic (instructor nominated me "most improved" which
was a polite way of saying that I really, really sucked at the start); then
hopped directly into the longer version to try it out.  Felt like a completely
different boat, and I didn't like it nearly as much.  I think they hit the nail
on the head with the original, but try them out and see what you think.

KeS

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From: Steve Cramer <cramer_at_coe.uga.edu>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] More on the Perception Eclipse and Kayak Fit
Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2000 09:01:00 -0400
Kevin Stevens wrote:
> 
> One thing
> you should definitely know with the plastic Perception boats is that the thigh
> braces are REMOVABLE and EXCHANGEABLE - they have different sizes and lengths.

If you're really serious about fit you can install WW thigh braces. I
have Pirouette thigh braces in my Sea Lion and it really helps in
rolling and edging. My knees will NOT slip out accidently. They're good
for a re-enter and roll, too, because all you need is to catch your
right knee under that brace and it doesn't matter where your feet, butt
and other leg are.

Steve
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From: <Gypsykayak_at_aol.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Florida Paddling
Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2000 13:56:46 EDT
I replied privately to Joan regarding lending her my glass Seda Gypsy.

I'll call FBO kayaks and see what they have and for how much and will then 
post it to those who have expressed an interest in attending.  On the other 
hand, this info might be a encouraging factor for those who are undecided.  

sandy

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From: Bob Volin <bobvolin_at_bestweb.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Florida Paddling
Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2000 22:27:52 -0400
Hi Sandy...
   I'm going to tag along with Joan (no surprise there) and am interested in
the boat choices available from FBO.  Looking forward to meeting and gabbing
with everyone!

    Bob


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From: <Russ1734_at_cs.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Florida Paddling
Date: Mon, 23 Oct 2000 20:01:35 EDT
WHERE in Florida is the February get together going to be.....I MIGHT be in 
Florida around that time and if I am, I'll make every effort to be 
there.....Russell

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