Activity for Separatrix‭

Type	On...	Excerpt	Status	Date
Answer	—	A: Would there be any practical uses of a geological map for a hiker/backpacker? Fossil hunting It depends what you want out of your expedition, and if hunting fossils in far flung places is your thing then a geological map will take you a long way. https://www.bgs.ac.uk/igeology/onTheRocks.html (more)	—	almost 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Are kernmantle ropes more susceptible to damage than 3 ply twist or solid braid? Since I'm guilty of the comment in question and referring to climbing ropes in particular. The key to the comment is that they're more sensitive to damage, not that they're more vulnerable to it. What they're specifically vulnerable to is hidden damage. If the core is damaged, the rope is significan... (more)	—	almost 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Alternative to midshipman's / taut-line hitch for modern ropes Try a sheep shank to create a loop, then run round the peg and tie off. This gives you an easily tensioned and tied off pulley system. You could also use a truckers hitch in much the same way, but my scout leader was a fan of the sheep shank and it's rubbed off on me. It's slightly slower to adjust... (more)	—	almost 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: What knot was used by my mountain guide to tie me in to the middle of a rope? The knot looks like a rethreaded overhand tied on a bight. Call it a rethreaded EDK if you like. So the response of "it's an unusual knot" is entirely reasonable, it's not on the list. The end loop has been clipped into the carabiner, that will act in the place of a stopper knot. It sounds like you'... (more)	—	about 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: As of 2019, why do mountaineering courses still teach how to use a paper map? The default expedition map in the UK is Ordnance Survey. The apparent most popular GPS map app for walking in the mountains is the Ordnance Survey app. That's all very well and plausible, but the app really just presents you with the OS map and a dot. You still have to learn to read the map. If you ... (more)	—	about 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Comparing and combining paddles and pedals for sit-on-top kayak speed and endurance Apples and Oranges Disclaimer, I'm a kayaker, I've never used a pedal powered sit on top Paddling requires skill, technique, practice and endurance. If you have these things, along with the right paddle, then it would probably be better than an average pedal setup. On the other hand a cyclist with ... (more)	—	about 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: replace Sunfish flotation blocks The best bet on a job like this is to stick a tape measure across it and see what you've got. While technically a "one design" hull a modern sunfish is a long way from a classic one and a wooden hull may have changed shape over the years. Styrofoam and the like comes in standard sizes so if you're d... (more)	—	about 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Can I fix my boots by gluing the soles back on? They were glued when they were originally made, there's no particular reason they shouldn't be reglued now. It's better than having no shoes or the heel flapping about as you walk. Though the glue that was used the first time obviously has a limited lifespan, perhaps look for a better one. Whether ... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Most practical knots for a bend (tying two ropes together) while pulling to create tension? All of these require slack. If you need to tension the system to bring the ends together, find a longer piece of rope, the one you're using is too short. Reef (Square) knot Easily tied, everyone knows it, the only problem is that tying it under tension requires 3 hands. Sheet bend (because you've ... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Catch and eat the Fish UK Yes it's possible As long as you follow all the rules. Below I've included the national rules. On that page you'll find links for local byelaws that apply in each region of the country, in your case that's Yorkshire and North East and it is significantly more restrictive than the national regulation... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Keeping your butt dry in a kayak You're going to be sitting in a certain amount of puddle regardless. A spray skirt/deck on a sit in kayak will reduce the effect but even that has its limits. Only wearing a full dry suit or dry trousers and cag will fully mitigate this. The sacrifice you make in exchange is that if it's too warm fo... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is a soft board or a hard board better for a beginner surfer? Generally it's recommended to get a "foamie" as your first board, mostly because they're relatively cheap so if you don't commit to the sport you're not so much out of pocket on the attempt. By the time you're looking at upgrading you should know a lot more about the type of surfing you want to do a... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How tall of a paddle is needed for standup paddle boarding? The advice I normally give is that you should stand with your hand up in a relatively relaxed manner (not reaching as high as you can), and the paddle should come up to your wrist on the raised arm. Since most paddles you'll encounter are adjustable for length you can tweak it for comfort but it giv... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: What to consider when choosing between rigid and inflatable stand up paddle boards? Are you surfing Are you competing Do you have a car with roofracks or a van The key to the development of the inflatable boards was to make the experience more accessible. Red Paddle Co who (as far as I'm aware) developed the first of the modern inflatable boards have a simple principle of expandi... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Will beginner notice a difference between lower and higher middle-end stand up paddle boards? Out on a calm lake with minimal adverse conditions, you're not going to notice any real difference as long as you're above the absolute baseline in equipment. As with most sports equipment the difference in quality only shows when things start to become challenging and you're describing the baseline ... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Why are we moving in circles with a tandem kayak? Common paddling problems Most people are strongly right handed You'll get more power on your stronger side It's really common for the weaker hand to slip closer to the blade as a result of wanting to feel the same level of effort on each side. This results in a less efficient weak side stroke that'... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Cargo capacity of a kayak There's no specific rule for how much cargo a single kayak can take, but there is a general rule that says a two man kayak of a given model has the same cargo capacity as a one man kayak of the same model. The distribution of cargo for a sea kayak is between two main volumes, the bow hatch and the s... