Flathead Lake Wayfarer's Park

After 9 years, Mother Nature finally decided to deliver the good weather for the Flathead Lake Paddlefest. Five of the regional stores work together to put on this event to promote the fun of paddling at one of my favorite work spots on the circuit--Wayfarer's Park, Flathead Lake MT. Silvermoon Kayak Company, Whitefish Sea Kayaking, Rocky Mountain Outfitters, Sportsman Ski Haus and Glacier Sea Kayaking should all be complimented on playing nicely together on the same plot of sand. Unfortunately, the park restricted access as the park filled up. Talk about an external limitation! Shame on MT Dept Fish and Wildlife! There was plenty of parking all over the park still available and we were not overwhelmed on the beach.

Highlights:

1. Dubside came over from Seattle to share his passion and skills for Greenland Style Paddling.

2. Emotion's Grand Slam was a big hit with the aspiring kayak fisherman. My personal review of the boat to come soon.

3. No British enthused Romany/NDK paddlers chose to race their boats for $500 against the Fathom. Dang! I could have used the gas money!

4. I put together the Pak Boat 16 Canoe and paddled out into the 3 foot waves and wind. The boat handled perfectly.

5. I stayed an extra day to hang out in this great park and for once take some time to paddle and play some guitar at one of the cool spots I travel to.

A perfect day on the water

What a perfect day on the water. Paul and his wife Kathleen helped set up this custom day on the water with me and Eddyline Kayaks. We did a little learning but mostly we had fun. I really enjoy getting on the water with people who are all about fun first and product second. By this time of the season I can get a little road weary. Thanks to the gang in Portland for recharging my batteries! Hope that you can keep paddling part of your adventures this summer and into the future. Super Kudos to Kathleen for learning how to self rescue! I'm impressed!

What did we learn:

1. Wind management--how does that skeg work? What does wind do to our boat?

2. Edging and bracing-- now these boats aren't tippy, just RESPONSIVE!

3. Boat design 101--the tradeoffs. Matching the right boat size to the right motor (paddler) and how to ground your boat selection in reality--What are you going to do 90% of the time?

4. That good friends on the water is the most important thing! After all this is our leisure time...why take it too seriously!!!

Thanks Friends!

Non-Motorized Boat Day at Scott's Valley

Now this is a great idea! Wolf Creek Wilderness and I went down to Scott's Valley Lake (near Grass Valley CA) to put all the toys on the beach and have a day in the sun. I had a blast with the laid back atmosphere and lack of sales pressure. People were able to enjoy glass like conditions on the lake all day. I assembled my Pak Boat Puffin 12 and took it for a spin. It went together in about 20-30 minutes but I think the next time it will take 10-15 minutes. It was super comfy and actually paddled quite well. There is no reason why you can't have a boat in your car at all times with Pak Boat.

Thanks to the Boy Scouts who helped me load some of my gear...they have saved my back twice this year!

Wish everyday on the lake could be non-motorized!

Penguin Paddler's Repair Clinic

We had a great repair and care clinic at Penguin Paddlers last night. We showed gel coat repair on a composite boat and repaired a small fracture on a Carbonlite boat. Hopefully people were able to see how easy both repairs were and that the shiny light boats on the market can be repaired to like new condition with just a few basic materials. For the Carbonlite repair I had a few basic materials:

Devcon Plastic Welder (I find it at Walmart or any hardware store)
Fiberglass Tape (you can get this at west marine or Eddyline can send you some)
Krylon Fusion spray paint or hobby pigment
3M Marine Sealant 5200 (for sealing bulkheads or skegs)
Rubbing Alchohol
Dremel tool
Wet Sandpaper (various grits)
Masking Tape

We talked about:
Lexel--A flexible clear sealant that is easy to apply with a caulking gun.

Eddyline details the repairs of Carbonlite boats at their website
http://www.eddyline.com/eddyline-kayaks-care-and-repair.php

or you can come to my next repair and care clinic.

Remember, the best thing you can do to take care of your boat is cover it up when car topping or storing outside with a Danuu Canoe and Kayak Cover and/or 303 UV Protectant.

Thanks to everyone that attended and braved my caffinated presentation! A special thanks to Garth, Jasper and all the Penguin Paddler's staff for their continued excellence in paddlesports service! In the words of Borat: Great Success!

This post is intended to show how easy it is to fix thermoformed kayaks. Themoformed canoes have been used and repaired for whitewater canoeing for years. The ABS plastic gives strength to these canoes is the same way it does for Carbonlite Eddylines.

