I bought a Gulf Islander 1962. A large very early Northwest kayak. I started paddling the west coast of Vancouver Island in that boat and then an even larger Sea Otter. I stumbled across Hutchinson's book in 1972 in the University Bookstore. Then I bought a Badairka, a boat that I am now to fat to get in, but was one that changed my concept of what a kayak was. In that era, Hutchinson was a huge revelation to me, and I am forever grateful to his inspiration. *************************************************************************** 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 Sun, Apr 5, 2009 at 2:52 AM, Robert Livingston <bearboat2_at_comcast.net>wrote: > > I stumbled across Hutchinson's book in 1972 in the University Bookstore. > Then I bought a Badairka, a boat that I am now to fat to get in, but was > one that changed my concept of what a kayak was. > > In that era, Hutchinson was a huge revelation to me, and I am forever > grateful to his inspiration I agree that his book and ideas changed kayaking in the 1970s. What annoys me about Hutchinson now is his propensity to minimize any accomplishments of others and maximize his own. If you believe him then you'd think that sea kayak design reached a zenith with his designs and has stagnated ever since. Take a look at this "conversation with Derek Hutchinson" published in 2002 ( http://www.paddlermagazine.com/issues/2002_1/article_156.shtml ) and you'll see much the same tone as in the video. Including a swipe at Ed Gillette's trip to Hawaii. Craig Jungers Moses Lake, 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 agree that Derek is a little hyperinflated now. But for me, it is just water off the deck. He is old and he actively markets himself. If he did not market himself, he would be ignored. Nobody else is going to put much effort into saying how great he is. He enjoys being a public figure. He has to try and make himself relevant. I ran into him first when he was doing the Aleution paddle because I happened to live in Alaska. I had a friend up there who was on the expedition who was a better paddler than Derek. But of course nobody has ever heard of him or asks him any questions. But Derek had the enthusiasm and effusiveness to get a bunch of people together to do the damn paddle. One on one, I have found him a little rude. There are many early kayaking pioneers that did impressive and innovative things that you never hear about. Lots of kayakers are loner types. And lots viewed the whole sport differently. But go out there now and try and sell a paddle or a kayak design. You, or your marketers, have to go on and on about how innovative and special your design is. I find this background noise more annoying, but it is part of the business. Most of it is complete BS. The experts in this business are people who market themselves. These are the people who are considered the great guru's and kayaking geniuses. They sell guidebooks or whatever. They go to symposia. They are in the business and become "experts" not so much because they know more than a lot of other people but because they market themselves. Ed Gillet is an exception who got famous by simply doing weirdly extraordinary things. Freida's kayak looks like a racing car with all its endorsement stickers. I find that more "annoying" because it is not my style and it was not the ethos of kayaking in "those days". Derek is often amusing and enjoys the spotlight. And I kind of like people who have some "different" opinions about things like dressing for immersion because at times the kayaking community can seem so enamored of "official" truths that it seems like the Soviet Union. "propensity to minimize any accomplishments of others and maximize his own" -- to me that is the definition of marketing. On Apr 5, 2009, at 07:16 AM, Craig Jungers wrote: > What annoys me about Hutchinson now is his propensity to minimize > any accomplishments of others and maximize his own. If you believe > him then you'd think that sea kayak design reached a zenith with his > designs and has stagnated ever since. Take a look at this > "conversation with Derek Hutchinson" published in 2002 *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Paddlewisers, Around 2000 I attended a San Diego kayak club dinner that included a talk by the flamboyant Derek H. In attendance was the rather quiet Ed Gillette, who Derek politely acknowledged and congratulated for his California to Hawaii crossing. Duane Southern California *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
G'Day, Had an interesting trip from Botany Bay to Sydney Harbour on Sunday when the electric pump in my Pittarak was out of commission for repairs. The route was 27km, swell on the beam 2.5m, sea 1m and 10knots southerly following wind in the morning swinging to 10-15 knots northerly headwind in the afternoon. We aimed to get into Sydney Harbour before the headwind. A couple of the party became seasick halfway and let us know in plenty of time so we were able to land them at the halfway point. The second half of the trip was unlandable due to surf beaches crowded with swimmers and surfers, followed by a long stretch of cliff. We were late back on the water and the headwind came up, we hit a one knot current and entered a long stretch of rebound. Thats when I realised the value of a hands free pump and hydration system, and the virtue of a well developed beer gut. Every wave that hit me emptied what felt like a teacup full of water over the top of my spray skirt, which although not loose was not a particularly tight fit and was the smallest size available. This rudderless boat with a cockpit half full of water moved from being a delight to a pain in the butt. It became more and more unstable in the rebound and I completed the trip just focussing on staying upright and paddling in a straight line. Consequently I couldn't open the day hatch for a water bottle or use the hand pump fitted just behind me without risking a capsize. What should have been a comfortable trip became something of an endurance test. I'm told hands free pumps are not that common in the US. Is that right? Has anyone else experienced the same problem? (Apparently Freya did on that same stretch of coast but in worse conditions). Tips on making a cockpit/spray skirt combination more watertight in conditions where waves are breaking on you would be most welcome. But please don't suggest I develop a beer gut / paunch / pot belly - I've tried but to no avail. :~) All the best, PeterO *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
