Next Training

[brad mcpherson]

Hi all,

Since the last Rob Mercer training was so well received and everyone is keen to follow on from this, I have managed to coax Rob's partner Mark Sundin into contributing next time. He has agreed to bring a trailer with 11 boats on it for us to test. This will be a good opportunity to test drive some elite boat brands and gain valuable experience. I expect the klan to be preparing to advance sea skills so let's make this a short term goal. We will get Rob and Mark up for sea skills training in preparation for NSW Club evaluation, paddle some new gear and go to Rock n Roll 2010 as an organized representation of Hunter & Lake paddlers.

To facilitate this in the immediate short term, I am proposing a day soon which might be called "Paddle someone else's boat day" where we spend time dicking around in each other's boats to get a wide experience of different craft. I should also be fun.

BTW, please make sure you are familiar with Mark's blog at www.expeditionkayaks.com. No, I don't work for them and don't get kickbacks but support works best when it's reciprocated.

Views and opinions please...

[Simon McGuire]

John,

Check out the Jemwatercraft site they have a basic Laker 13 that is easy to build and would be great for kids in my opinion. I am thinking of building the Laker 15.5 and perhaps the Okwata which has got some good reviews for speed and ability to handle rougher condtions. Whilst not a sea kayak I think the Okwata could be fun in the surf and and lake.

[John Anderson]

I'd love to build a boat, like Simon's planning. The paddle is a pretty logical extension of that idea. I've got the shed room to do it. I lack the confidence though. I think I need some smaller projects to start off with. A greenland paddle might be a good place to start. It might be harder to ruin "a stick" than hundreds of dollars worth of ply and resin. If I could get the boat building thing down, I'd scale something down to kid sizes as it's really hard to get kids kayaks.

[brad mcpherson]

I'd love to have a crack at building a Greenland paddle as well as a boat. However, I lack the facilities and will to actually do it so I guess buying one will have to do. Maybe this clan will ultimately give me the inspiration to build these projects but before building a boat I will need to build a shed. Owen, is 5 boats really enough? I have three and need about 8. Let's see Assateague, Baidarka, Aquanaut, Rockpool, Mega surf kayak...damn this sport, I have to sell a kidney.

[John Anderson]

Hi Owen,

if you're at all handy, you can make a Greenland paddle. There are loads of sites on the net with dimensions and designs. :)

[John Anderson]

With you all the way, Brad. A great idea. I had a quick paddle in Rob's Aquanaut LV and would be really keen to spend some time in something similar. I like the idea of supporting the people who support us too. Rob and Mark put a lot of their time into the club and deserve some support. Their product is well priced and excellent quality. Of course, they're not alone in that, Laurie also puts alot of effort in and his boats are beautiful and locally made too. Sadly I can't afford composite, so it looks like a rotomoulded Aquanaut or Nordkapp for me.

[Owen Walton]

Whilst it seems a great idea to get Mark and his fleet up here, it could end costing me a fortune. Annie and I already have 5 yaks ranging from our original sit-on up to the Mirage 730 double. I just know that after trying out more boats, I will find a definite need for a Nordkapp LV (funboat) or a Nordkapp RM (rock hopping). I'm also certain that I definitely need one of his new Greenland paddles. However, between my good ladywife and the current recession, I'll just dream on.

[Simon McGuire]

Great idea Brad, to have the opportunity to paddle different boats can be hard to arrange at times and expedition kayaks seem to have some quality boats well worth paddling. Well done for getting Mark on board.

If we can maintain a steady skill development with input from Rob and Mark as well as helping each other i can see us all progressing to not only advanced sea skills but certainly getting to do some of the trips we all hope for.

I read Mark's blog regularly - it's a good read.

Let's keep the momentum going.