Penguin Paddlers Super Kayak Swap

I braved $4.50 diesel to drive down to Sacramento CA today to help with Penguin Paddlers yearly spring kayak and canoe swap in Rocklin CA. There are some great prices on boats and paddling equipment! There is a sweet Dagger Impulse for $200, PFDs at 20-30% off. High end boats from Eddyline, Valley, P&H, Wilderness Tempest. I've come across a bunch of used Eddylines that customers have brought in. Some of the prices are really fantastic. Some real gems. There is great energy today and I expect to be real busy tomorrow. Right now, Bamboo and I are sitting outside amongst the sea of boats and working away on the computer.

Check out Penguin's website at http://www.penguinpaddlers.com/ . We are at the Rocklin location. Tomorrow morning I'm going to go paddling with his club members. Tonight I'm going to feature repair and care of thermo-formed boats and then do a little parking lot camping to be here bright in early in the morning.

Another great way to kick off the paddling season! Give me a call at 503.572.3848 if you want me to look for something for you. I'll haul it anywhere from here to WA (for a little charge).

So you are going to a Demo Day?

Tis the season for demo days around the country for people to "test drive" the kayaks and canoes they are interested in and try to make a decision on which boat is right for them. I've been adjusting footbraces for 9 seasons at these events and I've made a few observations.



Most new paddlers tend to focus their test paddle on 2 items:

1. Stability

2. Seat Comfort



While these may certainly be important I think that Stability is often a feature that is given too much attention as one's stability in any given boat is quite dependent upon their TIB (Time In Boat). Seat comfort is important but there are a lot of after market customizing that one can do (skwoosh gel seats, hip pads, heel pads).

So what other factors might be important to you when shopping for a new boat:

1. Warranty
2. Comfort
3. Weight
4. Application--is the boat the right dimensions for the job? Who are you paddling with? Hauling gear?
5. Repairability
6. Durability (see the blog below on different types of abuse)
7. Company History/Proximity/Reputation
8. Aesthetics
9. Price
10. Dealer service
11. Lifespan and resale value

I'm sure there are plenty of other concerns and factors out there. The "Demo Day" will be much more valuable if you can get a handle on what is important to you. Try to prioritize how flexible you are on these various factors. Look at what 80-90% of your use is going to be. We don't all own a moving truck because we are going to move every 5 years.
I guess I do own a moving truck so if you see me at a "demo day" how 'bout a little love? I just spent 45 cents/mile in fuel to show you my boats and let you give them a try.

Bell Canoe Northshore

I haven't mentioned much about canoes lately as they have been out of my business life since last August. I was reading some thread the other day on some other chat board and someone was asking about this boat. I don't know how many people own one but I'm lucky enough to and it is the s#%!

You can solo it, paddle with 3 or 4, load a ton of gear in it and still feel like you are in a Bell Canoe and not a barge. I hear that they are doing great work these days so that makes me happy. Hopefully they are churning out more of these.

Basically, it is a Northwoods with 2 feet added in the middle (20.5 ft). Empty, it is still a joy to paddle. Like any high shouldered boat, it responds to leans effortlessly and presents a lot of different "feels" depending on the load you have in it. What does that mean? The more you put in it the wider the boat gets. So, when it is empty it is sporty and quick and when it is loaded the stability increases with the added width by sinking the boat into the water. This is the David Yost/Bell thing and once you try it you should be hooked. Now you just have to figure out where to get the $4k from!!! I wish I had the money all the time but come summer time you won't be able to get me to stop talking about the NorthShore. Mine is NOT FOR SALE!

If you have any questions about this boat I'd be happy to talk. If you don't see the need for one you should go away...

Pickin'

messin' around...the theme song of my head somedays...

What the road looks like

The 32nd hour of road trip. Who needs friends when you can have this much fun by yourself?



I was losing my mind at this point...20 hours straight driving...MT is way too long to be by yourself. Especially when your truck burns 40 cents/mile of diesel fuel. The irony of burning this much fuel to promote PADDLESPORTS!

Eddyline Equinox Review

The “instant gratification” boat from Eddyline Kayaks. If you are looking for a boat that is stable as you are learning but will allow you to develop your skills later then you should take a close look at the Equinox. At 14’ and 25” wide the Equinox is long enough to glide but still easy to manage in rougher conditions. The boat features a multi-chined hull which presents a very stable primary surface and predictable edging with a little effort. The stern rides low to reduce windage and provide good tracking. The Equinox represents that popular class of boats that fall somewhere between light touring and performance recreational.

