TT Kayaking Club

“bump...LOL”

“Waterproof storage...http://www.watchfuleyedesigns.com/index.cfm?do=list&categoryid=1


Bombproof Zipplock bags?”

“Hey Super Troll!
You would have loved the paddle out to Cumberland! See Smokygirl's 'Dillo' thread.

Know any good do it yourself kayak stuff websites?
Smokygirl wants a skeg or rudder for her yak and that got me to thinking about designing a small cheap one.”

“Paddling.net...I posted links to rudder do it yourself site over there...

http://www.paddling.net/message/showThread.html?fid=advice&tid=345823

http://www.paddling.net/message/showThread.html?fid=advice&tid=343163
last edited: 6/30/05 4:06:23 PM”

“Got our new boats finally (Perception Avatars). Birch took the day off work yesterday and we headed out to Lake Erie to test them out.
We put in at Sterling State park and paddled through a large lagoon before we rounded a gigantic breakwall and headed out into the lake. Neither of us ever took our Carolinas out into the great lakes. The water was exceptionally calm, just nice swells, not really waves. The rising and falling made my tummy feel pretty jumpy. Not sick per se but odd. When the fishing boats came by we got nice big waves from their wake.
We'd been out in the ocean before but in a much larger tandam boat. The difference was considerable.
The avatar is a squirrely boat, very quick, a bit wobbly (esp compared to the carolina) and the most comfy boat I've been in yet. The fit is wonderful, cockpit is snug, appointments are luxurious compared to our old boats. I love the skeg!
We paddled for about thirty minutes to a beach and then took turns dumping the Avatar, trying to do rolls and learning a cowboy reentry. We both got the cowboy down, both almost got a roll completed and both had a great time.
We both got sunburned (sunscreen was on the kitchen counter, right where I left it accidentally), wore out and thoroughly enjoyed being out in the big water and the new boats.

I'm headed back out this morning.
last edited: 7/08/05 7:56:14 AM”

“good for you!!!

you got seasick?

hmmmmmmmmmm interesting J/K


we are taking the scouts out this Sunday, as long as Cindy leaves!”

“Fun! How do you keep all those kids in line? Are the parents going too?”

“most are, i follow behind them in my kayak.
but i most correct myself, they will be in canoes. sorry about that!”

“I got the kidlets (age 4 and 6) a 9.5' Manatee. (we had one several years ago, but it got stolen) They had a blast with it on the 4th. We put crazy creek chairs in our yaks, and both kids fit in the Manatee. LLBean has a pretty good deal on them - $399 for boat, good paddle, cockpit cover and water bottle.

While I was getting thiers, I noticed one for me - a Dirigo - can't remember if it's Perception or what (I was trying hard not to look) but the seat looks cushy. I'll probably sell my Acadia first.”

“Sounds like fun Sass...enjoy !”

“We also have a long term loaner for our daughter (4.5 years old) its a 6ft long tri-hull sit on top for kids to learn, we also got a paddle for her (it even feathers). I cant wait to get her out. And as a bonus I have a buddy who teaches lessons who is building a new garage. I will be doing his electric for free (his wife who is a handywoman extrordinaire will be helping) in return my whole family gets a slew of free lessons. WE try to take 1-2 classes annually so this is awesome...”

“man, have I ever got a picture for this thread...”

“I think I'm gonna buy me a kayak. When I was in Hilton Head we went kayaking in one of the inner coastal waterways and I had a blast. So now...time to do research on what I want. Obviously I want something that will hold gear for camping and weeklong excursions...solo...must fit on top of my car...so where do I start?”

“me too, im in the market for one as well :) I cant wait!!!”

“Abby paddled her kayak for the first time yesterday. I wasn't able to be there to see it but her dad gave me a full report. She required mucho encouragement and somehow( little corn plants have big ears...she listens to us chattering constantly) thought she'd be required to learn how to dump over, lol. But we got that all straightened out. She did great and had lots of fun. Her dad would stand in the water about ten feet away and Abby would just paddle around, figuring it all out.
I asked her how it went she said she went fast and slow and wasn't sore at all.”

“Sounds great, Sassafras.”

“nowslimmer, it was! If I get a chance I will take her out again today. The only bummer is the 25min drive each way, the water sure is nice though. I wish I took pics...”

“birch - A 25min drive is nothing for the enjoyment you're experiencing.
Pictures?”

“"so where do I start?"

I guess start with the people who paddle in your area. Find out what boats the locals are happy with. There isn't a perfect kayak - they all have strenghts and weaknesses. The conditions you are paddling in dictate which kayak is better than another.

The main thing to start with IMNSHO is something that you will use. It doesn't matter how great your boat is if you never paddle it. After you've become addicted to paddling you will always be in the market for a new boat, because they all do different things well.

Consider starting with something that's less than $1000 and is used by a lot of people in your area. That way your not out of a bunch of money and you can sell it later.”

“That's awesome. I bet she'll be a natural! I'd love to see some pics.”

“nowslimmer, I agree about the 25 min being negligible. If the day works out right we will go again. I just need to figure out what is up with my jeeps rear end, either brakes, a rock in the rotor or worse...

