Re: [Paddlewise] wave heights, was pressurize the boat

In a message dated 4/3/2007 5:26:24 PM Pacific Daylight Time,  
mdziobak_at_mtu.edu writes:

Ah, but  the bouy report is significant wave height which is average of the
top  third largest waves. So on the lake at least, from my experience, it
might  be possible to see an occasional wave twice the size of the bouy
report. I  say it might be because i am never very sure of my wave height
estimate  from the seat of a kayak. While surf boarding and sail boarding,
I think my  estimates are better.
-mike



>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
 
Hi Mike (and all),
 
Buoy reports tell you what went on in the area of the buoy. The further you  
stray from there, the more talent at elocution you may apply to what you saw.  
However, a buddy said, we were in 8-10 foot seas!!! Later, I looked at the 
buoy  report several miles away, it said the seas there were 5 feet. Perhaps, 
and a  big perhaps, he saw a couple corporate swell mergers, a bit of clapotis 
or  current enhancing for a while a 5 foot swell and with pucker factor adding 
in  another embellishment made them out to be 8-10 feet. What I saw was 
typical 5  foot swell, enough to bury a paddler whose upright paddle blade 
disappears  from view momentarily. Honest to God 5 footers, honest to God 2.5 footers. 
Once  in a blue moon, maybe a 6 due to some feature, but who knows, maybe I 
was too  close to it and made it up.
 
Cheers,
 
Rob G
 
 
 
 



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