Search found 190 matches
- Wed Oct 23, 2019 7:26 pm
- Forum: Whitewater and Touring
- Topic: Contact lenses and paddling
- Replies: 6
- Views: 1106
Re: Contact lenses and paddling
Very similar experience with a variety of opticians. Most recently I asked one to quantify the warning; he said that the chance was very small. That said, the consequences can be total loss of sight in the eye. The risk may be greater in static water over moving or salt water. So I’ve been experimen...
- Sun Sep 16, 2018 5:21 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: BCU 3 star assessment questions
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1533
Re: BCU 3 star assessment questions
Walking type compass would be fine; especially if you've practised taking a bearing while on the water. I misread your question about evidence. If anyone's interested, what I typed in error is in the ps below. Now I've actually read what you asked, I can confirm there is no requirement to have evide...
- Mon Sep 03, 2018 8:34 am
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: BBC episode of "Saving Lives at Sea" - Angelsey rescue - Moelfre
- Replies: 5
- Views: 906
Re: BBC episode of "Saving Lives at Sea" - Angelsey rescue - Moelfre
There was additional information about the same rescue in the rnli magazine, including the son's thought-process once he'd swum out, rescued his dad and resuscitated him, but now the tide was coming in over the rocks they were on. He'd seen his dad do a fireman's lift, so he picked up his (fairly bi...
- Sun Sep 02, 2018 6:09 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Insurance and qualifications
- Replies: 84
- Views: 6225
Re: Insurance and qualifications
With a professional instructor, there are cases like this one where large damages have been awarded (the injured party in that case was a solicitor). The volunteer leader is some where between, I think; very unlikely to be sued if there's a serious incident, but can't rule it out. Many thanks for t...
- Sun Jul 22, 2018 8:17 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Expedition food - help!
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1424
Re: Expedition food - help!
I used Harmony House for a three week trip last summer. The selection pack below has lots of different beans, two lots of potatoes, and a bunch of other stuff. All in good quality waterproof pouches. They're light, a good size for packing, and most of them were very tasty. I added a couple of packs ...
- Mon Jun 04, 2018 11:14 am
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Sleeping bag?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1470
Re: Sleeping bag?
The other good thing about (?some?) RAB bags is the 'compression stuff sack'. It's like a dry bag (though I wouldn't trust it for immersion) but it has an internal draw-string-sealed section that makes it very easy to squash the thing down small. I've been meaning to try and persuade RAB to sell the...
- Thu Mar 29, 2018 11:17 am
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Cameras and salt water
- Replies: 22
- Views: 2754
- Mon Mar 05, 2018 11:00 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Register your EPIRB
- Replies: 18
- Views: 1694
Re: Register your EPIRB
The suggestion re attaching to boat in order to keep aerial upright is an interesting one as it assumes your boat will be staying upright and that you will be staying with your boat. Yes, you can tether yourself to the boat but my personal gut feeling is that I want the PLB on my person even if tha...
- Mon Mar 05, 2018 11:52 am
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Register your EPIRB
- Replies: 18
- Views: 1694
Re: Register your EPIRB
Not about registration but I have a good news customer service report. I sent my Ocean Signal RescueMe PLB1 back to them with a broken aerial last week, three and a half years after purchase, and had a very good experience with them. They responded promptly and cheerfully, and they examined it, and ...
- Fri Mar 02, 2018 11:15 am
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Cameras and salt water
- Replies: 22
- Views: 2754
Re: Cameras and salt water
I use an old Canon 40D bought from ebay at a price where I hoped killing the camera would be sad rather than devastating. I follow the waterproof deck bag and towel system recommended by others. Over several years of splashes and drips the only negative effect was some white marks where the camera s...
- Wed Feb 14, 2018 10:31 am
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Carrying flares
- Replies: 50
- Views: 4990
Re: Carrying flares
There's also the danger posed to members of your family (children) from high explosives in your kit. I suspect most of us roll our eyes at stories of gun owners in the USA doing stupid things like allowing their children to know where they keep their ammunition, or leaving their gun accessible to ch...
- Sat Oct 14, 2017 8:56 am
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: VHF Radio Test Calls
- Replies: 24
- Views: 2890
Re: VHF Radio Test Calls
Sean_soup: well, my radio does behave exactly as you describe, and I had clearly forgotten that, so that makes user error much more likely. I still like to feel I would have checked if it kept happening. Only answer is to go paddling in Scotland again.
- Fri Oct 13, 2017 2:46 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: VHF Radio Test Calls
- Replies: 24
- Views: 2890
Re: VHF Radio Test Calls
Sean_soup - that's a good thought. I like to think that I would have checked after several occurrences; I'll get the radio out later and see if it switches as you say. Chris - I wondered about different masts, but I couldn't quite see what the advantage would be. Could there be some kept clear for C...
- Fri Oct 13, 2017 11:23 am
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: VHF Radio Test Calls
- Replies: 24
- Views: 2890
Re: VHF Radio Test Calls
Has anyone else noticed CG being able to hear you on 16, but not on whatever channel they transfer you to in order to speak for longer? I've had that several times on the West coast of Scotland and it is a factor in why I don't call them so often now with routine trip plans. I've often been left try...
- Tue Oct 10, 2017 7:30 am
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: VHF Radio Test Calls
- Replies: 24
- Views: 2890
Re: VHF Radio Test Calls
Within the Port of London area of the Thames we overhear other vessels doing this often. As kayaks we're required/requested by the Port to radio in before each launch anyway so that tests function if not signal strength. There have been threads on here in the past about the relative merits of radioi...
