Search found 3984 matches
- Thu Feb 13, 2025 7:04 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Buoyancy aid with big pockets
- Replies: 21
- Views: 314
Re: Buoyancy aid with big pockets
Unfortunately, not many assessors see it that way, in my experience That's sad. I must have been lucky with my choice of trainer and assessor. I'm not sure what to recommend to Forever Young now - I still wouldn't suggest that anyone carries unnecessary gear that they wouldn't or couldn't use, just...
- Thu Feb 13, 2025 5:30 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Buoyancy aid with big pockets
- Replies: 21
- Views: 314
Re: Buoyancy aid with big pockets
The weight in your BA doesn't just affect buoyancy. If you're doing a self rescue that involves climbing onto the boat, the less you have in your BA the better, in terms of both weight and catching it on the boat. I try to keep the contents down to "what do I need if I'm separated from the boat...
- Thu Feb 13, 2025 7:52 am
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Goldilocks and the Greenland Paddles?
- Replies: 7
- Views: 296
Re: Goldilocks and the Greenland Paddles?
Clearly I should be familiar with the feel of my spare I agree that is important. While mine are Euros, my spare is identical except it has nylon blades rather than carbon, on the basis that if I'm down to one it needs to be tough. It also means that in extreme circumstances I can mix and match to ...
- Thu Feb 13, 2025 7:44 am
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Buoyancy aid with big pockets
- Replies: 21
- Views: 314
Re: Buoyancy aid with big pockets
I do. Apologies to readers and to Peak.Do you mean a Peak Ocean Wrap
- Wed Feb 12, 2025 10:51 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Buoyancy aid with big pockets
- Replies: 21
- Views: 314
Re: Buoyancy aid with big pockets
I have Palm Ocean Wrap which has quite big pockets. As the name suggests, you wrap it round you, not pull it over your head. It has two full size front panels that overlap, and I find I can put my phone, in an Aquapac, between the layers, which saves a lot of pocket space for other things.
- Wed Feb 12, 2025 2:18 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Recommendations for kayak tours near Galway
- Replies: 3
- Views: 112
Re: Recommendations for kayak tours near Galway
I paddled for about 3 days in that area in 2023 and it's a great place to paddle if the weather suits. We would have stayed longer, but the conditions weren't suitable - the coast is very exposed to SW winds and Atlantic swell. We were self guided. I'm sure there are guides but I don't don't know wh...
- Wed Feb 12, 2025 1:58 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Plumb bow protection
- Replies: 12
- Views: 507
Re: Plumb bow protection
Anyone used dinghy brass keelband? I've tried strip aluminium alloy on the stern of a tandem downriver race canoe (when you go down a drop, the bow kicks up when you hit the wave at the bottom and slams the stern onto the ledge). It didn't work. The flexural stiffness of the metal and the way it yi...
- Mon Feb 10, 2025 5:20 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: PLB - criteria and feedback
- Replies: 12
- Views: 477
Re: PLB - criteria and feedback
Just updating my info above to match other posts - service and battery replacement for the FastFind 210 was £145.95 (Spares Marine had it back in my hand 46 hrs after I posted it to them). It would be practically impossible to activate the fastFind accidentally, you have to remove the sealed cap.
- Sat Feb 08, 2025 9:28 am
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: PLB - criteria and feedback
- Replies: 12
- Views: 477
Re: PLB - criteria and feedback
I have a FastFind 210. It had its second battery replacement/service a year ago. Spares Marine provide a very good service for that. Battery life is nominally 5 years although both times it's come back with nearer 6 years on the label. All I've done with it is carry it in my BA, not used it. The Fas...
- Mon Feb 03, 2025 7:48 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Clubs - Rules and Regulations.
- Replies: 35
- Views: 1798
Re: Clubs - Rules and Regulations.