rebyl_kayak wrote: > G'Day, > <snip> > Thats when I realised the value of a hands free pump and hydration system, and > the virtue of a well developed beer gut. Every wave that hit me emptied what > felt like a teacup full of water over the top of my spray skirt, which > although not loose was not a particularly tight fit and was the smallest size > available. This rudderless boat with a cockpit half full of water moved from > being a delight to a pain in the butt. It became more and more unstable in the > rebound and I completed the trip just focussing on staying upright and > paddling in a straight line. Consequently I couldn't open the day hatch for a > water bottle or use the hand pump fitted just behind me without risking a > capsize. What should have been a comfortable trip became something of an > endurance test. > > I'm told hands free pumps are not that common in the US. Is that right? Has > anyone else experienced the same problem? (Apparently Freya did on that same > stretch of coast but in worse conditions). Tips on making a cockpit/spray > skirt combination more watertight in conditions where waves are breaking on > you would be most welcome. But please don't suggest I develop a beer gut / > paunch / pot belly - I've tried but to no avail. :~) > > All the best, PeterO My Kokatat paddling jacket has an inner "tunnel" and an outer skirt that pulls down over the tunnel (and sprayskirt top). I've found this to be pretty good at keeping water from coming down between my body and the top edge of the sprayskirt, since the water would have to go up between the sprayskirt and the outer "skirt" of the jacket. Granted this particular top would be too warm for summer air conditions, but I suspect one could make something reasonably waterproof that would fit over the area where sprayskirt and body meet, in order to keep more water out of that join. It might *look* odd, but if you're paddling solo, who cares? Seems to be that keeping the water out would solve most of the other problems. In all my time paddling, I've only had to pump out once when the waves were too big for a solo effort. Fortunately, I had friends who rafted up and helped to keep me pointing skyward while I pumped. I suspect you spend more time on bigger water than I do, and probably more time solo, so I can certainly see where an electric pump would be very nice to have. Not to mention that I wasn't designed properly. The effort of *pulling* up on the pump handle to get water out of the boat is *extremely* tiring. There is no muscle right where it's needed to work the pump for more than a few strokes. But I think it's too late to send me in for a retrofit. For hydration, I break my general rule of nothing on the decks, and I strap a hydration bag on the deck right behind the cockpit. The drinking tube runs alongside the cockpit and the free end goes under a bit of deck line in front of me. I do have to move my hand from the paddle for a second or two to get the line up to my mouth, but I can put it back on the paddle again once the tube is in my mouth. I've seen people tuck the tube in their pfd so they need only turn their head to drink, but I don't like the fact that one is then, in effect, tethered to the boat. I used to use a drinks bottle tucked up the deck rigging in front of me. I found two problems with this. The first being that it was prone to being washed away in bigger waves, or coming lose when the boat "fell over". The second being that I wasn't using it enough and running out of steam on longer paddles as a result of the slight dehydration. (My advancing age has nothing to do with the "running out of steam" syndrome: that's my story and I'm sticking to it!) -- Darryl *************************************************************************** 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, Apr 6, 2009 at 5:46 AM, rebyl_kayak <rebyl_kayak_at_energysustained.com > wrote: > > I'm told hands free pumps are not that common in the US. Is that right? Has > anyone else experienced the same problem? Golly, for some reason I have no problem with a loose spray skirt tunnel. Not that I drink beer, mind you, but other factors have created what I like to refer to as an "ample belly". However, I have abandoned the use of "touring type" spray decks; you know the ones... with the bra straps that continually fall off one shoulder. I am too old to look like a nymphette; not to mention the wrong gender (not that gender seems to stop people from doing whatever they feel like nowadays... but I digress...). At any rate, if you are using a spray skirt that depends on these straps to hold itself up I'd advise looking for a white water type deck with an eleastic tunnel. Neoprene tunnels have another advantage in that they can be cut and glued back together easily for a custom fit. > Tips on making a cockpit/spray > skirt combination more watertight in conditions where waves are breaking on > you would be most welcome. If you already have a good spray skirt/deck with an elastic tunnel and not a nymphette version then you might want to experiment with some sort of elastic around the top that will tighten things up. The downside to that is the effects a tight tunnel can have on respiration. In fact, when my favorite spray decks managed to get burned up in a shop fire, I went out with an older one that was too tight and this actually made me short of breath at times. > But please don't suggest I develop a beer gut / > paunch / pot belly - I've tried but to no avail. :~) > In my case, the belly came about age 50. Try to avoid it if you can. Craig Jungers Moses Lake, 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/ ***************************************************************************