- Thu Oct 05, 2017 6:31 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Thoughts on Night Nav white lights
- Replies: 6
- Views: 794
Re: Thoughts on Night Nav white lights
Since the towerhamlets wiki article Technoengineer has already linked to quite a few members of that club have taken to shoving one of the tiny £1.99 garage torches into an empty smallest milk 'bottle'. That gives you adequate waterproofing in a diffuser that comes with a handle to use to tie it to ...
- Thu Oct 05, 2017 6:27 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Which PLB do you use? Is it waterproof?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 3092
Re: Which PLB do you use? Is it waterproof?
I can confirm that the RescueMe antenna is not sealed and I've ended up with a small amount of rust on mine.
It cleaned off fine, but you'd want check after too much salt immersion.
Charlie
It cleaned off fine, but you'd want check after too much salt immersion.
Charlie
- Fri May 19, 2017 7:03 am
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Solo Circumnavigation of Skye May 2011
- Replies: 23
- Views: 3082
Re: Solo Circumnavigation of Skye May 2011
Thank you. Those extra photos are really helpful.
Charlie
Charlie
- Wed May 17, 2017 6:54 am
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Solo Circumnavigation of Skye May 2011
- Replies: 23
- Views: 3082
Re: Solo Circumnavigation of Skye May 2011
Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but has anyone landed on the boulder beach that Jim mentions (copied below) to the East of Waternish Point? Would it be possible to camp there? OS map looks very promising but I'd like the chance to land a group and scout the headland, and if they're not keen it'd b...
- Fri Jan 06, 2017 4:51 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: West Coast of Ireland recommendations
- Replies: 6
- Views: 783
Re: West Coast of Ireland recommendations
Hi Alison, I stayed near Portmagee last year (I could dig out the exact cottages if you're interested, they backed straight into the sea.) That puts you behind the shelter of Valentia island, but within reach of some very challenging trips, possibly even a trip out to see Luke Skywalker on Skellig M...
- Tue Dec 27, 2016 7:07 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Holiday reading
- Replies: 22
- Views: 2977
Re: Holiday reading
I picked up 'The Great Escape: Adventures on the Wild West Coast' by Monty Halls for 50p at the school Christmas fair. It's not a kayaking book, though one of the key characters is called Kayak Mike. It's about a guy off the telly who spends 6 months doing up a croft just north of Skye. I've found i...
- Fri Dec 16, 2016 12:11 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: recommend me an old fashioned coach
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1358
Re: recommend me an old fashioned coach
The Shiner - thank you. It's very helpful to have a list of several names.
- Mon Dec 12, 2016 7:11 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: recommend me an old fashioned coach
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1358
Re: recommend me an old fashioned coach
MikeB - Redoing 5* training, because it's only valid for three years and I wasn't ready for assessment within that time. No particular reason other than inexperience, with a side order of more white water paddling to help in tide races. I agree about an excellent coach having the ability to adapt; I...
- Mon Dec 12, 2016 3:28 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: recommend me an old fashioned coach
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1358
Re: recommend me an old fashioned coach
Fair point. I didn't mean to be confusing. Auditor and theorist are from two different categorisations. You're right that VAK often has an R inserted (for read/write) but I don't think the difference is absolute. When another person is present then I prefer to listen to them (auditory); when they're...
- Sat Dec 10, 2016 3:36 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: recommend me an old fashioned coach
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1358
recommend me an old fashioned coach
I need to redo my 5 star sea training and I'd like an unreconstructed, tell-you-what-to-think coach. In new money, someone who is good with theorists/ auditory learners. If there is one who gives out long boring handouts and sets you extra reading to take home then all the better. No criticism inten...
- Wed Nov 16, 2016 11:07 am
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: What do you do if better advice ignored
- Replies: 30
- Views: 3385
Re: What do you do if better advice ignored
I'm not following a couple of the recent comments because I don't know any information not in this thread, so this is only a comment on the original question. What do people think about always assigning a leader? We do this now on club trips even in home waters with well-known groups of friends. It'...
- Fri Aug 26, 2016 6:14 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Sea kayaking course advice for newbie
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1960
Re: Sea kayaking course advice for newbie
Hi Nightowl,
I'm part of tower hamlets canoe club, have an unusual work pattern that includes weekends, and coach a bit of sea kayak - send me a pm and there might be a way of helping you on your way.
Charlie
I'm part of tower hamlets canoe club, have an unusual work pattern that includes weekends, and coach a bit of sea kayak - send me a pm and there might be a way of helping you on your way.
Charlie
- Thu Aug 25, 2016 6:46 am
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Help (France)
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1048
Re: Help (France)
Thanks for advice and help. I think we're there now. Turns out it was a good time of year to break down in France - half of London is here as well.
The hardest bit ended up being bank holiday Dover - no trains and no hire cars.
Thanks,
Charlie
The hardest bit ended up being bank holiday Dover - no trains and no hire cars.
Thanks,
Charlie
- Tue Aug 23, 2016 10:48 am
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Help (France)
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1048
Re: Help (France)
Thanks for responses and suggestions. Biggest lesson for me is not to be so busy before holiday that you forget to extend AA to Europe and sort out travel insurance. I'm looking into hiring -currently it's tricky to hire something in France, and drive it to England and leave it there. Given that wou...
- Mon Aug 22, 2016 2:53 pm
- Forum: Sea Kayaking
- Topic: Help (France)
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1048
Help (France)
Is anyone able to help? My car has broken down permanently in France and I would love some help getting a load of camping kit, three bikes, and a (small) child's kayak back to London from a campsite near Calais (Guines). Very happy to pay petrol etc; help with any of it would be wonderful even if yo...