Just because a boat is recreational doesn’t mean that it can’t be efficient. In my opinion, this is where the Equinox, and any of Tom Derrer’s designs really shine. They are just really efficient. 30 years of design experience! What makes a good wine? A good meal? A good engine? It is the people involved in the design and production. This should factor into your decision and unfortunately the magazines out there can not fit this into a column of numbers. It is not just about weight, width, length and price. Tom Derrer likes to ask customers, “how do you like a boat to feel”? When you can answer that question you are ready to make your own decision. The Equinox is a good place to start.

Eddyline uses the larger sized cockpit on the Equinox. This cockpit is easy to get into but still has thigh braces for bracing and edging. If you are looking for even more room you can have Eddyline custom install the large cockpit without thigh braces. The Equinox can be outfitted with the adjustable backrest for a lot of support or the back band for a more mobile back support. The seat is padded with a removable seat pad. Many paddlers will add extra foam under the removable seat pad to adjust their height in the boat. Any good paddling shop should offer to outfit your boat with additional padding so that it fits your body just right.

Compared to the Merlin LT, the Equinox has much more room and is more stable for the beginner. If you are looking for a smaller package with a similar feel to the Equinox you might take a look at Eddyline’s 12’ Skylark.

Poor Man's Loop

Bending Branches Factory Tour

Made in the USA! Everything all the way down to the raw materials. And they know what they are doing after 30 + years. Many of the employees at Bending Branches have been there for close to 2 decades. Building paddles is both an art and a science and these guys have PHDs in both. Wow! The beginning of a paddle...well actually it starts with trees but I figure you know what a tree looks like.
The lamination is grooved for Bending Branches "Rock Guard" tip to be poured in.

Paddles are hand beveled. This is where the "Art" part comes into play...

Post varnish paddles. These have been dipped several times and are now drying before being boxed.

A composite blade is formed from compression molds and serious attention to detail.

Moonlight Basin/Big Sky

Montana has been tough on me over the years. The weather can come up in a hurry and I seem to always get my share of wind and cold when I visit. This week on my way to Emotion Kayaks and Bending Branches in Wisconsin I was able to spend a couple of days at the new largest ski resort in the US--Big Sky/Moonlight Basin. Step aside Vail...this place kicks your overpriced behind!

Years ago I had been to Big Sky with more typical Montana weather but this time we got fresh snow and then blue skies to follow it up. Just to the North of Big Sky, linked by several runs and lifts, lies the new Moonlight Basin Resort. Moonlight offers good cruising down low and the advanced terrain of the Headwaters above it. The hike to the chutes of the Headwaters will get your heart pumping and the various chutes and cliffs that you can drop into are the real deal. You can also drop into the chutes on the other side of the Headwaters that lead you to the Lone Peak Tram on Big Sky. The Sky is the limit on top of Lone Peak. If you have the skills and equipment you can hike right off the back side of Lone Peak. Just looking down there was enough for me!

The groomers off the Ram Charger lift at Big Sky are a ton of fun and big enough to lay down some high speed super carves. We put our name in at the lodge at the top for lunch and then took a run instead of waiting in line. By the time we got back to the top our table was ready. We were staying at Moonlight so we took a nice cruise home across all 2 resorts. Moonlight is just getting started but I really enjoyed the lack of lift lines and attitude.

The one down side is night life. Locals were adamant that they get some good shows but I think you go to Big Sky/Moonlight for the terrain and beauty of the Northern Rockies. After a day of riding there I didn't need to go any further than the hot tub.

Eddyline Merlin LT

Lightweight and sporty, the Merlin LT is one of my favorite boats for light tripping and play. At 13.5’ and 42 lbs, the LT is easily transported from the water by one hand as you would carry a suitcase! I especially like that the LT will fit into my truck camper for stealth boat transportation when I want to be sure no one will take the kayak from my vehicle when I’m hiking instead of paddling.

The low profile is unaffected by wind and I find it easy to control in even the roughest wind. The cockpit placement is slightly back of center which helps drive the stern deeper into the water. A lot of boats under high winds have a tendency to have their sterns pushed down wind causing the kayak to turn into wind. With slightly more stern in the water the LT will not be pushed off course and the boat had no problem tracking. In following seas, the seat placement gives easy paddle reach to the stern for draws and prys. The relatively short LT can be “teeter-tottered” to weight the bow or stern by leaning forward or back. One fun exercise on a windy day is to lean forward in the boat so the stern slides downwind and then lean back to have the bow blow down wind. You can literally go in circles without paddling!

