> I can't imagine it would be very marketable because there just aren't that many > people out there with such elongated bodies that are both willing to try a > hammock and aren't concerned with weight.....My guess is that most hammock sales > are to backpackers who want the weight reduction compared to a tent... You're probably right. That's the problem with so many good ideas. Just not enough people making up the market for them to inspire anyone to enter into production. I have always thought that a good hammock would be a great idea for kayaking along rocky coasts -- like parts o the Caribbean, Maine, Ireland, many other places -- where landing on a nice beach with a flat place to camp is not always an option. If you can pull up on a rocky section and take some chocks and lock some cable into a couple of rock sections and string a hammock between them, you can sleep anywhere. The boat could be strung up the same way. Perhaps a bit of a crazy idea, but seems viable to me. Mark *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Sorry, not a long, neat trip report this time -- but for several months, when I've run into local kayakers on Lake Hudson, my normal paddling grounds, I've been accumulating a mailing list toward a get-together sometime. One of these acquaintences suggested a night paddle sometime would be fun, and the fuse was lit. We decided the October full moon would be a good time, and between us sent out invitations to local paddlers we knew, and a few people I've met via e-mail through my web page. We wound up having a nice paddle on a flat lake under a big harvest moon. Participants ranged from poke boats through glass sea kayaks, and we all had a good time. But the reason for making this post is that one of the participants pointed out that at this time of the year, cheap chemical glow sticks are available in the Halloween decoration sections of the chain and discount stores like Target and WalMart, at a real good price. These work just as well as markers for a casual night paddle than the more expensive kind. If you're considering night paddling in the next year or two, the Halloween season is a good time to stock up on these little goodies. -- Wes *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
The answer to this question depends under what jurisdiction you paddle, i.e. the part of the world. In Canada kayaks, canoes, rowboats etc. are not required to have the red and green running lights. The only requirement for those is to carry a white, waterproof lightsource (flashlight) when operating in poor visibility conditions (dark, fog etc.). And even that is afaik only required on bodies of water which a navigable and under CCG/DOT jurisdiction. On the local pond and lake one can likely do and carry whatever pleases. In other parts of the world the rules may be different Ulli *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Holtzman" <sh_at_actglobal.net> > Not only does this not apply to kayaks, but it can be dangerous since it can > confuse other ships or boats that are not used to seeing the reg and green > lights so close together. Actually, a red/green light in one light fixture or apparatus is a pretty standard setup available for use on dinghies and rubber rafts. They are sold in marine shops. I have not noticed any recall of these being demanded by the Coast Guard or the marine industry as being dangerous or improper. I don't believe there is any issue having been brought up by any authority or interested party on width between lights. Some larger boats may have them just inches apart at their bow; I have seen illustrations of such. There seems to be no standard as to exact such placement except the obvious one of one being on the starboard side and the other on the port side. The US Coast Guard publishes an official booklet titled Federal Regulations and Safety Tips for Recreational Boats. It is an effort to simplify the Rules and make clearer on the lights situation that there are preferences and requirements. Here is what it states and illustrates on Page 24: ------------------------ "For Vessels Under Oars If your vessel is under oars, then it should display lights for a sailboat (Figures 3 or 4), if practicable. As an option, your vessel may carry a flashlight or lighted lantern that can show a white light in sufficient time to prevent collision. (See Figure 7)" ------------------------ That Figure 7 depicts two people in a row boat where one is pulling on the oars and the other is shining a white light in the air. Figure 3 mentioned as what would be the preference ( "it should display") for a vessel under oars "if practicable" comes from the requirement for a sailboat less than 65.6 ft long. It shows a red light and green light up at the bow that appear to run a range from almost touching each other to perhaps several feet apart from the bow's apex. It also has a white light at the very stern. Figure 4 also mentioned as a preference for a vessel under oars as in the first sentence in the previous paragraph has a different light setup. The displayed light is up at the very top of the mast of the sailling ship and appears to be an all-in-one light fixture containing red and green at the front and white at the back. Or it could be three separate lights but in very close proximity to each other. I draw a couple of points from all this: --Some people have maintained that it is illegal to display anything other than the white light. Clearly that is not correct. --Personally, I am happy to see the Coast Guard really looking into the situation from a sensible safety standpoint. It is ludicrous for a single kayaker to be depending for his/her night paddling safety on dropping his/her paddle, reaching for and turning on a flashlight and start waving it. In busy waterways you would probably get few paddle strokes in and be at even more danger because a crossing is taking you forever. ralph diaz *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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