Craig said: > I'd advise looking for a white water type deck with an eleastic tunnel. > Neoprene tunnels have another advantage in that they can be cut and glued > back together easily for a custom fit. Craig, When I'm looking for comfort, I use a Snapdragon skirt that has a loose fit around the waist but has adjustable "tighteners" with Velcro. It keeps almost all of the water out of the cockpit. The deck is neoprene and the tunnel is made of Gore-Tex. Steve Holtzman Southern California __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 3990 (20090406) __________ The message was checked by ESET Smart Security. http://www.eset.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/ ***************************************************************************
Peter, A tight fitting pfd worn over the skirt will help keep the water out as will a light waterproof jacket worn over the skirt. If you were paddling with others, couldn't you have rafted up with someone and pumped your boat out. Would only take a minute or two if you didn't let it get too full. Another option would be to stick a paddle float on your paddle, lean your weight onto the float and while keeping the paddle in place with your forearms, use a hand pump. Steve Holtzman Southern California __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 3990 (20090406) __________ The message was checked by ESET Smart Security. http://www.eset.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/ ***************************************************************************
Darryl wrote: > My Kokatat paddling jacket has an inner "tunnel" and an outer skirt that > pulls down over the tunnel (and sprayskirt top). I've found this to be > pretty good at keeping water from coming down between my body and the > top edge of the sprayskirt, since the water would have to go up between > the sprayskirt and the outer "skirt" of the jacket. Peter, my dry top has the same sort of two-layer closure Darryl's does, and I also never have trouble with the sort of leakage you describe. This would be an easy add-on for a sewer to achieve, by sewing to the inside of your drytop. If you use a dry suit, the same could be done on the outside, although it would definitely not be a fashion statement! Also, it might cross the front zipper line, depending on the extent and nature of your personal empanage. [grin] -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
G'day and thanks for all the tips, Steve, I think your suggestion of the vest worn on the outside of the spray skirt would do the trick. I was wearing mine inside the skirt so a wave coming down would see a natural opening. Likewise Craig, it was a neoprene spray skirt so I might try some elastic around the top of the tunnel but will try the vest approach first. Will have to look closer at the Snap Dragon and Dave and Darryls Kokatat style double layer paddle top. Dry tops mostly too hot over here so no worries about style and empannage (good new word that!). As for rafting up I was with a partner, we were about 100m from the cliff and it was an 11 second swell so rebound was quite solid. It would have been a bit like rafting up in the surf. We thought about paddling further out but the clapotis wouldn't have been much different. It was all manageable and it seemed better to trade the risk of rafting up for the increased effort of paddling a sodden boat. Purely personal choice not necessarily the best one. In those circumstances I really like a clean paddle blade so no paddlefloat though I always carry one. I really should have recognised the issue earlier and sorted it out while it was easy to do so. Anyway thanks everyone, food for thought and some gear maintenance. All the best, PeterO *************************************************************************** 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, Apr 7, 2009 at 5:47 AM, rebyl_kayak <rebyl_kayak_at_energysustained.com > wrote: > > Anyway thanks everyone, food for thought and some gear maintenance. > > Always fun to go through these exercises. Good luck. :) Craig Jungers Moses Lake, 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/ ***************************************************************************
Peter, Wonder if you could answer a question. As a kid I lived in Australia for a year, right across the Strand at Dee Why Beach. I wonder now how that area might be for kayaking. It's been so long, I don't remember much about the area, other than it seemed a nice stretch of coast that my friends and I would roam. Is it part of Manley Bay, another name I remember from my time there? I don't even remember if it was a protected area or not. I can remember some wicked electrical storms would hit the area. I remember Mulberry trees, cliffs, tide pools, lagoons and an ocean fed pool, all of great interest to an 8 year old. Any info on the area would be appreciated. Mark Sanders *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