At 6’ and 170 lbs I fit quite snug in the Merlin LT. I have size 10 feet and have to be careful what footwear I use with the LT so that I can still move my feet around. The LT is a favorite for smaller paddlers because the deck is low enough to allow for an efficient stroke. The paddled seat is comfortable. Eddyline offers two seat back options either a back band which is great for movement or a backrest which offers more support and height. If you are wondering weather the LT is for you, I recommend that you pay the most attention to the thigh brace region. The low deck can make for a nice fit but if you have Lance Armstrong legs you might not be comfortable.

The LT will reward beginners as they improve and will satisfy advanced paddlers looking for a sporty ride.

The LT has front and rear bulkheads so there is not a problem taking it into bigger waters where you might want flotation. Less weight and less windage make for great control in rough water and on rivers. When “less is more” the LT is the boat I grab.

Hibernation Ends...The Season Begins

OK...I disappeared for awhile...

Well not really. I've been getting the vehicles ready and the new website http://www.happypaddlin.com/ .I also snowboarded the great snow at Mt Bachelor and checked to make sure Hawaii was still there. The month of February is about charging the road warrior batteries.

And now the first trip of the season:

Bend OR--Seattle WA--Spokane WA--Missoula MT--Bozeman MT--Bending Branches Factory Wisconsin--Emotion Production Facility Milwaukee WI--Back through MT and then Idaho--Bend OR.......5000 miles!

I wish I had Bamboo's responsibilities on the road...

Show Favorites

It took me a few (powder) days back here in Bend to get my pics together from the OR show. The kahuna long board with big kahuna stick is the coolest new way to get a paddle workout while skating. My favorite things collide! In the end, it was great to see friends and colleagues. Here are a few of my favorites that will end up in the gear room:

Zbest inc (http://www.zbestinc.com/) make some really cool products. This flexible and portable solar charger is going to come along with me on the G0 Green Tour on bike in July. The panel folds up into a small case about the size of the laptop. The coolest feature is the ipod sized lithium battery (upper right) that you charge with the solar panel. The battery stores the power which can then be used to charge your laptop at any time. The 55 watt is the model that I'll use.

WhiteWood came out with a telescoping aluminum trekking/skiing pole with a multi-LED light on top of each grip. That is so smart!

Comfy sleeping bag suit...

The wild wild world of the Outdoor Retail show!

New Year's Resolution 2008

Learn how to use the Force

I'd be happy with learning how to float a spoon through the air or maybe even bending it briefly. I wouldn't want my Force skills to go the route of Neo from the Matrix. In addition to the God complex he developed he also really changed his style from computer hacker metro dude to vampire-emo and I'm not really into those sunglasses he was always wearing. I'd be more into the skill of the young padawon learner jedi. Maybe a little jumping around a forest like the degaba system in Empire Strikes Back. Come to think of it, I also didn't mind the way Luke's style went in Jedi. I bet those black wool cloaks are hard to come by though.

Outdoor Retailer Show

It's that time of year that the Outdoor Industry gathers under the fluorescent lights of Salt Lake City's Convention Center to show off all the new toys for the coming year. Retailers come from all over the country to view these products with all the deep scrutiny and care they can fit into a 1/2 hour appointment before running off to the next booth. Outdoor companies from all over the world ship crates and crates of rustic cabin-like displays to create that earthy, outdoor feeling that they are trying to associate their line with. In the end, the free beer brings the most attention to a booth at the end of the day. One thing for sure...whoever puts on this event is making major dough. The rest of us are just paying the admission.

Why the collective Outdoor Industry can not abandon this waste of energy, time, resources and money is beyond me. I've heard that some of the big companies out there spend over $500,000 just on their booth every show. 1 Million $/year! Why not create a Co-Op of rationale companies, combine these resources and buy 5000 acres of land that can be used year round for education, outreach, kids camps, conservation, and then twice a year a...

OUTDOOR "OUTDOOR RETAILER SHOW"

...Where we can actually try the boots, use the tents, look through the glasses, sleep on the pads, paddle the boats, use the headlamps...and actually camp out at night instead of standing on cement under evil lights. Most of the booths here at the show are really large houses constructed on cement for 3 days. I'm not joking. The "Life is Good" Log Cabin Booth is two stories high and twice the size of my house. Why not a "Life is Good" real Cabin on this land that can house their team and some of their favorite dealers.

