Don't know 'bout the rest of you, but I find it difficult fitting in paddling these days. In an attempt to get out on the water more often, I've resorted to keeping my gear neatly packed in my Minivan with the kayak on the roof semi permanently. This enables me to head for water at the drop of a hat, when those couple of hours come up unexpectedly after work or such, and when and if a bit of wind is blowing. I dry the gear out at home after, then repack ready for the next opportunity. Anybody else have a methodology for getting out on the water more? I know it isn't rocket science, but I do find the situation can be frustrating. Doug Lloyd Victoria BC ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ "Whatever can be said at all can be said clearly and whatever cannot be said clearly should not be said at all." Ludwig Wittgenstein ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> Don't know 'bout the rest of you, but I find it difficult fitting in > paddling these days. In an attempt to get out on the water more often, I've > resorted to keeping my gear neatly packed in my Minivan with the kayak on > the roof semi permanently. This enables me to head for water at the drop of > a hat, when those couple of hours come up unexpectedly after work or such, > and when and if a bit of wind is blowing. I dry the gear out at home after, > then repack ready for the next opportunity. Anybody else have a methodology > for getting out on the water more? Same here. Large gym bag (slightly less than a hockey bag), permamnently filled with PFD, and other spring-summer stuff (no FJ). Paddles next to the bag, some closing hanging right above. Drying/repacking immediately after return. Can't keep kayak permanently loaded on the car that I'm permanently using for work and shopping - people won't understand :-). But those Yakima saddles + Rollers make loading easy. Probably takes less than 15 minutes with tying up bow/stern and fastening the buckles. I also use a primitive "extension bar" to load kayak from the side of the car (there was a discussion here a while ago - How Much Am I Lifting :-). Results were reassuring - not much. Have lost responses after computer crash. Alex. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
I know some use a trailer for their boats - leaving them loaded and ready to roll - granted you still have to stop at home first but.... I'm setting up a trailer partially for the same reason. Need to create a sun protection cover for the boat if I plan to keep it loaded (sitting outside). Thinking that some light colored canvas would be the way to go for that. I'm also finding that the only times I'm going to get out paddling are either very early (as in back home by 7:30 AM) or very late in the day (loading the boat back on the car 10-20 min after the sundown). Extended outings are going to be rare. K *************************************************************************** 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 Tue, 6 May 2003 21:47:33 -0700, "Doug Lloyd" <dalloyd_at_telus.net> said: > Don't know 'bout the rest of you, but I find it difficult fitting in > paddling these days. At my previous job we had a great system. The boats stayed on the car, it was a 5 minute drive to water. We would get in a half hour paddle every day during lunch hour. A nice lunch hour alternative. I think 6 boats was our lunchtime paddle record. Alas, launch sites are more than 10 minutes away from my current job so I haven't done lunchtime paddling in a while. Kirk -- Kirk Olsen kork4_at_cluemail.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/ ***************************************************************************
I posted a blurb on my paddling.about.com site about this very thing - I've been keeping my kayaks on my VW van and my gear inside so it's ready to go. Actually the whitewater kayak is in the van for pool sessions and outdoor kayaking (I'm heading to the Snoqualamie this weekend). I only had 45 minutes to get a little workout one day and I'll paste the rest: Once out on the water I started paddling toward the cascade range past the town - and suddenly realized these are the days we live for up here! Snow on the mountains, historical buildings on the right and bluffs across the bay on the left, ferry coming in. I turned to go back (really working on my forward stroke) to see Mt. Baker (one of our volcanoes) towering in front of me. Cormorats were on the old ferry pilings, and river otters were out and about catching fish. Friends were eating take-out Chinese food on the breakwater. There was a fun little rip-tide around the corner. I've also been paddling across the bay at dusk and returning after all the town lights are on. The discussion on lights is very timely! I called the Florida coast gaurd last year when down there as we had a big discussion on inland waterways and they said - there is no difference between the waters, you need three pyrotechnic devices, a light, a whistle....a lifejacket. I have a strobe, a headlamp and a handheld light for lights. Andree Andree Hurley Websites - http://www.onwatersports.com/, http://paddle.about.com Brochure: http://onwatersports.com/KIX/KixBrochure.pdf Port Townsend, WA *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
I wouldn't agree more with Andre - these are the days (paddling) that we live for. There is one more alternative that allows use of 1 hour after-work time without coming home to pick up the kayak (and without keeping it permanently on car top). I'm talking of folding kayaks. This option is relatively expensive (unless you already have it for remote destinations), and has its drawbacks. Pros: you keep it in a trunk together with paddle, PFD and other day-paddling small things. No need to drive trhrough 4 pm traffic home and then to water (unless home is on your way to water). Cons: It's not 100% equivalent of a hardshell kayak, speaking of performance. The closest is Feathercraft K-1 (or Khatsalano), then probably goes Kahuna. First one takes about 45 minutes to assemble, another one- 25 minutes. Plus, dissembling twice less time. Plus, rinsing with freshwater (if you paddled on sea), and drying it at home (could be an excuse for not doing some other household chores, though :-). The fastest to assemble is, I think, Klepper - but it's wider and slower than F-craft, and also the most expensive (in USA and Canada, not in Europe :-). But, speaking of ready-to-go time only, it's basically assembling time - 45 minutes or less. Perhaps, 10-15 minutes should be deducted from this time, since it needs no car-topping, tying, buckling up etc. Which leaves us almost zero time (compared to hardshell) in case of Klepper, and 15-30 minutes for other brands. Just pondering over one more option, no attempts of baptising anybody here into a folder's faith :-) Alex. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 5/6/2003 11:45:24 PM Central Daylight Time, dalloyd_at_telus.net writes: > Anybody else have a methodology > for getting out on the water more? I know it isn't rocket science, but I do > find the situation can be frustrating. > I have three plastic bins in the back of my car. The large one contains PFD's, Spray decks and immersion clothing such as gloves, hats, socks, etc. It is intended as my wet-dry storage. Each of the other bins contains the gear my wife and I will each add to our kayaks depending on the trip, or practice session. These bins typically include first aid kits, repair kits, flares, netting bags for easy transport, emergency bivy sacks, LED headbands, cyalumes, handpumps, emergency hatch covers, tow lines, etc. Sometimes I carry my paddles in the car, sometimes I just keep the case in one of the kayaks. Like Doug, I dry my gear in the washroom and when dry restore in the bins. If I think I may be able to get a paddle in while someplace elso I add clothing to a duffel and a kayak and its ready, set, go. Additionally, I carry a pair of large towels to ensure a dry seat when I return to the car with a wet dry/wetsuit. Rob G *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> Doug Lloyd pondered: > Don't know 'bout the rest of you, but I find it difficult fitting in > paddling these days. To Doug and all, After being away for sometime working and returning home with the worst cold of my life paddling was definitely on the back burner. Several weeks ago I thought I was good enough to go out paddling, but I had to cancel out due to severe coughing spells. I do find it difficult to surf a wave when I am coughing and sputtering. But, what really bothered me about not getting out paddling was the fact that I bought and great surf boat at the Santa Cruz Surf meet and haven't had an opportunity to actually use it! Yesterday, my wife came into my office and said, "Let's go kayaking!". I didn't have to be asked twice! One of the good things about working at home is you can take time off when you want. So, we took the new boat out and had an opportunity to play in the tidal current for awhile and had a great time. So Doug, feel great, let's get out paddling! Kirby *************************************************************************** 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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