Who needs Kari-Tek

I have chosen to use a trailer for kayak(s) and gear, but I also chose not to pay bucks for a rack - this is what came out of it.

 Though I am a journeyman smith, I opted for a wood solution that I had it at no cost at all. Honestly, this wood-thing was meant to be a test - something temporarily. Like always, making something temporarily that works, you end up using it for ever.

Some steel does not hurt :-)

Latched together everywhere.

 

By moving the posts aft, I still have the full size of the bed.

 

We do not want want the strap to slip, do we...

GPS, or not to GPS - that's the question

That I like the art of navigation, I get by without using a GPS for this purpose.  I prefer using chart, compass and watch. Until now I have (almost) always been close enough in knowing my whereabouts and finding my way. On the other hand, I do like to see my track - either just for fun or to geotag some photos.

Android

Hence I do not want to use power consuming software, on my mobile. I use one of either: My tracks, Move! Bike Computer or GPS Logger. They have various ways to either share or send data, but My Tracks feature to make an export to Google Docs, does kind of appeal to me. Power consuming software like i.e Endomondo, just don't get a chance here.

Logger

i-gotU is an other option. Especially useful on multi-day trips, due to it's battery life (if set to longer log-intervals).

Vis Sydfynske Ø-hav 2010-07-08 --> 13 på et større kort

Garmin

On occations I have used a Forerunner - just another option. Here from a trip around Fanø.

This is the Roll - from Cackle TV, Justine Curgenven

Cheri Perry & Turner Wilson has made this DVD, with an approach to:
 "...focus on the most useful rolls to you in real water conditions."

I ask no more.!

All too often I see people performing maybe 10-15 different rolls in poolconditions, whereas they are unable to roll in real conditions  - this leaves me absolutely indifferent. Happy to see a DVD that shows you stuff that works, and the importance of it.
There is also a lot of focus on forward finishing rolls, rolls where you recover tucked forward - very good !
"Boat first, head last" - haven't we all seen the opposite a thousand times or more. Getting it right from the start, makes everything else so much easier.
Loads of brilliant  keypoints. The shoots are taken from different directions, helping you to mirror, or see, just the detail you are missing.

This video actually made me want to play with this stuff. Who says an old dog can't learn new tricks.? Certainly hope I can.!!

PS - no, I do not have any personal interest in this, other than I like to see people getting past their circus-roll, and closer to a bomb-proof roll.

Is it possible to improve Yakima..??

As usual, there is room for improvement. ;)

In the wintertime, wearing my Chotas, the right position for my feet, is somewhere between the last notch and the natural stop made by the front mounting-bolt.

Last possible OEM position

Last position, on the bolt

Voila - a new position !

How to store your spare split-paddle.

This has been an ongoing test and trial issue:

I have had balls on the bungees, to allow the paddle to slip under. These balls had to be redicoulus in size to let me push the shafts underneath - the blade was not a problem.

I have had plumbing-pipes attached to the bungees. Even the smallest (>2feet) surf forced the paddle AWOL.

I have had hose on the bungees, to make an open loop. This did not let me slide the shafts (easy enough) under the hose.

Went by one of GnarlyDog posts, to get some inspiration - and to exclude some solutions. The result was that I stuck to my plumbing, but fixed them much more sturdy. The reason I have them so long, is that I do not want to scratch the deck more than needed, sliding the shaft through the pipe, before I can get the blade under the bungees, and be course my splits aren't the same length...

My 'active' paddle slides nice and easy under the over-all bungee. The ball makes it even easier.

Well - this is how it looks at the moment. Next step will probably involve some epoxy and fibre-glass work...

Like a virgin...

...yes, I am referring to myself.! It almost felt like that again, this being my first time on the water, since surgery in my right shoulder. :-)

Condition chosen can be seen on the picture.

Jeff Allen t(hr)owbag - alterations

As genius as this system is, there is always room for improvements. I think ;)

From left: I have changed the fix-point of the rope, from the bottom of the bag, to the D-ring in the opening. This way I do not have to rely on my flacky brain, to remember what to do, if I want to use the bag as a drogue.

Center: I made a different 'knot-system' on the carabin. The standard knots had no chance in hell to slip under the decklines, needed be.

Right: I need/like/prefer to have something very distinct to grab, when releasing.

The rope is fixed by sewing, under the heat-shrink-tube (what ever it's called in English. Someone?)

Later on I will mount a float of some kind, ca. 4m from the carabin.

I left the rope/knots in the very bottom of the bag, to maintain the standard attachment of the plastic carabin.

Other than the changes shown above, I have also shortened the belt, to be only 5'ish cm 'too long'. My  changes are, for me, improvements. Other people may have other preferences. The important thing is that we all look at our gear, with a skeptical mind, and go out and use the shit - the only way to find out what works for you, and what does not.! This also gives, that I might change back, or change something else, later on - after more trial and use.

I am aware that I will have to keep an eye on wear and tear of the rope, having it directly on the steel.

I am not the only one to alter systems. Here is how Søren Brink alters his Palm tow-system. 

Rolling practice...

...should be done in 'conditions'. Don't we all tend to practise in pool and flat water conditions.?



Therefore I am happy to say that I headed for the beach today - on this windy day - with a clear intention to do some rolling.

This did of course not keep me from playing in the waves, now I was there. :-)
I was on the water from 16 to 17. Waves may not be as high as they would have been at Gl Agernæs, but more predictable, than Gl Agernæs sometimes are.

Surf at Gl Agernæs

The weather forecast said it would be windy - it was.!

Jepsen, Katrina and I, were on the water roughly from 16 to 18:30 - so yes, there was a reason for the struggle we had to get 'out there'.

It wasn't the largest or best of waves we have had at Gl Agernæs, but still there was a few good surfs to run. The wind had changed some in direction over the afternoon, so the waves hadn't built up their best - a bit confused now and then. Intermediate to rough conditions, I'd say. Occasional 1 1/2 meter waves. I was even pushed over once.. 8-O

We practiced rolling and self-rescues in conditions given.

I remembered Simon's word about using low-brace instead of high-brace - some of the time... Tried to stay high, not locking the bow in the through, and no skeg.

More and more happy about my NordLow - it acts as supposed to. Though I could feel it was as light as can be... Little tender... 

Klitmøller

So much for 'Cold-hawaii'.! Far from cold and far from Hawaii. Amazing one can have weather, and conditions, like this 1st. of October.

This is actually third time I have been so unfortunate, to be here, when there is no surf (or very little) at all. This is what happens when the date has been set long ago.

Tomorrow there will be slightly more wind, but still the period is way to short.

Better luck next time.

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