I agree with mrcharly that our Governing Bodies have done useful things, although I have not had much success getting them involved in standing up for sea kayakers. When it comes to the Coaching Scheme, I suspect it's run mostly by professional coaches who don't understand amateur clubs. I entirely ...
- Mon Feb 03, 2025 12:30 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: VHF src exam
- Replies: 9
- Views: 406
Re: VHF src exam
It's nearly 40 years since I did the exam. I don't remember anything difficult such as aerial heights that required you to remember specifics rather then understand concepts. So you'd be expected to know that aerial height matters and that VHF is line of sight, but not aerial heights in metres. I th...
- Sun Feb 02, 2025 6:31 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Clubs - Rules and Regulations.
- Replies: 35
- Views: 1798
Re: Clubs - Rules and Regulations.
with PUK invoking new standards for deployment we will no longer enjoy Public Liability Indemnity cover (presumably?) when our internally signed off leaders are deployed by the club to lead trips Not having PL cover unless working within PUK standards would, in my understanding, be a significant ch...
- Sat Jan 25, 2025 10:58 am
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Clubs - Rules and Regulations.
- Replies: 35
- Views: 1798
Re: Clubs - Rules and Regulations.
Interesting post, seawolf856, and you raise some useful points: the group has a wide range of experience and skills I don't think I'd consider that to be a peer group. The implication of 'peer' is that the members are nominally equal. That means they should be as capable of making decisions as you a...
- Wed Jan 15, 2025 8:08 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking Gear For Sale
- Topic: Reed Chillcheater shirt and trousers.
- Replies: 14
- Views: 710
Re: Reed Chillcheater shirt and trousers.
If you sent them via the site email, they may have gone into spam. If you sent them via PM, you can tell whether your PM has been seen - if it's in your Outbox, it hasn't, in your Sent items, it has.I think the messaging system is playing up.
- Sun Jan 12, 2025 10:23 pm
- Forum: Whitewater and Touring
- Topic: River for kayak camping
- Replies: 4
- Views: 359
Re: River for kayak camping
Just be aware that so far as camping is concerned, you may be better on the commercial campsites. There aren't many places where you could wild camp without the risk of an angry landowner.River Wye, anywhere from Hay on Wye down.
- Sat Jan 11, 2025 4:50 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Foam bulkhead / footrest
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1151
Re: Foam bulkhead / footrest
I have been under the impression not but would be very happy to leave the rails where they are! I expect you could unscrew the bolt at the aft end of the rail just far enough to allow the pedal to slide off, then retighten the bolt. You may need to use a penetrating oil like Plus-gas to unstick the...
- Sat Jan 11, 2025 7:43 am
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Foam bulkhead / footrest
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1151
Re: Foam bulkhead / footrest
I've never had any worries about using a composite bulkhead as a footrest. I've taken one out once, to reposition it, and they take a lot of shifting. With a foam bulkhead I used the forward bolt holes for the rails to fix an alloy bar with a plate on it.
- Fri Jan 10, 2025 7:32 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Foam bulkhead / footrest
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1151
Re: Foam bulkhead / footrest
perhaps just replace the screws with shorter ones just long enough to retain a nut and washer on the inside That's what I did, although I also took advantage of having the nut and washer to attach a small loop of bungee on the aft screws, one loop secures my pump and the other my sponge (having che...
- Thu Jan 09, 2025 7:40 am
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Wimmens winter undersuit
- Replies: 15
- Views: 679
Re: Wimmens winter undersuit
My experience with Brynje is similar. It was recommended to me as good for being warm in cold situations while minimising overheating, and it does seem to work.Re Byrnge https://www.nordiclife.co.uk/blogs/the- ... k1DVDbo3IV
- Sun Jan 05, 2025 9:19 am
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Did YOU paddle today ?
- Replies: 316
- Views: 39086
Re: Did YOU paddle today ?
you won't find me hazarding that crossing on an SUP SUP is about the only thing I haven't paddled, and CRT have banned them on the aqueduct. But here's a picture of canoe on it. You can see the way the cast iron segments are tapered to work as an arch, to keep the joints tight and avoid tension in ...
