I have a few options, drysuit, dry trousers, dry cag and a wetsuit, I usually wear my drytrousers with a quick wicking top if its arm and I carry my dry cag incase it gets cold, I find paddling in my drysuit or dry cag makes me sweat a lot so if the conditions are well within my ability I like to on...

For anyone else who has tried to look for this info, orka have got back to me and said that the full carbon flex is 825g and the ultra flex is 700g

Thanks very much for that, I have been looking for days now and couldn't find anything, 700g seems OK to me

I'm looking into getting an orka flex wing paddle but I can't find the weight of any of the orka paddles, has anyone here used them and know how heavy or light they are? Thank you

I can agree on the points your saying, I'm sure the course is something I'd find interesting enough and learn a lot from, it's just when I see different people some with a certificate and others without all doing the same thing it got me wondering if the course was really needed, the guys without sa...

That makes sense then why not many people would risk it, I wouldnt fancy having to navigate through ships in fast flow with high seas, we are invisible at the best of times

Thank you that is reassuring to know as I definitely prefer practical experience, I am not resistant to that at all, in fact I would say without a doubt that most of everyone here will know better than me, I don't know why you think that of me? It is a bit of a controversial subject and its not only...

I don't have a resistance to doing the course as such, I just have always been the kind of person who learns through practice and experience, I take more in when I study for myself than a classroom environment so if it was possible /legal to educate myself on the correct protocol to use which I have...

I've thought about this crossing aswell as it appears to be the shortest route over, it does concern me that there's not a lot of kayakers using this route which makes me question why that is, unpredictable seas? Strong swells and high standing breaking waves perhaps? Or possibly a busy shipping lane

I haven't paddled the virgo or the stratos but the p and h delphin would be a good option aswell for what your looking for, I've paddled a 155 delphin and I loved it, its very stable, tracks well, turns really easily and quickly, the seat and thigh braces are comfy for me and it rolls easily aswell,...

Congrats on the new boat, I love the cetus model, I have the cetus lv which suits me perfect as a lighter paddler, this boat handles everything you put it through, I'm relatively new to sea kayaking and its really lets me push my limits with confidence safely, it feels stable in every condition I've...

That is a really good idea to mentally prepare for a mayday call, I suppose in the heat of the moment you never really know how your going to react, I am normally pretty calm in most situations but that been said and thankfully I've not had to save someone else or my own life in a real situation, my...

Cotton will not keep you warm once wet that is why you were freezing, you also increase the chances of Hypothermia. You need to be wearing merino wool as a base layer as it absorbs your sweat but keeps you warm at the same time. The other option is to buy a Divers undersuit these can be got cheaply...

Thank you for the links I will definitely do plenty of reading up on all of this before I go out and buy one, even without the course I can be responsible if the need to use it should arise, it's the standard horizon 300e I'm thinking about when the time comes as it seems to tick all the boxes for w...

I hope I've not stirred up to much controversy here, I was just looking to find out the legal obligations of having a vhf, I'd actually be quite happy to just have it for emergency use tbh as my main concern is for solo paddling, if it's illegal to use for other means I'll just let the others make t...

I know I still need a license I just mean it reads like I do not really need a certificate as in the course to use it, I understand aswell that having a card at hand isn't the best way of doing things but we all need to learn somewhere and if having a protocol card allows me to have an understandabl...

Thanks for those details I'll definitely look onto those books, that was something I've heard, the course is aimed more to yachts and powerboats, another reason why I felt it may be unnecessary for what I'll do with it

I just had a good read of that ofcom link provided by Richard and it reads well, it's looking like I don't need any additional certificates to use a vhf within 12 nautical miles of low tide so this should be plenty coverage for my uses, if I'm wrong please correct me but it does look like that

Thanks guys this is all really helpful, PlymouthDamo I'm sorry to hear that mate, I'm glad your OK but that must have been a horrible experience for you and your group, I have looked up the protocol for making mayday calls and it doesn't look too hard, there's even a card I can print out that explai...

Thank you for that information, I can't disagree with all that you are saying as the course is definitely something I can see myself doing in the near future, even just for a better understanding of it all and to have the paperwork aswell, I was hoping I could just order a vhf and start using it rig...

Hi guys I'm thinking about adding a vhf to my kit and I'm wondering if I would really need to do a vhf course, I think I don't but thought I'd ask here just to hear some opinions, all I want the vhf for is for solo paddling to have an emergency contact to the coast guard if something drastic happens...

Wow that sounds amazing I'd have loved to have been part of your group to experience that, I have seen videos of this before but have never experienced it myself, I see nothing wrong in what you done, if you let them come to you which you did do, then you've just had an amazing animal encounter that...

I have the exact same problem, it was my first drysuit and I done a leak test in the bath when I got it and all was well, first paddle I layered up underneath with cotton t shirts and and light jumper, as you say paddling was fine and I was warm but as soon as we stopped I was freezing and all of my...

That's an interesting idea the air pocket, I've thought about running a tube through the spray deck for that if it would work, I can hold my breath for a long while in a calm environment, I timed myself a few nights ago and I could comfortably manage 1.5 minutes and I managed to hold it for 2 minute...

I seen that video aswell it really is some time they're held under and I can imagine there is nothing you can really do other than hope you got enough of a last breathe to make it through the time spent underwater, I think my next training session will include holding my breath for aslong as possibl...

That's a lot bigger water than it was when I was there thankfully, I'm glad you got of it, it does look good fun though, it looks wild lol

Thanks Mike that does sound like I could have been in the wrong place at the wrong time then as it was the north pillar I was at, thankfully I wasn't dragged down too deep but I still think that was due to the death grip I had on my kayak lol and it is a 17.5ft boat with bulkheads so has a lot of bu...

I don't have any experience of paddling a rebel kayak but I have only read good things about them if thats the style of boat you want, there definitely more traditionally styled which personally I find stunning, the husky really is a lovely looking boat, I know some of the models don't come with any...

Thanks very much Jim it was a spring ebb flow I was on aswell but the standing waves weren't that big to surf this day, that's reassuring to hear that it shouldnt hold me under for too long, it definitely was a scare as it was my first time in that environment but there is only one way to learn and ...

OK I'll just leave it where it is at the moment, I have done a bit of my own research aswell now and from what I can see, whirlpools that appear and dissapate on moving water such as tide races and rivers aren't as sinister as the static whirlpools and even if they do pull you under should let go in...