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From: Clas Hagelstam <clas_kayaker_at_hotmail.com>
subject: [Paddlewise] Registering distance paddled
Date: Thu, 31 Oct 2002 09:29:15 +0000
Anyone have experience with a sensible
( electronic) gadget that registers
distance paddled?
Maybe a sensor attached to the inside of
the hull or mounted through a hole with
the active surface flush with the bottom.
Regards clas_kayaker_at_hotmail.com



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From: <Rick.Sylvia_at_ferguson.com>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Registering distance paddled
Date: Thu, 31 Oct 2002 08:25:48 -0500
> Anyone have experience with a sensible
> ( electronic) gadget that registers
> distance paddled?
> Maybe a sensor attached to the inside of
> the hull or mounted through a hole with
> the active surface flush with the bottom.
> Regards clas_kayaker_at_hotmail.com
> 
 
No, not of the type that you mentioned, but any base model GPS will have a distance feature on it.  I'm curious... why take a look at these other electronic gadgets when the GPS can do that and so much more?  Not sarcasm, serious question.  Can you elaborate on your needs/objectives?

Rick

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From: <jfarrelly5_at_comcast.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Registering distance paddled
Date: Thu, 31 Oct 2002 14:08:47 -0500
[Moderator's Note: Content unaltered. Excessive quoting (i.e.  headers/footers/sig lines/comments from previous posts, etc.) have been removed. Please edit quoted material in addition to removing header/trailers when replying to posts.]

A friend's GPS leaves a "bread crumb" trail on the screen and shows total
distance traveled.  You can find your way back by following the dots
(crumbs).


----- Original Message -----
From: <Rick.Sylvia_at_ferguson.com>
Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Registering distance paddled


> > Anyone have experience with a sensible
> > ( electronic) gadget that registers
> > distance paddled?
>
> No, not of the type that you mentioned, but any base model GPS will have a
distance feature on it. 
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From: Kirk Olsen <paddlewise_at_fastmail.fm>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Registering distance paddled
Date: Thu, 31 Oct 2002 14:10:57 UT
On Thu, 31 Oct 2002 09:29:15 +0000, "Clas Hagelstam"
<clas_kayaker_at_hotmail.com> said:
> Anyone have experience with a sensible
> ( electronic) gadget that registers
> distance paddled?
> Maybe a sensor attached to the inside of
> the hull or mounted through a hole with
> the active surface flush with the bottom.

I've got a knotmeter from speedtech 
http://www.speedtech.com/asp/prodtype.asp?prodtype=35
which records distance travelled, along with speed.

They have 2 models of interest to a paddler.  An impeller verion that has
a small "propeller" on a fin that attaches to your boat.  The other
version is a trailing wire that you just drop over the side.  Neither
model requires putting a hole through the hull.

I used it a fair amount on a couple outrigger canoes (single and double)
that I paddled this year.  It's great for letting you know right away
what effect boat and stroke adjustments have to your speed.  Since we
were practicing while paddling 
into a stiff current the knotmeter gave our real speed in the water
versus a gps which would have only given our speed relative to the
planet.

The impeller version is basically 3 pieces.  The reciever, which has nice
big legible numbers, that attaches to an angled plate which is velcro'ed
to the boat.  The impeller is in 2 pieces, a base plate (fairly
hydrodynamic, that is about 1/2" by 2" (1.25 X 5cm) and maybe 1/4" thick)
which attaches with 3M adhesive, and a removable impeller/fin that slides
into the base plate.

If you change boats a lot the trailing wire is probably preferable. 
Additional base plates are available, but they are "permanantly" attached
to the boat so you can't get speed results in a borrowed boat.  I would
be interested in finding a source for the 3M adhesive, since I bought the
impeller version but paddle a lot of different boats.

The results do go haywire when you go under high tension power lines. 
I'm fairly certain we never got the outrigger doing 35 knots ;-)

Kirk
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From: Michael Daly <michaeldaly_at_rogers.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Registering distance paddled
Date: Thu, 31 Oct 2002 12:38:57 -0500
From: "Kirk Olsen" <paddlewise_at_fastmail.fm>

> I've got a knotmeter from speedtech 
> http://www.speedtech.com/asp/prodtype.asp?prodtype=35
> which records distance travelled, along with speed.

Is this widget capable of judging distance travelled independent
of local currents?

Mike
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From: Kees van der Meij <keesvdm_at_xs4all.nl>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Registering distance paddled
Date: Thu, 31 Oct 2002 16:31:38 +0100
> Anyone have experience with a sensible
> ( electronic) gadget that registers
> distance paddled?
> Maybe a sensor attached to the inside of
> the hull or mounted through a hole with
> the active surface flush with the bottom.
> Regards clas_kayaker_at_hotmail.com
>
I use a GPS receiver (a Garmin eTrex Vista, to be exactly), and it not only
shows you how far you paddled, but has a lot of other "trip-computer"
functions, in addition to showing your location on a moving map. Accuracy is
pretty good, provided the antenna can see the sky at all times, which isn't
a problem when it's lying on deck in it's waterproof bag.