They say 15,000 people come for this show and that the convention center in SLC is one of the few large enough to fit everyone in the country. All the hotels book, All the pseudo-beer in Utah is consumed, all the flights book, all the dining books, and all of the companies expense accounts get their workout. This cost makes its way to the goods we sell and you buy. 6 months later it will happen again. And ZERO equity is created. Buy land, build green buildings and change the way we do this!

But alas...I'm here cause I do like my job and the companies I represent. I love the friends I've made over the years and the sports we are so passionate about.

Here are some shots of Costa Del Mar Sunglasses and the up and coming Dude Girl clothing company outta Truckee CA.

More to come on what caught my attention in the next day or so.

Eddyline Factory Tour

My dog Bamboo just had to get up to the Eddyline factory to check out how the 08 crew was doing. Despite storms and snow all over the west, the gang at Eddyline is staying busy. Today a load of boats was being loaded for England. I grabbed a couple of nice new boats that were headed to their new home at Popeye's Marine and Kayak Center (Everett WA).

The cleanliness of the Eddyline Factory really is something spectacular. Years ago when Eddyline made glass and kevlar boats I had to leave Bamboo in the truck because resin and composite scraps just always seemed to find their way to his mouth or coat. Since switching over to thermal forming, the factory is so much cleaner in the air and on the ground. All leftover scrap material is gathered and sent back to our material supplier for a refund.

Here are the molds that heated Carbonlite is formed over. Suction vacuum plumbing is run all through the underside of these molds that pull the heated Carbonlite sheet into all the especially tight areas (skeg handles, deckties, cockpit, etc).

For some reason these molds remind me of the Carbon Frozen Han Solo from Empire Strikes Back/Return of the Jedi.


Pictured below is the "Heart of Thermal Forming. Notice the cooling fans that quickly cool the sheet after it is formed on a mold. The Oven (not pictured but to the right) feeds the heated sheet to the holding tray where it is formed over the mold. Sorry about the lack of detail but this is as close as I can show you in case you are a kayak industry spy...



The extruded seam is installed on the hull as Bamboo inspects the easily stored parts behind that allow for Eddyline's Industry Applauded "Just in Time" manufacturing.


Another Eddyline being proudly built in the USA! Master Builder Rick always has kayaks on the mind.

Now to me, this is Willa Wonka's Candy Factory...Look at all those tasty treats!
The "just in time" box that allows Eddyline to ship one boat quickly and safely all over the world. We are not worried too much about showing the competition this system because they have repeatedly chosen to not invest in the packaging of their product. Eddyline has worked hard to guarantee safe arrival of their kayaks for their customers. Not everyone can win "Gear Trends Top 10 Outdoor Manufacturer/Supplier" award.

Bamboo is happy to be part of the crew!

Angry Water

I just drove along the S. Chehalis and Chehalis River up in Lewis County WA on my way to pick up a kayak that I'm delivering to the Bay Area. I drove the backroads from the Cowlitz River all the way up to the Chehalis and was awestruck by the level of damage to farms, homes and roads. A few weeks ago there was certainly national news coverage of these floods because they extended all the way east to the I5 freeway causing closures. Now that the freeway is moving again the media coverage has dropped but the damage is still very present and real.

Just west of Rainbow Falls State Park on Hwy 6, I saw several large bridges that had been completely crushed and lying in the river. The river was still very angry around these bridges. The Chehalis was deeply muddied and carried debris into log jams and leftover bridge pilings. Several of the farms just south of this area were completely washed over leaving tractors, trailers and even barns just covered with mud.

I was able to speak to one of the local Fire Dept Commissioners. He said that 11 houses in the area had been condemned. One man about my age lost his entire house and the local community was going to help him build another one as FEMA was only able to kick in just over $3000. Although smaller than other natural disasters around the country recently, even this flood has changed many people's lives for a long time.

We are so lucky to have the abundant natural resources out here in the NW but with the recent storms in the NW and now down in CA we are reminded that we are living in and with this natural world. These rivers must be respected at all times even when we are able to play on them.

I was planning on paddling some today but after the sights of today's drive I just may let the river calm some before going out...

OK...I had to get out on the water...it was moving swiftly but how can you sit inside when you have this guy looking at you!

Bamboo is sitting with me in a 10' Emotion Edge Kayak. This is the best littlest boat for bringing a dog with you that I think is out there. It has a large cockpit and plenty of depth for hauling pets.