Posts by Separatrix
There's no reason why a boat of this type could not be used for short expedition type trips, assuming you stay within the capabilities of the boat and paddler. As boats of this type don't usually ...
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...
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 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 goi...
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 pre...
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 i...
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 sh...
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 w...
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 enou...
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 reasona...
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 ...
The point of the switchblade is how fast you can open it without needing any particular skill or practice. If you were that kid with a butterfly knife then the difference is negligible, but for any...
Iceland Not the answer you wanted of course, but there are very few places in the world where you don't find mosquitoes and the others are considerably further away. New Caledonia, French Polynes...
In general sport terms "Open" is the primary competitive group. Anyone can enter. There may be other groups that anyone can enter, like "Recreational" or restricted entrance groups like "Under 21s...
It sounds like you have oil canning. It's a standard problem with plastic kayaks, usually caused by excessive tension in straps when loading onto roof bars or long term storage on bars. Various so...
Wooden paddles are heavier but have a very nice feel to them, they can be expensive. The flex in plastic blades can mean you lose power and the blades can flutter under heavy load. Aluminium paddl...
In a stable population any breeding pair will, during the course of their lives, successfully raise two young who successfully breed themselves. Of course there's no such thing as a stable populat...
Firstly I have to say that I disapprove of an inexperienced kayaker considering running any rapids alone. Get out and walk round. However, given that and your intent to fish, I suggest looking at ...
The one you've practiced Starting a friction fire is hard work. It's not something you can "just do" after watching a video. You need to have the experience to choose the right wood, build the b...
There's a technicality here that's about the difference between "training" and "being active". It's important not to confuse the two but where the threshold lies is a matter for an individual. For...
This very much depends on what country you're in. The majority of footpaths in the UK are public rights of way. These are simply the routes people have travelled since time immemorial, the route ...
If you're top roping on a 14.5m climb, 10% stretch* in the 29m of rope between you will be up to 2.9m. In practice there's less rope than that between you, but if there's a little slack in the rope...
As a general rule, yes Consider a boat weighing 20kg, a paddler weighing 80kg. You're now displacing 100litres of water, the way in which you displace that volume has a lot to do with how easily...
Tidal causeways You need to know the time, the time of the tide and the range of times when you can safely cross.
The boat itself is effectively unsinkable, it's a sealed plastic box. The hatches normally have bulkheads separating them from the rest of the boat. If the hatch sections become swamped it's not go...
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