I've just finished reading The Long Way by Bernard Moitessier. There is no way he would have sent daily reports. It's a great book, anyone who devotes a chapter to feeding birds, and sticks all the technical stuff in an appendix has the balance right. He highly recommends a book by Alan Watts called...

I've paddled a more modern Capella and a RM Aquanaut LV. In rougher conditions the Aquanaut seemed more stable and almost able to look after itself. In a following sea you don't have to try and keep the Aquanaut on track, it doesn't seem to get pushed around as much. I wonder if the difference in a ...

There are 2+1 sit on tops but like double sit on tops they are really heavy. Handling them off the water is a real challenge. Go to a shop and try lifting one, now imagine putting it on top of your car. As a family we've been on a similar journey. We started with a cheap inflatable, upgraded to a si...

I've got the touring cag too. The zip neck won't keep water out, it's fine for spray and great for ventilation. Before I bought a drysuit it was what I wore every winter and it was plenty warm enough with fleece underneath. The wrist seals are much warmer than latex and almost as good in terms of ke...

No, I don't think that's correct. The two layers are thinner than the single thick layer used in the Gumotex boats. The air bladders in double layered boats are very thin. All the protection has to come from the single layer of tarpaulin.

The advantage with the Gumotex boats is that they are single skinned. Lots of other boats have air bladders encased in a tarpaulin outer layer. Once water gets between the layers they are a real pain to dry. If you have a puncture, single skinned boats are easier to fix. You don't have to remove an ...

Not sure any of the Alpkit ones zip together. Have a look at Vango sleeping bags, we have some for family camping. I'm sure they zip together, they might even do double sleeping bags. I bet they won't be light or small though.

Double sit-on-tops can be pretty heavy too. Getting them on top of a car can be a challenge. Inflatables get around that problem and are easy to store. With an inflatable wind becomes a issue in anything other than a light breeze. Probably not a good idea in an offshore wind. Ocean kayaks Kea is pre...

Thanks, makes sense.I found some T bolts from an old kayak carrier and tried them out. Those Thule carriers are pricey but look to be ideal.

We used to have a bike rack that attached with straps to the back of the car. It wobbled about a bit but basically worked. I gave it away though. I want to be able to carry bikes on the car and have seen various options as other cars drive by. That got me thinking about the Kari-Tek rack I have. Has...

Years ago we camped in Keswick next to Derwent Water. We were right at the edge of the lake. It was a camping and caravanning club site. You might have to pay something extra if you are not a member, I can't really remember.

Hi Alison, for inspiration and planning there is the fantastic resource that is Oileain - http://www.oileain.org/index.php/viewdownload-oileain/ I've paddled in and around Roaringwater Bay a few times and there are plenty of options, both sheltered and very much not sheltered. Lots of good camping t...

I hate wearing gloves for paddling, sometimes they slip along the paddle which is very bad news. I feel that I've less control over the paddle too. During winter I have some Lomo gloves that I put on just before getting out of the boat. They keep my hands from cooling down quickly as soon as I stop ...

Thanks Jim, those are good points.

It's not retired yet so I'll keep it just for climbing. The kayaking one will have to wear out or break before I consider a new one.

Any reason why I can't wear my climbing helmet for kayaking? It's lighter, better ventilated and more comfy than my kayaking helmet.

Another thing, it doesn't have any metal parts unlike my kayaking helmet which has rusty bits.

I fixed the seam tape on an old Gore-Tex jacket using McNett Aquasure, mainly because I had some and thought it might work. It worked really well and the seam tape is still in place a couple of years later. I spread a bit on the back of the tape and on the jacket seam and pressed them together. Then...

Thanks Douglas, after reading that I had to rush out to the shed and check my rack, thinking I'd collect the drill on the way. But no, I have the holes too, just never noticed them. I can see how they would make multi-boat loading easier, just need to test it now.

I filled in the survey a few weeks ago. Here is some more info about what happened to me. A few years ago I had a frozen shoulder. Onset Like most frozen shoulders mine came on gradually and stemmed from nothing obvious. About September or October 2010 I noticed pain around the front top half of my ...

I shudder to think what you typed into Google to get some of those images.

I can fit a three man Vango Tempest in my Aquanaut LV. Goes in the back hatch fairly ok, bit of wiggling about to get it in. Still a bit of room for other stuff around it too. It's nice to have a larger tent, makes sorting stuff out so much easier when it's raining.

Not sure why I was awake at some unearthly hour of the morning but I ended up listening to a BBC World Service discussion programme about survival in cold water.

Worth a listen. You can get it as a podcast too.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01c2m3j

The main thing to consider here is what we leave for future generations. As people who enjoy the outdoors and, in general, the wild and untouched parts, we are all familiar with the concept leaving things as you found them. It's a good principal. Obviously it isn't possible for the infrastructure of...

Another vote for Roaringwater Bay and for Oileain. There is plenty to see in Roaringwater Bay and Oileain will tell you all you need to know. You've got options there if the weather isn't kind which helps. If you are a little further to the east don't miss a trip around the Old Head of Kinsale. If t...

I've had the salopettes for almost 3 years and they've been used in a fibreglass boat for about 2 years. No sign of wear on the thighs or knees and I don't have any padding under the deck. They are very comfy and a really good fit. I've had to give the feet and lower legs Aquasure blobs and patches ...

I have a fairly new Karitek rack. I leave the rails on the roof bars but remove the main rack when I'm not using it. Mine has two nuts that I loosen with a spanner and I then lift off the rack. I have two big hooks on the wall in the shed so I just hang it up. It's about 2 minutes to take it off and...

Well spotted MikeB. It's a Valley. The toggles give it away. You know, the ones that occasionally pinch your finger reminding you not to carry it using them. The cockpit label says it's 2008 build and I've had it about 18 months from new. Must have spent quite a while in the shop. It's been stored i...

Thanks for all the suggestions. A bit more info. It seems there is some inside seam tape that's not fully stuck down or fully wetted out. I'd be a bit wary of removing the outer seam as that's sound. I don't have enough room to get any real downward pressure as the max free space above the gap is ab...

Not sure how or when this happened but I started noticing water in the back hatch. On a calm paddle maybe a cup full, but with surf, following sea, boat upside down for a while or me sitting on the back deck quite a lot. Sometimes a couple of pints. I put some newspaper under the hatch cover and jet...

Old Head of Kinsale. Obviously not taken this summer.

Once the boat is on it's way I guess you kind of give in and start thinking of explanations for the pub. I'd also say that if I saw the lifeboat coming I'd move away. Last thing you want to do is hinder the actual rescue. You are not the priority. The back hatch is oval. I think it's fitted with a ...