- Fri Jan 03, 2025 9:30 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Did YOU paddle today ?
- Replies: 316
- Views: 39086
Re: Did YOU paddle today ?
Pontcysylllte aqueduct, mere sections of cast iron with gaskets of something possibly tea towels soaked in black treacle (more info required).
I just happened across that information - Welsh flannel soaked in molten sugar:
- Mon Dec 30, 2024 5:41 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Did YOU paddle today ?
- Replies: 316
- Views: 39086
Re: Did YOU paddle today ?
The last section involved heading through the Chirk tunnel which is never one of my favourite places.which is 421 metres long and needs one to be sporting a head torch mainly to prevent one being mown down by a canal barge. Better than head torch is a fixed light on your boat. Canal boats expect a ...
- Sun Dec 29, 2024 7:10 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Did YOU paddle today ?
- Replies: 316
- Views: 39086
Re: Did YOU paddle today ?
A very well made film, Leigh. I found it quite emotional, knowing the context. Poor Freya, I'm sorry.
- Thu Dec 26, 2024 10:41 am
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Winter paddling thermals
- Replies: 18
- Views: 951
Re: Winter paddling thermals
An alternative is fourth element clothing they have a fabric which is very insulating even when wet, I forget which it is now. They call it Thermocline. It's the equivalent of a 2mm wetsuit but doesn't contain rubber. They sell it particularly to warm water divers as it's neutrally buoyant. Unfortu...
- Thu Dec 05, 2024 11:36 am
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: USE OF PLB
- Replies: 8
- Views: 857
Re: USE OF PLB
The only thing is, it has reminded me that I need a new battery in my PLB before March 2025!! At least you know in plenty of time. I realised, 4 days before my flight to a very remote paddling destination, that mine was 3 months past its date. Spares Marine (and Royal Mail) did a great job for me, ...
- Mon Dec 02, 2024 9:06 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Winter paddling thermals
- Replies: 18
- Views: 951
Re: Winter paddling thermals
I haven't worn a wetsuit for years; unless I was surfing or really expected to get wet I paddled in thermals, cag and waterproof trousers (not dry cag or dry trousers, they hadn't been invented). However, something else to consider apart from warmth is movement, both freedom of movement and rubbing....
- Mon Dec 02, 2024 7:12 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: USE OF PLB
- Replies: 8
- Views: 857
Re: USE OF PLB
Snail mail to Falmouth was the only way to register my PLB when I bought it, not that long ago Even more odd. I bought mine in 2011 and registered it online straight away, then updated it online in 2017 and 2023 after I had the battery changed. They have updated the registration system at some poin...
- Mon Dec 02, 2024 2:54 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: USE OF PLB
- Replies: 8
- Views: 857
Re: USE OF PLB
Are you saying you can't do that? I've just this minute logged in and updated my details:Imagine living in the 21st century and being able to update that kind of information online instantly
https://register-406-beacons.service.gov.uk
- Fri Nov 29, 2024 6:31 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Peculiar Nordkapp?
- Replies: 9
- Views: 513
Re: Peculiar Nordkapp?
Unusual to see Kayak sport hatches on a Valley kayak. They will be Kajak Sport covers on the original Valley hatch rims. Kayak Sport use a much more durable rubber than Valley and sell covers to fit Valley boats (I have been told that the manufacturing process is more polluting which is why Valley ...
- Fri Nov 29, 2024 3:53 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking Gear For Sale
- Topic: Wanted- Northshore Atlantic
- Replies: 5
- Views: 362
Re: Wanted- Northshore Atlantic
When the message is in your Outbox, it's in his Inbox but he hasn't opened it yet. When it's opened, it moves to your Sent folder.my message is in my Outbox and I don’t know if that counts as sent