Just by way of an update.... after drying my radio out in my airing cupboard back in June, it returned to full operational status and at the same time, I had contact from SH, inviting me to send the radio to them for examination. Similar to Wildbadger’s experience, this was to be at my cost and risk...

I also use an Anker power pack. It lives in my waterproof hard case, With my GoPro camera, 4 batteries, charger and various leads.It also charges my iPhone and on the odd occasion, my iPad.

Went for a McConks in the end, easily inflated 2 boards to 18psi last night. Will see how it lasts longer term.

Four or five seconds is short. Head out beyond the break where you can turn without risk of a breaking wave broaching you. Get set up and turn hard on the peak of the swell, where there’s less resistance to the turn. The Scorpio is a big heavy lump, so anything you can do to help it turn will benefi...

Inflating 2 iSups to 18psi before each paddle is getting tiresome. Any recommendations for a reliable 12v inflator ?

TIA

I upgraded from a Palm tow line to one of the Whetmans last year and used it loads on practice sessions. It’s a superb bit of kit, with a short tow built in too. I don’t mind the size of the bag, which some complain is a bit intrusive as it’s on the large side, but this helps with repacking. I’ve he...

I agree with the previous comments, in a collision with another vehicle, it won’t matter much. If you’re a decent driver, the chances of hitting a pedestrian are pretty remote and if your luck did run out, the chances of the towing eye hitting them are lower again. I don’t have a front towing eye on...

I’ve had my Sea Pro with leverlock since 2013/14 and as much as it’s been dropped in the sand on several occasions, it always gets rinsed off and I’ve never had any issues with it going together, locking or releasing. It’s as smooth as the day I bought it.

PM sent !

@sinker I have tried to reply to your PM, but it looks like you have disabled PM receipt in your set up. Let me know when you’ve changed the setting and I’ll try again,

Ken.

Fun2Bgrey.... it’s great if you are managing to get your kayak on to the car at the moment, but if you start to struggle as you get older, consider a Karitek roof rack system which slides over the side of the car and allows you to load/unload at a manageable height. My partner has one fitted to her ...

I’m biased towards the Scorpio, but only because it’s such a good boat and does everything I ask of it. It surfs well, but once or twice the bow has dug in as @charleston14 says, but it soon lifts back out when you turn. https://media.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/uploads/70355/1563607843437-6056.png Is ...

I’m biased towards the Scorpio, but only because it’s such a good boat and does everything I ask of it. It surfs well, but once or twice the bow has dug in as @charleston14 says, but it soon lifts back out when you turn.

Another McMurdo Fastfind 220 user, except I opted for their Ranger model, which was confirmed by McMurdo as being exactly the same technical spec as the FF220, but has a more robust case, which keeps mine a bit safer when I use it in the mountains.

Thanks Ian, The radio is not used inside an Aquapac or similar. I carry it in the front pocket of my PFD with the aerial protruding from the zip and prior to this fault developing, the radio wasn’t submerged at any point. Two days earlier I was playing in small surf on Tiree, but my PFD was barely s...

Standard Horizon HX870E I was out for a day paddle from Tayvallich, Mid West Symposium on Friday and had one of three radios in our group. While we were test calling each other before setting off, it soon became apparent that my radio was jammed in transmit and was continually blocking the other rad...

I’m another fan of Karitek’s ELRR. When I bought my Peugeot Boxer based camper in 2017, my first port of call was Karitek and the rack has seen a lot of use in those 2 years, allowing me to load 2 kayaks singlehandedly. A kayaking friend also has a Boxer based camper and went down the fixed roof rac...

Failing any better suggestions coming along, I’d be tempted to get a piece of stiff rubber, such as the type that boat trailer rollers are made from and shape the bottom to suit the shape of your ridge line and leave the top flat to mount the compass. You’d then have a choice of drilling and bolting...

then use my extended paddle over my shoulder, to counter lifting one end of my boat up, emptying the vast majority of water from the cockpit..... Why a vast amount of water in the cockpit?..... I should have made that clearer, I didn’t say there would be a vast amount of water in the cockpit, I sai...

There may be times when a re-entry roll isn’t an option, such as an injury, disability or not having achieved that skill yet. For that reason, I also practice a self rescue technique that I was taught, where I initially leave my boat upside down, fit and inflate my paddle float, then use my extended...

Mine sits under a foredeck elastic, but it’s the inflatable type, so sits flat and I can easily reach it while the boat is upside down. I’m not sure I’m envisaging correctly your thought on having it attached to an assembled paddle, which wouldn’t work for me. I carry spare splits on my foredeck and...

I can’t fault my 4 piece Celtic Sea Pro, cranked carbons. I went for slightly larger blades and have been using 700s for the last couple of years.

Excellent video, makes me wish I’d never moved inland ;-)

Yes Northern Blue, I can confirm it’s working, we picked you up loud and clear at Newbiggin Lifeboat Station. Thanks for the confirmation Rod, it was obviously just the location over on the west coast, exactly as Douglas stated. I take it neither yourselves or Blyth had any call outs ?.... the Nort...

Radio is fine, Humber CG responded immediately to a test call from Blyth Harbour earlier.

Thanks for all the tips.

Thanks everyone for your pointers, I tried the radio yesterday at Auchencairn and got no response from Belfast CG or an ‘any vessel’ shout. I just got back to Durham today and will be down the coast at the weekend, where I’ll try Humber CG or another ‘any vessel’ shout again. If that fails to get a ...

Douglas, my PLB is last resort back up, after the VHF and mobile phone. I was paddling with a mutual friend a couple of days ago and was told the story of the gunman at Knockbrex.... scary !!

........ - other recommended alternatives........ My Typhoon MS4 was excellent value for money, until I damaged my shoulder in a head on road traffic collision and the shoulder entry became problematic on solo paddles. I sold it and upgraded to the waist entry, Typhoon PS 330 Extreme, which is an a...

Rich, never a problem with sucking eggs.... and yes ‘TX’ is showing on the screen when pressing the PTT button and antenna checked religiously before every trip. (Recently retired emergency services with personal radio in use on a daily basis) :-)

Definitely on high, but need to check the ‘Int’ setting. Nothing’s been changed in settings since I last used it at home, when Humber responded.