G'day Mark, Another Sydney afficionado! I seem to remember you telling me a few years ago that you had lived over here. Dee Why is a few kilometres north of Manly near Narrabeen lagoon and ocean fed pools abound to protect people from sharks and surf while they enjoy the sea. I'll try taking you on a paddle trip from Clontarf to Barrenjoey, that takes in the northern half of Sydney and most of the places you mention, but give me a few days to remember things over Easter. All the best, PeterO ________________________________ From: Mark Sanders [mailto:sandmarks_at_ca.rr.com] Sent: Wed 8/04/2009 12:15 AM To: rebyl_kayak; Paddlewise Paddlewise Subject: Reminiscing Australian Peter, Wonder if you could answer a question. As a kid I lived in Australia for a year, right across the Strand at Dee Why Beach. I wonder now how that area might be for kayaking. It's been so long, I don't remember much about the area, other than it seemed a nice stretch of coast that my friends and I would roam. Is it part of Manley Bay, another name I remember from my time there? I don't even remember if it was a protected area or not. I can remember some wicked electrical storms would hit the area. I remember Mulberry trees, cliffs, tide pools, lagoons and an ocean fed pool, all of great interest to an 8 year old. Any info on the area would be appreciated. Mark Sanders *************************************************************************** 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 1981 Choices: 1. River kayak. Shuttling, no solo. Did some. 2. By Klepper or a Pisces, take local course, read John D's book, learn about tides, get in, push rudder peddle, go left or right. Don't even think about surf. Yawn. 3. By a Nordkapp or Baidarka, take BCU course with Hutchy, learn about currents, get in, scull, roll, brace, turn. Head for surf and waves. Get up next day. Do it again. Yeah. Been happy with the latter. Hate and love Hutch. He did however, change my life. Would not be the same universe for me if I had not met him. Doug Lloyd somewhere north of the PNW >I agree that Derek is a little hyperinflated now. > > But for me, it is just water off the deck. > > He is old and he actively markets himself. If he did not market himself, > he would be ignored. Nobody else is going to put much effort into saying > how great he is. He enjoys being a public figure. He has to try and make > himself relevant. I ran into him first when he was doing the Aleution > paddle because I happened to live in Alaska. I had a friend up there who > was on the expedition who was a better paddler than Derek. But of course > nobody has ever heard of him or asks him any questions. But Derek had the > enthusiasm and effusiveness to get a bunch of people together to do the > damn paddle. One on one, I have found him a little rude. > > There are many early kayaking pioneers that did impressive and innovative > things that you never hear about. Lots of kayakers are loner types. And > lots viewed the whole sport differently. > > But go out there now and try and sell a paddle or a kayak design. You, or > your marketers, have to go on and on about how innovative and special > your design is. I find this background noise more annoying, but it is > part of the business. Most of it is complete BS. > > The experts in this business are people who market themselves. These are > the people who are considered the great guru's and kayaking geniuses. > They sell guidebooks or whatever. They go to symposia. They are in the > business and become "experts" not so much because they know more than a > lot of other people but because they market themselves. > > Ed Gillet is an exception who got famous by simply doing weirdly > extraordinary things. > > Freida's kayak looks like a racing car with all its endorsement stickers. > I find that more "annoying" because it is not my style and it was not the > ethos of kayaking in "those days". Derek is often amusing and enjoys the > spotlight. And I kind of like people who have some "different" opinions > about things like dressing for immersion because at times the kayaking > community can seem so enamored of "official" truths that it seems like > the Soviet Union. > > > "propensity to minimize any accomplishments of others and maximize his > own" -- to me that is the definition of marketing. > > > > > On Apr 5, 2009, at 07:16 AM, Craig Jungers wrote: > >> What annoys me about Hutchinson now is his propensity to minimize any >> accomplishments of others and maximize his own. If you believe him then >> you'd think that sea kayak design reached a zenith with his designs and >> has stagnated ever since. Take a look at this "conversation with Derek >> Hutchinson" published in 2002 *************************************************************************** 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 LloydB somewhere north of the PNWB I diverge from that line of thinking. The Pacific Northwest is a geographical descriptor from the North American viewpoint. Victoria sits well there. It is not a political boundary such as the USA/Canadian boundary. the Asians think we are all crazy, as we are to them, clearly in the Pacific Northeast. Go figure. Cheers, 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/ ***************************************************************************
Hey Craig...hehehehe. :-) Doug Lloyd somewhere north of the PNW I diverge from that line of thinking. The Pacific Northwest is a geographical descriptor from the North American viewpoint. Victoria sits well there. It is not a political boundary such as the USA/Canadian boundary. the Asians think we are all crazy, as we are to them, clearly in the Pacific Northeast. Go figure. Cheers, 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/ ***************************************************************************
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