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is leather superseded as footwear material? By far my most comfortable pair of boots is leather, though they're only leather uppers, not leather soles, and they were approximately 3 times the price of the most expensive other footwear I've ever bought. Leather soles are reserved for a specific class of formal footwear at this point in time. T... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: What's an easy way to fasten/unfasten to bind two horizontal poles? There's one more old scout knot that applies in this case, the pole hitch. A bit of an obscure one as it's very limited in application, the sole purpose of this hitch is to gather horizontal poles together. Make a large 'S' in the rope under the poles such that you have an end and a loop on each si... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Are T-Tracks the same size on all brands of roof rack crossbars? No That's a bit short for an SE answer but it pretty much covers the problem, there are various manufacturer specific sizes and no standard. Some parts providers such as Thule sell accessories and adapters to allow a greater range of compatibility. (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is there an easy way to remember if you add magnetic declination to magnetic bearings or true bearings? Declination is simply the difference between the value you have, and the value you want. It's the difference between true and magnetic north. A good map will have both marked, it will also have "grid north" marked, which may not match either. In the UK grid north is simply the line parallel to the ... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Using roof rails to set up hammock The load limit for directly mounted roof bars is around 60kg - 70kg for ordinary (European) cars. Usually the load limit for rail mounted bars is lower, but that's for vertical and dynamic load. This is a static load so you're probably ok. Basically if it was my own car and not in great condition I'... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to tell the difference between Lesser and Great spotted Woodpeckers? Size: The great spotted is greater in size than the lesser spotted. Perhaps that goes without saying but the difference is quite significant. The great spotted is about the size of a blackbird. The lesser spotted is about the size of a sparrow. Red: Female lessers have a white cap. Male lessers ha... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Climbing-line "rope-thimbles", unsure how to utilize these (got several 1/2" 'steel rope thimbles' with my climb-rope!) These thimbles are primarily used for fixed point attachment. They're used on yachts and sailing dinghies for stays, halyards and jib mounts. Spliced onto the end of the rope they're for loops and semi-permanent anchors, or where you need to attach two very different materials via a D-shackle or equi... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is the strongest knot using a steel-thimble to make a steel-eyelet at the end of the line? The absolute strongest? That would be an eye splice. It's the most effective and strongest form of making an eye in a rope and it's what the thimbles are designed to work with. It's nigh on permanent, but that's the trade for strength. All mere knots are a trade off between strength and "untieabil... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Choosing a kayak for a 5'9" 300lb man Go big or go home Look for boat ranges with an "HV" (high volume) or large option. The most important factor to you is going to be how well the boat holds your weight and how well it handles under that load. Most boats have a design weight for the paddler usually capping out at around 130kg (285lb)... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How stiff of a sole should I look for in hiking boots? That depends on what sort of walking you're doing and what your personal preferences are. The great advantage of a very stiff sole is on very rough ground, jagged rocks etc. Walking on such surfaces in a soft sole for considerable distance will cause significant discomfort and even localised bruisin... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is a "Post Eye Tiable" (PET) knot? Post eye tiable means that the rope is passed through the eye or harness before any any part of the knot is tied. This is in contrast to a rethreaded figure of eight which has to be partially tied, the first figure of eight, before the end is passed through the harness or other eye that the rope is ... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How do you situate a protected bird house that is not under a branch? Looking at the advice from the RSPB Boxes for tits, sparrows or starlings should be fixed two to four metres up a tree or a wall. Unless there are trees or buildings which shade the box during the day, face the box between north and east, thus avoiding strong sunlight and the wettest winds. ... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to detect significant sun damage in a plastic molded kayak? As long as it still flexes you're good to go. Part of the strength of polyethylene kayaks is in their flexibility, apart from colour loss, the most significant aspect of sun damage to the plastics is that they become brittle. If pressing on the larger flatter sections causes it to flex elastically ... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: What to look for in a portable generator? Let's start with some basics Weight Efficiency Noise Then you get to the more complex requirements Stability of power output and response speed to load change Cleanliness of power wave These are where the money really starts to count. The former counts most when you have multiple loads that n... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to make my kayak Eskimo roll reliable in rough water? The most important factor is to have some slack in your roll. If you're only just coming up in flat water you're not going to be coming up as soon as there's an additional factor against you. Make sure that as you practice your roll you're not at the end of your movement as you come up. The places ... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Should I do exercises for finger strength as an intermediate, heavy climber? I'm in much the same boat as you, 180cm, 90kg. I started climbing a couple of years ago and again, most of my climbing buddies are a good 20-40kg lighter and a few cm shorter than me. Climbers are lean and small, kayakers... are not. The thing is that the kayaking already gives me really good base gr... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: What’s the best thing to wear on your hands when sea kayaking in very cold weather? Sometimes known as paddle mitts, pogies are your friends here, you can choose to wear gloves in them as well or not, depending on how cold it's got, but most importantly they allow you full contact with the paddle and hence you don't get the extra fatigue caused by a reduced level of paddle control. ... