Re: [Paddlewise] Weird Shoals or Beating Dumpy

On Mon, Jun 16, 2008 at 10:41 PM, Doug Lloyd <douglloyd_at_shaw.ca> wrote:

>  At these spots you can surf over one side of the berm to open water on the
> other side, then suddenly another wave out of phase can surf you back over
> the berm to open water and more surf on the other side.


I found a spot like that on Lake Coeur d'Alene (35 miles east of Spokane,
WA). About 2 miles south of Black Rock Marina the lake doglegs to the west
and there is a gravel shoal that extends out that stays about 4' deep for a
hundred hards or so. Large powerboats moving up and down the lake tend to
cut this corner close enough to create some surfable waves that rise and
break over this berm. So you surf a south-bound boat's wake across in one
direction and then surf a north-bound boat's wake the other direction. Great
fun!!! The family who owned the house (mansion?) on that point watched me
the entire time and when I had finished beckoned me in to their docks and
was very curious. They didn't think kayaks could surf... and had never
thought *anyone* could surf on a lake. I've been back a few times but it's
only good if you have big boats (and a lot of them) going fast.


> Sometimes the two waves collide actually over the berm and if you are
> there, well, does it get any better for the jaded paddler? People, you
> haven't lived until you have tried this. Folks spend a fortune watching
> action movies all their lives or going to amusement park rides and even
> paying to go skydiving. With a little investment in a good boat and proper
> immersion apparel, you can be out playing in phenomenally outrageous
> conditions within an hour or even less on some coasts. I suppose you can
> have an adrenaline rush even quicker too by running across a busy highway,
> but hopefully you get my point.


Kayaking gives me more bang for the buck than any other sport. White water
paddlers all think sea kayaking is tame stuff. We just have to look harder
for our fun... but we don't have to take two cars. Some people paddle for
the tranquility.... some people don't paddle for the tranquility.

>
> It tracks well, turns on a lean, has somewhat less rocker than some kayaks
> yet doesn't need a skeg. It is rock solid on edge unlike the Outer Island
> (another low profile kayak). I think I may have found my thrill on blueberry
> hill. Made here on Vancouver Island. I didn't even try out the Whisky 16,
> though clapotis seekers might benefit from a kayak with lots of bow
> buoyancy, including other designs for a perfect playboat. I'm going for low
> windage and a tight cockpit. Can't get that need for speed, need for
> high-wind performance out of my mind. We shall see. Clapotis and zipper
> waves here we come...


Wow! All without a skeg, too!!! My Mariner Express is 16' long and 21" wide
so the Spartan VI sounds pretty hot to me.

Someone has got to solve the insane border crossing situation so I can spend
more time paddling where it's more fun; namely: Vancouver Island. I don't
know if you all know just how lucky you are or not. But you should!!!  My
mutha-ship now has interior LED lighting as well as LED running lights, the
propane tank is in a locker and the locker is mounted and the hose connected
to the stove, and it's been launched (once) and didn't sink. (Didn't run
either... had to have the trailer weighed and inspected without the boat on
it.) If the border situation were sane I could launch at Anacortes and be in
the Gulf Islands in an hour with my own bed and breakfast. Damn bureaucrats,
anyway.

Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA
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