Cheaper ones will have similar but perhaps more limited functions. I also
own a GPS12XL that has a mileage counter that could be reset prior to a
trip.

regards,

    Kees

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From: Kees van der Meij <keesvdm_at_xs4all.nl>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Registering distance paddled
Date: Thu, 31 Oct 2002 19:09:19 +0100
> Is this widget capable of judging distance travelled independent
> of local currents?
>
I've rethought my earlier reply about using a GPS receiver: There are
actually two "distance" measurements that are not equivalent:

1. there's "True" distance, measured relative to ground or on a map. GPS'es
are excellent for this.

2. there's "Muscle" distance, which is just the length of the water you have
paddled across. This can only be measured by looking at the water directly
below your boat, for instance with a device a previous poster described.

Only without current both distances will be equal. On a river with a few
miles/h of current, you can paddle a day and get nowhere, or not paddle at
all and still cover quite some distance. (wonder why river marathons usually
go downstream ? ;-)

regards,

    Kees

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From: TheGuyWhoSentThis <rjrogg_at_pacifier.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Registering distance paddled
Date: Thu, 31 Oct 2002 10:46:23 -0800
Clas Hagelstam wrote:
> 
> Anyone have experience with a sensible
> ( electronic) gadget that registers
> distance paddled?


Yes Clas, I use an Garmin Etrex GPS.  It is advertised as
waterproof, with the usual disclaimers.  I put it in my PFD
pocket.  The average accuracy displayed is to 16 feet.
Close enough for my calculations.  I paddle in the 
SW Washington state area.  On the Columbia river I can not
only track distance covered but also drift with the current
and read that speed and then add or subtract it from my 
direction of travel.  I consider the basic Etrex model to
be both sensible and economical - under $150.00.  Of course
I also use it mounted on my motorcycle, mountain bike and 
beloved Subaru.
FWIW I don't work for or sell for and am not connected with Garmin
and/or its subsidiaries if any way, shape or form.

Roggie - home based in Longview, Washington, USA
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From: Kirk Olsen <paddlewise_at_fastmail.fm>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Registering distance paddled
Date: Thu, 31 Oct 2002 20:53:37 UT
On Thu, 31 Oct 2002 12:38:57 -0500, "Michael Daly"
<michaeldaly_at_rogers.com> said:
> From: "Kirk Olsen" <paddlewise_at_fastmail.fm>
> 
> > I've got a knotmeter from speedtech 
> > http://www.speedtech.com/asp/prodtype.asp?prodtype=35
> > which records distance travelled, along with speed.
> 
> Is this widget capable of judging distance travelled independent
> of local currents?

It's just an impeller.  It's distance travelled relative to the water.
Moored in a 6mph current would yield 6 miles "travelled" in an hour.

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From: Bob Myers <bob_at_intelenet.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Registering distance paddled
Date: Thu, 31 Oct 2002 13:48:57 -0800
Kirk Olsen wrote:

>On Thu, 31 Oct 2002 12:38:57 -0500, "Michael Daly"
><michaeldaly_at_rogers.com> said:
>  
>
>>From: "Kirk Olsen" <paddlewise_at_fastmail.fm>
>>
>>    
>>
>>>I've got a knotmeter from speedtech 
>>>http://www.speedtech.com/asp/prodtype.asp?prodtype=35
>>>which records distance travelled, along with speed.
>>>      
>>>
>>Is this widget capable of judging distance travelled independent
>>of local currents?
>>    
>>
>
>It's just an impeller.  It's distance travelled relative to the water.
>Moored in a 6mph current would yield 6 miles "travelled" in an hour.
>
>  
>
However, most GPS units have an "odometer" feature that will give true 
distance traveled, if that's what you want to know.  You have to leave 
it on where it can see the sky though.


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From: Kirk Olsen <paddlewise_at_fastmail.fm>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Registering distance paddled
Date: Thu, 31 Oct 2002 21:17:31 UT
On Thu, 31 Oct 2002 19:09:19 +0100, "Kees van der Meij"
<keesvdm_at_xs4all.nl> said:
> > Is this widget capable of judging distance travelled independent
> > of local currents?
> >
> I've rethought my earlier reply about using a GPS receiver: There are
> actually two "distance" measurements that are not equivalent:
> 
> 1. there's "True" distance, measured relative to ground or on a map.
> GPS'es are excellent for this.

A GPS would be good in an open water race so you could know whether you
were paddling with or
against any local currents.  Plus knowing where you really are is useful
for using a map ;->

> 2. there's "Muscle" distance, which is just the length of the water you
> have paddled across. This can only be measured by looking at the water
> directly below your boat, for instance with a device a previous poster described.

The knotmeter is good for judging how fast you are paddling and if
changes to your
technique or boat are a good or bad adjustment.  

With a tandem outrigger canoe we found a full knot of difference
depending on how we set the outrigger - paddling the same section of
river. In theory using the same stroke technique throughout.

kirk
clearly showing his technique/racing bias
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From: Clas Hagelstam <clas_kayaker_at_hotmail.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Registering distance paddled
Date: Fri, 01 Nov 2002 17:06:10 +0000
Greetings

A few days ago I submitted the question
for a gadget to register distance paddled
- and got a heap of answers.
Thanks.
Consensus centers on "Use your GPS".
I have used it, but paddling for more
than a few days empties the batteries.

A deviating answer led me to Speedtech
at www.speedtech.com.
They sell a trailing wire unit that seems
to offer what I'm after.
Have ordered one and will try it out.

Thanks to PaddleWise and congratulations
to upcoming 2000:th issue.

clas hagelstam / Finland






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