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Forearm Grab Grip Strength The first is not recommended, the reason being that the hold is only as strong as the weaker person's grip. If that grip fails then the other is in practice holding only their thumb. You're not going to be picking someone up by their thumb. It's also dependent on wrist and bicep strength to hold the ... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to repair a plastic canoe? This style of welding is the standard method of repair for holes and splits in plastic hulled kayaks, though I've seen much neater jobs. Some manufacturers leave extra material around the cockpit so there's spare of the right colour for welding. Welded plastic can never be as strong as the original ... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: What can I do to get garden birds back after hawk has made my bird-feeder his hunting ground? By putting out food, you're feeding the prey. Encouraging the prey is effectively putting out food for the predator. The thing to remember is that this is not a stable situation. If there's no prey for a while the predator will move on, then the prey, the birds you want, will come back. Give it tim... (more)	—	about 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: When using a compass, why not follow a degree mark without rotation? You're talking about aligning the map, and no, it's not strictly necessary if you're sure of where you are and where you're going next. You certainly don't need to be that accurate about aligning it, "I can see the Sun and it's within an hour of noon so that's South" is good enough for most purposes.... (more)	—	about 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Finding out if a road is paved or not The key to this is local knowledge, the best way to get local knowledge is to get in contact with local people or clubs and associations that specialise in that sort of activity. While maps may show trails, they may not show whether the trail is publicly accessible, passable by vehicles, or just com... (more)	—	about 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are the pros and cons of single vs double sided magnets for magnet fishing? It's going to be about your approach to the problem. The doublesided magnet is going to be good for dragging, the single sided more for dangle and swing. If you have a bridge or pier over the water that you're fishing down from, the single sided will do nicely. If you're standing on the bank and... (more)	—	about 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: How should I dress for sweat inducing activities in cold weather? Layers There's no magic to this, it's mostly about thin layers and windproofing. When you're working hard you strip some layers, when you slow down you put them back on again. If you're warm enough for standing around in the cold, you'll be too warm while active. If you're about right for being act... (more)	—	about 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: What material is a good alternative to neoprene? Rash vest/shorts These are technically a baselayer for wearing under a wetsuit, but are often worn during the warmer months as the only layer for watersports. They're less restrictive, dry reasonably fast but designed to keep you warm when wet. Available in various weights from lightweight non-UV re... (more)	—	about 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: How would one person control two canoes? Lash them together in parallel with spars such that there's a wide enough gap down the middle that you can paddle in the centre. As you say, you're not going to be making tight turns, but you are in full control of both boats which is the more significant aspect. You also gain massively on stability... (more)	—	about 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Activities on a long voyage to avoid boredom? This very much depends on what sort of voyage it is. Learning the skills required to handle the boat would be a classic. Specifically learning navigation and standing watch. We used to spend a lot of time playing cards and doing decorative knotting as teenagers on longer voyages. If you're on a sm... (more)	—	about 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Will a Sunfish mast and rigging fit any other dinghy models? Since I don't have much exposure to Sunfish specifically, I'm going to give a generic answer for boats of this type. Unlikely unless they're borrowing parts from someone else. You've got a freestanding unstayed mast, that implies a hole through the upper deck down to the lower hull. The diameter of... (more)	—	about 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is the difference between a Canoe and a Kayak? tl:dr; The difference between "a canoe" and "a kayak" is the seat. For competition purposes the difference between canoeing and kayaking is how you propel the boat. This appears to be the factor that's causing you confusion. There are various competitive classes of canoeing and kayaking, most of ... (more)	—	over 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: If you are kayaking on a lake when whitecaps start happening, what is the best direction to get off the lake? Conditions in which you can handle the boat depend on the style of boat and the paddler The range of what defines a "covered cockpit kayak" includes play boats from under 2 meters to over 5 meter touring and racing boats. A considerably greater variety than "open canoe" covers. Paddlers range from ... (more)	—	over 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Does 'Single-oar sculling' have any use in recreational boating? It's mostly a lost skill (in the UK) for forward propulsion, though I have seen older fishermen use it for moving small dinghies around. I've played around with it a little myself and it's fairly easy going once you get the rhythm. The primary advantage over rowing is that you can see where you're go... (more)	—	over 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Setup for solar powered battery generator Charge controllers are your friend here. A good charge controller will monitor the circuit such that the battery gets the appropriate charging current at all times. This allows you to set up all your charging circuits independently, each with its own charge controller hooked up to the battery, with... (more)	—	over 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are the trade offs between kayak and canoe for solo multiday trips? Speed versus comfortable pace of life Kayaks are faster, if you actually have somewhere to go kayaks are the better option. If you want to watch the world go by with your dog sitting in the front then you want a canoe. Cargo Canoes are generally bigger, you can take more stuff. In a kayak you'll h... (more)	—	over 6 years ago

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