Hello again, just a quickie in response to OGB: "I have the old style seat and back brace which is a lot more like the UK-style than the US-style on the newer boats. I prefer the former - you sit lower and the back brace doesn't interfere with a roll". Yes, we agree about the high back rest in the n...

Hi Mark, My partner and I have those kayaks - mine is a Penguin and my partner's is the bigger Tasman Express. Actually I was thinking of writing a review of them for this website once we've had them for a bit longer, as we've only had them for about 3 months and done about 6 trips so far. We have b...

I use a "normal" farmer john wetsuit for summer kayaking. Do you think it would still be worth getting the farmer john thermocline for extra thick snugglyness, e.g. for colder weather use - or is it just pointless to have the equivalent of 2 wetsuits on?! Any advice would be great.

Lucy

Hi Matt, Like you, my partner and I were/are mountaineers and skiers and have recently started sea kayaking. Also like you, we are not really club types, but have found the local sea kayak club essential for gaining skills and learning from everyone's experience - we go to the pool sessions and prac...

Hi OGB -

my partner's Tassie Express is the same as yours with the plastic "box" but other bulkheads are stiff foam. During practices he has not experienced the same leakage as you, thankfully (not yet anyway!). I hope yours gets fixed ok!

Lucy

Hi Julian,

My Penguin and my partner's Tasman Express (from QKayaks, see Marinerevolution.co.uk) appear to have stiff foam bulkheads. We have only had the kayaks for a couple of months and been on maybe 8 trips, but there is no leakage at all so far. What is it you are planning?!

cheers,
Lucy

Douglas, your photos are truly fantastic. I realise this is down to you and not the equipment, but all the same - may I ask what camera you use?! (I am about to invest in one).

Lucy

Ticks are my line of work, for my sins! Cold weather is unlikely to deter the ticks - the official line from research at Oxford Uni is that they are active if the maximum mean weekly temperature is 7 deg or above. In reality, all the stalkers in the Scottish Highlands I have spoken to now find ticks...

Apparently sun fish carry massive parasite loads and are often attended by gulls. They also spend a lot of time hanging around at the surface, not moving much, and could easily be predated. But they don't seem to get predated... possibly BECAUSE of all their parasites?!

Fascinating creatures!

Thanks v much, Mrs FQ! The numbness/tingling is only in the kayak, thankfully! I will try pilates and will try to increase the flexibility of tight muscles. But I wasn't sure how I give myself "more stability"? also, what did you mean by a "wider sitting base" - just make sure the hip pads aren't to...

Argh, oh no! We were camping just round the headland S of Arisaig on Sat night, and saw no aurora - disaster! Fantastic stars, though - as good as the Seychelles. The beach was facing S, so I suppose we looking the wrong direction for the aurora. Lucky you!

Paddling Grandma - Yes, I thought that too at first - in fact foot rest position was the first thing I fiddled with, with no effect, which surprised me since the only thing that stops the numbness is to rest my legs flat and straight on the bottom of the boat!

Do you think kayaking/wild camping is a disease? The weekend before last we went up to the North coast and kayaked in teh Tongue/Bettyhill area, and we got surrounded by common dolphins! and there were cows on the beach. As a result, last week I could do no work at all, and this week looks to be eve...

Thank you everyone for your advice! I will certainly trying stretches/warm-ups, and more support for the thighs. I sincerely hope I don't have to buy a new boat like Peter - I've only recently bought mine and love it....

I have a problem with numbness in my legs and bum while paddling my sea kayak, that occurs really quickly, usually after only about 10 minutes. My left side is worse, and it starts in the foot, then creeps up the back of the leg and eventually reaches the bum. Just like a "dead leg" in bed. The only...

From your description of the headland it could have been Rubha Ardvule? I spent a summer living in Bornish, just by that point, and used to check crab pots off the point. I seem to remember shallow reefs extending way beyond (and round to the N) of the point, which could explain the big breakers far...

I have recently bought a yellow "Penguin" made by Q-Kayaks, New Zealand. I have therefore named it "Hoiho" - the Maori word for the Yellow-eyed penguin, a NZ endemic. My partner's red Tasman Express is called "Red Herring"!