My first season in my Pungo and I'm having a blast, but now the weather, and the water, has gotten dangerously cold for me (50's). What is the simplest recommendation any of you can make for safe and comfortable paddling in these conditions. I was hoping that I could paddle well into November but if I have to wear a dry suit the costs will prevent me from going that far this season. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
On Mon, 21 Oct 2002 22:29:12 -0400, "Richard L. Casale" <RichCasale_at_comcast.net> said: > My first season in my Pungo and I'm having a blast, but now the weather, > and > the water, has gotten dangerously cold for me (50's). What is the > simplest > recommendation any of you can make for safe and comfortable paddling in > these conditions. For in the water protective gear I've got 5-6 levels of protection, accumulated slowly (the semi-dry suit is hideous to paddle in but good for winter surfing/windsurfing). My recommendation would be to start with a neoprene farmer john wetsuit. After that add a wetsuit or dry top. I have friends who paddle through the winter (in new england) with a neoprene farmer john/dry top combination. I feel that's the most versatile combination, I'm positive others will have other combos they prefer. Also I alter what I do during the offseason. I only paddle my "safe" boats, stay close to shore, and definitely adjust my day according to the weather. By safe boats I mean my leaky surf ski gets put away and my PinTail comes out, my marathon flatwater canoes go into hiding and my canoe partner's Wenonah Sundowner is the boat of choice. Kirk -- http://fastmail.fm - Same, same, but different... *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Unlike many kinds of safety equipment, seat belts, helmets, air bags, etc., cold water "safety" clothing can easily be tested. My recommendation is go to your favorite lake, river or ocean put in, get you cold weather padding clothes on and jump in and swim around. I recomend that you do this with a partner who will keep the car warm and have a thermos with a hot beverage ready along with dry clothes. You can practice rolls, wet exits and resucues all summer but you MUST try these manuvers in cold weather (water) conditions. You will find things out that you did not expect such as: you hands get cold and won't work, cold water gasp, numb feet, leaking gaskets and that with polar fleece, a dry suit, boots and gloves you can not get back in you boat or roll as easily as you did all summer with just a bathing suit. You may want to get scientific and bring a thermometer and have your water stay timed. You may also want to do it with a group to see what works best. It can be a real eyeopener to find that you have so much air in the legs of your dry pants that you can even get up right. Hal "Power your boat with carbohydrates, not hydrocarbons." http://www.ez-troll.com *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Being as concerned with safety as the next guy on Paddlewise, I thought I would pass along something else to think about. As those that have read postings of mine know, I paddle a lot around an artifical lake in southern Michigan. The lake is managed for trophy muskellunge, and I've seen muskies approaching five feet taken out of the lake. A couple summers ago I was out on a night paddle with a group, and we had cylume lightsticks as markers. One lady had one dragging in the water from her stern loop, and a muskie hit it. Scared her pretty good, for an instant. We had another night paddle last Saturday night. One of the group was an experienced family with a big double, mom in front, dad in back, and five year old daughter in the middle. As I understand it, the daughter was dragging a lightstick in the water, and dad, who had heard me tell the story of the last paragraph, teased her that she might not want to get the light stick in the water or else a muskie might hit it. She had no more than taken the lightstick out of the water when her mother, in front, accidently hit a large muskie with her paddle. The fish reacted, then hit the boat with a large WHACK! that could be heard all over the place. It gave everybody a start, and we're just darn glad the little girl had listened to her father -- we think it had been attracted by the light stick. Now, there are all those people from Florida and Australia and other alligator and croc-ridden areas, and I suppose they must be used to natural hazards. There are those that paddle where there are sharks around, and I suppose that has to be taken in stride and no one thinks too much of it. I know I never thought too much about this natural hazard, but, on reflection, they do use those same light sticks to fish for swordfish, out in the ocean, so I suppose there has to be some sort of parallel attraction, not being a fish expert. Still, I think the next time there's a group night paddle out there, I'm going to take a roll of duct tape so that no one has to have light sticks dragging in the water . . . never thought I'd have to deal with that particular natural hazard out there. -- Wes --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wes Boyd's Kayak Place NEW URL! -- http://www.kayakplace.com Kayaks for Big Guys (And Gals) | Trip Reports | Places To Go | Boats & Gear --------------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
At 09:11 AM 10/24/02 +0000, Wes wrote: >A couple summers ago I was out on a night paddle with a group, and we had >cylume lightsticks as markers. One lady had one dragging in the water from >her stern loop, and a muskie hit it. Scared her pretty good, for an instant. > >We had another night paddle last Saturday night. ... her mother, in front, >accidently hit a large muskie with her paddle. The fish reacted, then hit >the boat with a large WHACK! that could be heard all over the place. It >gave everybody a start, and we're just darn glad the little girl had >listened to her father -- we think it had been attracted by the light stick. ><snip> >Still, I think the next time there's a group night paddle out there, I'm >going to take a roll of duct tape so that no one has to have light sticks >dragging in the water . . . never thought I'd have to deal with that >particular natural hazard out there. Be careful where you tape it. A friend of mine and her two sisters did a three-woman entry in the Texas Water Safari, 260 miles from San Marcos to the Gulf, non-stop. Late at night they were paddling with headlamps on. A big alligator garfish came out of the water and tried to eat the lamp. Fortunately, it couldn't jump quite high enough. Unfortunately, it hit her in the side and broke three ribs. I think paddling with sharks is safer. Good tip, though, Wes. Steve Cramer Athens, GA *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