I need to take pics.

great advice from toejam. Each boat will be an excercise in compromise. Lake vs River, fast river (wildwater vs slow and gentle)...maybe find a local paddling club or call an instructor for classes and input. Plus you get to try various boats.”

“Smokygirl gets Hot! Hot Pixs from Cumberland Island, GA!

Finally got my pictures up from Smokygirl, arclite, and I's kayaking trip to Cumberland island, GA June 25-27.
We did a 12 mile paddle thru some howling winds and waves on the trip to the Island so there are very few kayaking pictures.
Most of the pics are of our 12-14 mile dayhike around the North end of the Island.
Hope y'all like them.

http://community.webshots.com/album/397365651BBRwUV

Smokygirl & arclite - if you want these, I'll be glad to burn you a CD and send it to you. Just email me with an address.”

““man, have I ever got a picture for this thread...”
twigeater
11:50:40 PM
7/16/05

Do Tell???????

Well, where is this picture, teaser!?!? ;-)”

“I agree Stove. Twigeater is a tease! ;)



Abby and I are headed up north for the week. I've got her little boat in the car and promise to take pictures.”

“didn't mean to be a tease, but I couldn't load the picture from home - plus I owed it to certain people to give them the first preview...LOL...
I must need to resize it so I don't bust the thread???? maybe I'll just do webshots...”

“http://www.kayakforum.com/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/guille/wiki.pl?HomePage




http://www.kayakhelp.com/



http://www.unold.dk/paddling/php/coppermine/thumbnails.php?album=2
last edited: 7/18/05 9:07:20 AM”

“Great, teaser, I can't view WebShots from work. ;-)
I'll look tonight.”

“did that work for you guys???”

“A little red X.

Put it here on the TT photo pages?
last edited: 7/18/05 11:16:16 AM”

“can you click on it, and choose "view image?" I have to do that sometimes”

“http://image57.webshots.com/57/8/4/98/398180498fZpeMA_ph.jpg

twiggy - You can't direct link a WebShots photo. The reason you are seeing it is because it's in your temp internet files from viewing it.”

“so how do I do an image?”

“okay I put it on the TT photo page.”

“That's a cool picture. When I used to put my bikes on top of my van I always had to remember not to drive into the garage.”

“

You CAN direct link to matt's photo pages!

Kewl photo twiggy! I like the yak sticking out the back window! LOL

The grandkids sure are getting bigger! They look like good hiking pardners!”

““That's a cool picture. When I used to put my bikes on top of my van I always had to remember not to drive into the garage.”
RichB
1:02:03 PM
7/18/05

You usually only do that ONCE, then you will remember. LOL”

“WHAT back window?? LOL...
last edited: 7/18/05 1:16:35 PM”

“I also got 'spoken to' at the McDonald's drive through cause I only had a couple inches of clearance...”

“Damn the Man!!!!!! ;-)

grandkids = Happy Meals
McDs sure have them all brainwashed!

My youngest nephew used to call Happy Meals a 'Happy'.”

“Well now that I finally got the damn picture up...

The rear window in the Xterra does NOT roll down or open any other way...

The third yak was almost half way on, then I couldn't push it anymore cause it was too high. It appeared that the yak would stay where it was, at least until could go around to the side and grab it to haul it forward. And it did...then it started slowly sliding back....
I thought, oh heck, I'll just let it fall, it won't hurt the yak...then I'll go get something to stand on and shove it back up. (see, I was feeling pretty darn smart since I put those loops on the sides and I could haul myself up on the back bumper) So the yak fell, no prob, the stern hit the ground fine, then the bow came down...

...and took out the back window of the truck.

After I got over the fact that I'd be some embarrassed when certain people found out, I had a good laugh on myself.

So I put the new opening to good use and just shoved the yak in. Works nice!

I'm looking at options now, cause I'd really like to have a zip window like a jeep window in the back, then put a velcro mosquito net on like I did once on a friend's boat. Make it nicer for sleeping in.
last edited: 7/18/05 1:31:39 PM”

“LOL!
I didn't realize the rear window didn't open!
Yikes!!!!”

“I told the kids I was gonna take a picture so I could laugh at myself, they thought that was hilarious...
:)”

“Twiggy's Custom Car Alternations”

“whatever I do, I gotta make sure it passes inspection...I've already gotten a "you can't do that" from the dealership, haha!
:)”

“great pic twiggy, sorry about the window, big bummer. I will be heading out this wk for a nice evening paddle, I cant wait.”

“How heavy is the gear you take when kayak camping vs backpacking. do you guys take heavier, extra stuff?”

“dub, i use the exact same gear when I go on overnighters in my kayak. I just stow it in dry bags instead of a pack. I will take luxuries when I kayak though, a 12 pack for a longer trip maybe some fresh food. But essentially identical gear. I do take a different stove. I hike with esbit, I kayak with a coleman multifuel. Its too heavy for hiking but I like it for paddling.”

“My additions include a small chair, an extra nylon tarp, occasionally a firelog (Some islands lack firewood), and a small collapsible cooler for soda's and ice for items like cheese, eggs and milk.I cut the carry strap off the cooler to avoid entaglements, and slide the cooler up to the forward bulkhead between my feet.”