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Posts by mmcc‭

61 posts
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Q&A What can I do to be more visible to other ship's radar when traveling in a sea kayak?

I've seen small radar reflectors for sale. Should I carry one when kayaking? What else can I do such that boats can use their radar to be aware of my location when they can't see me due to poor v...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by mmcc‭  ·  edited 4y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭

Question sea diy kayaks radios
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Q&A How to tow a canoe with a bicycle?

Just wanted to add another in the category of a frame with wheels strapped to one part of the boat, and a hitch strapped to the bow. I strongly recommend wheelchair wheels, the axles of which fit ...

posted 5y ago by mmcc‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A Does 'Single-oar sculling' have any use in recreational boating?

There’s apparently a version of single-oar sculling performed lying on one’s back in a low, flat boat custom built for the purpose of stealthily approaching waterfowl: https://www.liveoutdoors.com...

posted 5y ago by mmcc‭

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Q&A What are these small corroded canisters on top of a mountain in Nevada?

A quick note that if you ever hike in areas where you might wander into any place that may have been a bombing range, please familiarize yourself with the concept of unexploded ordinance: https://...

posted 5y ago by mmcc‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A Topo map server out there somewhere?

For USA: https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/ngp/tnm-delivery/topographic-maps Incredibly complete, and free. Maps are big PDFs (40mb or so). Not quicky navigated but well organized.

posted 4y ago by mmcc‭

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Q&A What to consider when choosing between rigid and inflatable stand up paddle boards?

Great question I would think through in your specific case the following steps: store it (at home or at a public boat ramp if available) transport it (if it’s not already at the launch point)—-to...

posted 4y ago by mmcc‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Cargo capacity of a kayak

Kayaks vary, and while you will be able to do the trip you describe in anything described as a “touring kayak”, the convenience and time required to pack will vary a lot depending on the exact mode...

posted 4y ago by mmcc‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A How do I make and test a radar-reflecting hat?

At significant risk of tin foil hat jokes, I’ve read compelling evidence that a homemade hat incorporating angled and crumpled aluminum foil may slightly increase a kayaker’s visibility on radar — ...

3 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by mmcc‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A How to tell whether a particular pair of sunglasses will effectively protect your eyes?

This detailed paper https://www.aoa.org/Documents/CRG/Blue%20Light%20and%20Eye%20Damage.pdf from the American Optometric Association details the various types of short term (i.e. snow blindness) an...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by mmcc‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Question safety sun sunglasses
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Q&A Learning to Surf in Goa - Your advice

Definitely do it, you can make enormous progress in 4 days! But take safety seriously in the ocean: Buy your own leash and carefully check that the connection to the rental surfboard is very sec...

posted 5y ago by mmcc‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A What&#x2019;s the best thing to wear on your hands when sea kayaking in very cold weather?

What product or combination of products best protects your hands while kayaking in winter? I’m interested in a system which provides comfort for extended paddling but also the peripheral activitie...

3 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by mmcc‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Best field remedy for small cockroach in the ear

A few drops of baby oil (light nontoxic mineral oil) to suffocate the cockroach, then blunt tweezers or alligator forceps to carefully remove it once dead and motionless, if it is visible and easil...

posted 5y ago by mmcc‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A How can you identify whether brackish water is too salty to drink?

Sometimes there are sources of water which are slightly contaminated with salt, such as coastal wells or pools of rainwater in rocks near the coast, or water containers with pinhole leaks which hav...

1 answer  ·  posted 5y ago by mmcc‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A How reliably can you assess the condition of a reverse-osmosis desalinator?

Handheld desalinators operating on the principle of reverse osmosis are available for emergency use in lifeboats. Sometimes they appear for sale unused in their original packaging at a very steep ...

2 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by mmcc‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Question sea
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Q&A Start a fire with nail clippers?

Yes if one of these tiny replaceable flints from a gas welding torch lighter lives on the chain of your nail clipper as well. The flints are so small this is reasonable. Apologies couldn’t find...

posted 5y ago by mmcc‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A Restoring a deformed kayak hull

Unless it’s so asymmetrical that it’s noticably making you turn I’d strongly suggest not worrying about it. At recreational kayak speeds I doubt it’s adding measurable drag, especially with a rock...

posted 5y ago by mmcc‭

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Q&A Portable canopy leg weights, how heavy?

This is a great application of my favorite engineering analysis tool which is the luggage scale / fish scale (the cheap handheld spring scale that tells you with surprising accuracy how much your...

posted 5y ago by mmcc‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A What is the difference between a Canoe and a Kayak?

A canoe is a boat designed to be best paddled with a canoe paddle, a kayak is a boat designed to be best paddled with a kayak paddle. You can propel a kayak with a canoe paddle, or vice versa, or ...

posted 5y ago by mmcc‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A What is a 'Whitecap' and why should I be concerned about boating in them?

As well stated in another answer, whitecaps (the white tips of waves) are a visual indicator of local wind speed over the water. Just wanted to add emphasis that whitecaps, as an indicator of wind...

posted 5y ago by mmcc‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A How sophisticated a dust mask can one hope to improvise?

Working answer: In case of truly irritating particles (bad enough that the breath-moistened bandana ain’t cutting it): Poke many small holes in bottom half of a disposable water bottle. Pack bo...

posted 5y ago by mmcc‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A Training for Kayaking out of season

When I first began kayaking I found a winter of swimming and rock climbing helped me get through the sore-arms stage, where I had felt stuck, to the plateau of leisurely paddling for hours at a lev...

posted 5y ago by mmcc‭

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Q&A Can I use a Canoe Paddle with a Kayak?

Yes but try a traditional Greenland kayak paddle You absolutely can although as mentioned above you are sitting closer to the water and may therefore need a shorter paddle. That said, as your ...

posted 5y ago by mmcc‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A What are the best camping sites in Western Massachusetts?

This is on the eastern side of “western”, but Tully Lake in Royalston MA has tent-only camping (hike/paddle in, no vehicle access) and trails beside a small gem of a lake. http://www.thetrustees.o...

posted 5y ago by mmcc‭

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Q&A Under what conditions does heating a tent artificially make objective sense?

Never in place of sleeping bags and pads, or even extra dry clothes, but maybe as a backup. If it’s a weather situation where you need the heat to avoid hypothermia, reliability might be your crit...

posted 5y ago by mmcc‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A What attributes should I look for in an inexpensive multi-purpose folding bike?

Hi James in my experience the way to buy a cheap bike that isn’t a piece of junk is to buy an old bike, possibly a very old bike, put on new tires and tubes, grease anything squeaky (this may invol...

posted 5y ago by mmcc‭

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