Last year, P&H launched their new “kink-free” skeg system. The system combines the best of both worlds: the ease of maintenance of a rope skeg with the precise trimming found in cable skegs. Moreover, the system is lightweight and fully field maintainable. While some kayak companies are making things more complicated (pneumatic skegs, for instance), I think the P&H approach of simple solutions for simple problems makes a great deal of sense.
Like anything new, however, there’s a bit of a learning curve involved as people learn how the new technology functions. In my travels this summer, I’ve come across a few paddlers who’ve said they find the new skeg difficult to deploy. As it turns out, every one of those individuals was engaging the click slider on the skeg the wrong way. As soon as I showed them the correct technique (pushing forward to unlock the slider, not squeezing the trigger!), they were thrilled.
To get the word out, I put together this little video going over the system, how to deploy it, and how to adjust the tension on the skeg. Considering I was able to remove and replace the skeg system with one hand, while filming with my digital camera in the other, I’d say it’s pretty easy…even for a guy with two left thumbs like me! Enjoy!
After producing the award winning film Pacific Horizons in 2007, everyone kept asking “so what are you doing next?” This is always a difficult question to answer right after a big expedition, film project, or trip, but we had an idea brewing. Lise-Anne and I were keen to come east and document the maritime culture, great sea paddling and people of the east coast. So we started to brainstorm destinations and people to film. Everything from Florida to Newfoundland was on our radar and eventually we honed in on several key locations. With the gracious support of several sponsors and lots of logistics coordination, we had what we needed to hit the road and start filming our next adventure sea kayaking DVD. Eastern Horizons was born. Starting with a trip to Newfoundland to paddle with the icebergs, followed by a 2 month long road trip from North Carolina to Quebec, we were blown away by the hospitality, wildlife and scenery along the way. Here are a few details from the journey and information on the film to come!
For the fifth year running, I’ve had the pleasure of working with the midwest’s largest paddle shop–Rutabaga in Madison, WI–at the Door County Sea Kayak Symposium (July 11-13, 2008). Door County is narrow finger of land that stretches about 70 miles out into Lake Michigan, dividing Green Bay to the north from open water to the east. It’s a picturesque place to paddle, dotted with small fishing towns, B&B’s, rocky harbors, and bluffs.
One highlight for me was the chance to test paddle the new Scorpio.
P&H Sea Kayaks was on hand for the Mountain Equipment Co-op Paddlefest in Toronto, Canada June 13-15. The P&H Great Lakes Squad was mobilized for a border crossing, as Kelly Blades and I made the trek to this always fun event.
Kayaking pictures are normally too special to have a chance of winning a “normal ” photo contest.
I was astonished as several days agao I was one of 10 winners in a photo competition with the topic illusion. The picture shows the Capella of my wife in the hand of a “giant”. I guess normal people don´t get that perspective “so often”…that was the reason…
In late spring me and my friend Sebastian went for a trip along the German west coast. Our route was always changing between the chain of island in front of the coast and the inner wadden sea. We where quite lucky with the weatherкомпютри втора употреба except a three days period of thunder storms. Here are some pictures of that trip. My boat of choise was the Quest with it´s high volume for long touring and nice beahvior in more interesting waters.
Read more about that trip here: http://liquidmedicine.blogspot.com/
Happy 2008 to all of my fellow paddlers! Sorry I have been a little absent on the Blog this winter and it appears that my fellow bloggers have been as well. I have been on the water just as much as always (3 to 5 days a week) and I’ve had my hands full with opening another Kayak Store in Rocklin, CA. Penguin Paddlers Pro Shop - Rocklin
I am very excited for 2008 and I think this will be the best year for the kayaker & kayak industry ever. Read the rest of this entry »
A group of us got together for a sunny weekend in October and paddled out to Longships from Sennen Cove then round to Porthgwarra. Longships is the lighthouse that sits off Lands End, UK which is the Southwestern most point of England. Cracking 2 days including a night paddle and a trip further up the coast into Boscastle.
I drove with my two friends Cathrin and Carsten up to northern Norway. We spent 9 days paddling in a fascinating sea of mountais. A truely amazing place! The only paddlers we met where from Britain! Liz and Simon Willis…
I have just returned from paddling The Outer Hebrides in Northwest Scotland. The paddling was great, being away from the media and family and friends always gives a perspective that you can’t really get at home.
Living in the countries we do we are very lucky to have the free time and money to be able to have such a great recreational pastime.
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