NatureHello Everyone, I was off the network for awhile taking kayaking and working. When I signed off last fall, I was heading down Baja for several months. The kayaking down there was superb. All I had to do was think of everyone in the Great White North and I liked it all the more. I spent most of my time kayaking around Bahia de Concepcion and La Paz areas. The islands off La Paz, Isla Partida and Espiritu Santo must be seen to believed. Spectacular warm waters lots of marine life. If you have the time, it is definitely worth the effort to go. Once I returned, I had to be in the "catch up" mode for several months with only the odd day trip. Last June, my wife and I headed up to Alaska for a month, to Glacier Bay. We found it very accessible by plane, incidentally was our first flight together with my wife AND we have been together for 30 years. About time, eh? During our time in Glacier Bay, the weather was spectacular, when we were having 80 degree weather there the Pacific Northwest was shrouded in rain and cool temperatures. We had brought our dry suits along upon the recommendations of everyone we talked to and didn't use them. Paddling in hot temperatures with a dry suit was definitely out of the question though if we capsized our kayak that would have been a different story. But, one would also say that it is really difficult to flip a K2 Feathercraft. We got to see lots of humpback whales and grizzlies, though the grizzlies were from a distance and the whales were close up. Got some great photo's of my trip. If anyone is heading to the WCSKS this September stop by my booth and check out some of my photos. Our next extended trip will be back to Baja into Magadalena Bay, we are hoping to see the same humpbacks from Glacier Bay. Well, we can hope! Anyway, "HELLO" again to everyone. I shall be around commenting on some of the subjects till Christmas . Bye for now. Kirby Marine Recreation Maps Published by Coastal Waters Recreation www.CoastalWatersRec.com [demime 1.01e removed an attachment of type image/gif which had a name of anabnr2.gif] [demime 1.01e removed an attachment of type image/jpeg which had a name of Nature Bkgrd.jpg] *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
The following boats are said to be fast and all have little rocker: Epic Endurance 18, Impex Outer Island, QCC 700 and Current Designs Stratus. The only one I have been able to demo was the Epic 18. Going into head seas the Epic pounded down and for that reason alone I found it unsatisfactory. Speed is desireable but more important to me is ease of handling in following conditions, in head seas, and in cross seas. I wonder if uncomfortable handling in conditions is inherent to boats with little rocker. For example, I find the Current Designs Extreme, with considerable rocker, to be reasonably fast and completely comfortable in moderately rough conditions. (Rudder/no-rudder is not an issue for me.) Jerry *************************************************************************** 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 have an Extreme, and absolutely loved it til I had it in rough seas with high winds. I found it to leighcock like crazy for me. I remember once I was heading out in heavy surf and into the wind. She handled beautifully til I went to turn her into the wind and head up shore. I was so worn out by the time I got her turned into the wind that I turned around and went back to shore and gave up the trip (she IS a fun boat to surf, I'll give you that). I have since went to an NDK Explorer (18'X22.5" or something like that), I do not have enough good things to say about it. I've had it in surf, high winds, rough water, smooth water, heavily loaded, and empty, and it handles like a dream everywhere I go (and yes, she is fast, with a little rocker). If I could find fault at all with it, its as heavy as most plastic boats even though its made of glass, but that's par for the course for British boats, And I'd bet you anything that it would stand up better in a rock garden better then any lighter weight North American boat. Also, I have never paddle it, but I have heard some really good things about the Outer Island, too. I have, however, paddled the Endurance, and agree whole heartedly with your assessment on that boat. Hope this helps. Have a nice paddle. Thx, Richard T. Magill Director, Word & Water Adventures www.wordandwater.us PS - I have a Current Designs Extreme for sale if you are interested :-) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jerry F" <gfoodma_at_earthlink.net> Subject: [Paddlewise] fast with little rocker > The following boats are said to be fast and all have little rocker: Epic > Endurance 18, Impex Outer Island, QCC 700 and Current Designs Stratus. > The only one I have been able to demo was the Epic 18. Going into head > seas the Epic pounded down and for that reason alone I found it > unsatisfactory. Speed is desireable but more important to me is ease of > handling in following conditions, in head seas, and in cross seas. I > wonder if uncomfortable handling in conditions is inherent to boats with > little rocker. For example, I find the Current Designs Extreme, with > considerable rocker, to be reasonably fast and completely comfortable in > moderately rough conditions. (Rudder/no-rudder is not an issue for me.) *************************************************************************** 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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