Posts by mmcc
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.
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...
Briefly: make sure the boat sits as flat and level in the water as possible. As others have indicated in their answers above, it’s not good if there is too much weight in the front (which can happ...
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...
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 — ...
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...
In brief: Drybags or sturdy trash bags (trash compactor bags are good), and a splashproof flashlight you can keep at hand if you want to paddle in low light. You are going to have a blast! Dawn ...
This is only a partial answer but if you’re not drinking the water immediately you might benefit from letting it settle, especially if you can find water near where you’re camping. From https://ww...
Posting this partial answer in the hope of soliciting comments: Electronics suppliers like digikey sell UV LED’s in various wavelengths, and various devices such as photovoltaics or photoresistors...
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...
Molded kayaks are usually made of polyethylene, an otherwise extremely durable material which can be damaged by the sun. The used market is full of kayaks manufactured ten or twenty years ago whic...
Summary: Develop muscle memory for the basic move through instruction and repetition, develop robustness against external water conditions, and address the internal panic response. Develop musc...
How do I develop my kayak “Eskimo roll” from something I can do most of the time in a calm lake or pool to something I can trust to work close to 100% of the time in real sea or river conditions?
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...
The best answer I’ve come up with so far is to combine neoprene paddling gloves such as those sold by NRS with an additional pair of waterproof or semi-waterproof mitten shells designed to be worn ...
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...
If you are swimming or vigorously treading water, two things will happen that make you colder: significantly increased rate of blood flow out to the moving muscles in the arms and legs, which a...
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...
What are best methods for non-medically-trained personnel to remove a small cockroach from their own or someone else’s ear?
I very much recommend formally asking the group’s permission for you (or someone else the group designates) to tell them what to do as needed in order to keep the group together. Everyone tends to...
If you have multiple people one option is for one person to simply use their hand while others get you to safety ASAP. This will not be at all a definitive answer, but here is one data point regar...
For anyone interested in building their own bike trailer: Just wanted to add to this thread the following resource for cargo-hauling bicycle trailer design and basement/garage fabrication. Note...
I’ll let you do the mapping but you’ve got a couple of good options. The Arnold Arboretum is walking distance from Forest Hills Station (directions by different methods, including Forest Hills Sta...
A YouTube search for “neoprene neck gasket repair” yielded some hits such as this one in which the guy uses a heat gun to remove the tape on the seam: https://youtu.be/MtEODsp1JO8 The advantage of...
Welcome! I’m sure others will have many detailed answers, but the best suggestion I have is to put all of your cotton socks away until the summer. Blends of wool and synthetic (Smartwool is the fa...