From: "Wes Boyd" <boydwe_at_dmci.net> > A couple summers ago I was out on a night paddle with a group, and we had > cylume lightsticks as markers. One lady had one dragging in the water from > her stern loop, and a muskie hit it. Scared her pretty good, for an instant. I've had two hits from fish (big carp I assume). In both cases, the bitter end of the skeg control line (neatly tied in a chain sinnet for a hand grip) was dragging in the water right next to the cockpit about an inch or so in the water. Makes me cautious about dragging my fingers in the water :-) Mike *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Hey everyone, since returning to the US I have neglected to get a car. I have been using my girlfriends car which does not have a rack. I would like to be able to use my Yakima Q-Tower rack on her car but have worried about scratching and otherwise damaging it. I ask as my cars have always tended to look like hell. I have always left racks on for years and have no idea if they do damage or not, and if so, what can be done to mitigate the damage. So what do you do? She drives one of those fancy new Beetles, if anyone has any tips for car-topping a boat on one of these let me know. Thanks! -Patrick *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
From: "Patrick Maun" <patrick_at_patrickmaun.com> > I have always left racks on for > years and have no idea if they do damage or not, and if so, what can > be done to mitigate the damage. > > So what do you do? My roof rack is on and off the car quite frequently. There is no obvious damage. It's a Honda Civic (gutterless) and a Thule rack, so the rack sits on rubber pads on the painted roof with "hooks" over the door frames. I initially expected to see lots of scratches in the paint over time, but that hasn't happened. The only preventative measure I take is to wipe dust and dirt off the painted surfaces before putting the rack on. > She drives one of those fancy new Beetles, if anyone has any tips for > car-topping a boat on one of these let me know. IIRC, the Beetle uses a special rack mount that is built into the door frame just like the Jetta and Golf. This is one of the best designs for roof racks I've seen. Check the car's manual. You peel off the rubber door seal and there's a short gutter and two bolts for each rack foot. A friend has the Golf and the only complaint she has is that the rack puts a small bend in the door seal and if the rack is on when its raining, she gets an occasional drip inside. My Honda does the same. Mike *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
At 10:23 AM 10/24/02 -0500, Patrick Maun wrote: >Hey everyone, > >since returning to the US I have neglected to get a car. I have been using >my girlfriends car which does not have a rack. I would like to be able to >use my Yakima Q-Tower rack on her car but have worried about scratching >and otherwise damaging it. I ask as my cars have always tended to look >like hell. I have always left racks on for years and have no idea if they >do damage or not, and if so, what can be done to mitigate the damage. I get more scratches on the car from taking boats on and off than I do from the rack mounts. Put a good coat of wax on the paint before you put the Q-Towers on and again when you take them off and there shouldn't be much effect. >She drives one of those fancy new Beetles, if anyone has any tips for >car-topping a boat on one of these let me know. Yes, be sure to take a picture. Long straight boat on short round car. You should get smiles (or at least incredulous stares) everywhere you go. Actually, your biggest problem may be getting adequate rack spacing. You only have one door to work with. Steve Cramer Athens, GA *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
On Thu, Oct 24, 2002 at 12:42:36PM -0400, Steve Cramer wrote: > At 10:23 AM 10/24/02 -0500, Patrick Maun wrote: >> She drives one of those fancy new Beetles, if anyone has any tips for >> car-topping a boat on one of these let me know. < .. snip .. > > Actually, your biggest problem may be getting adequate rack spacing. You > only have one door to work with. I don't know about the New Beetle specifically, but for most 2-door cars Yakima offers a product that extends the spacing between the bars called the "Q Stretch Kit". It's easier to just look it up on their website (http://www.yakima.com), as there is a pretty clear sketch of it, than to explain here how it works. With the product, the limiting factor becomes not the single door, but the length of the roof itself. On car models that are available as 2- or 4-door versions (not applicable to the New Beetle, alas), you can usually get the bar spacing on the 2-door within a few inches of that of the 4-door. The only slight annoyance I've run into with it is that you need to crank down on clips at the rear of the door a little harder than you would with a 4-door, in order to get the towers on the rear bar to stay down tight against the roof (again, look at the picture on Yakima's site, and the reason why is pretty obvious). But I've never lost a boat, dented the roof, or even scratched up the car's paint when removing or installing the rack. Just make sure the car top and rack tower pads are clean when you install the rack. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
With regard to Volkswagens and racks. Unless they have come out recently, the Yakima racks are NOT made to use the factory hard points. You have to use the mounts that hook into the door frame. Thule does make a bracket that attaches to the factory points. I found the VW factory rack for my Jetta to be $100+ cheaper than either Yakima or Thule. It is easier to get on and off than the Yakima rack I have on the Subaru. It comes with four clear plastic pieces of tape that mount on the body under the feet of the rack to avoid scratches. I don't know if I can get replacements. I haven't tried using my Yakima holders on the VW rack, I doubt they would work. With my hard chine CLC Chesapeake a pad works better anyway. Patrick Maun wrote: > > >> She drives one of those fancy new Beetles, if anyone has any tips for > >> car-topping a boat on one of these let me know. > *************************************************************************** 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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