K1 Modifications

I found these photos of a custom 'pull-bar' at Peter's Paddling Blog. Might just keep me from being tossed out all the time.



...found these gas-pedal rudder controls HERE.


Review of ONNO pedals HERE.

A collection of links to follow up on HERE

Brentwood Bay and Pool Session

I'm feeling pretty damn pleased (and a bit achy) but I'm now able to keep that K1 shell upright and even managed to do a few lengths of the pool, forward and backwards in it without it throwing me. Took me six hours of non-stop high-sculling to get to this point. Without a doubt this is the finest (in both senses of the word), most beautiful, hull I've ever placed my butt in/on. This is also the most unforgiving beast I've ever ridden. Although it feels like I could paddle her with a feather, one slight mis-stroke and I'm instantly tossed out into the water, with an entire kayak, full of water, half-floating beside me. I'm wanting a removable massik, a spray skirt, and a well-built sea-sock if I'm going to keep learning with her. Floodable volume... reduce, reduce, reduce.

She's designed for a paddler 20kg heavier than me, so it feels like I'm dancing on a razor's edge as the waterline beam is VERY narrow as she sits high in the water. I'm planning, ?hoping, I can get to the point that I can throw her around empty as she'd be beautiful with a 20kg gear load, OR a partioned and baffled 10 liter ballast tank of fresh-water built along her keel and 10kg of gear. ;O)

Just an idea though, as she's not even mine... yet.

Kirton Kayaks Moskito 85 K1 Racer





This Sunday was spent out on Brentwood Bay with a group run out to Senanus Island, and later a second splish-splash up Tod Inlet. Six hours.

Pool session was another two hours.

Time on water - 8 hours (over three outings)
Time volunteer guiding - 6 hours

Trying a K1 racer - Pool Session

Tonight I'm putting a couple or three hours into learning how to balance and scull a K1 racing kayak, tomorrow I'm taking her out for a paddle from Brentwood. Made by Kirton under license from Nelo of Portugal, it's skinny, skinny, skinny, and tippy, tippy, wet... Oh and did I mention skinny and wet?

Wish me luck... this should be good for giggles and grins...



If you ain't getting wet you ain't learning... ;O)

*edited to update*

Alrighty then, three hours of sculling this beastie, thrown off a dozen times, but I kept at it. Can't paddle forward yet without going swimming.

Time on water - 3 hours
Time volunteer instructing - 1.5 hours

Kayak Bill

Time on water - Forever

Alison Sigethy

Every once in awhile I see something and I say "THAT'S IT! That's where I'm going with this sport". This is what I imagine myself doing when I paddle in the early early hours of morning.

Alison Sigethy can dance in a kayak like no-one I've ever seen... I highly recommend you click on it for the full-size video.




...and before anyone calls me a sissy-man ;O)



I forgot to mention my new-old paddle. It's a break-apart, Aleut-styled, long-paddle. 114" long with a good strong brass ferrule. By the looks of the 14 piece, laminated construction, and yellowed varnish I'd guess that it's at least as old as I am. Can't wait to get out in the rough with this one! $20.

Pool Session

Another pool session... but with a twist. I was paddling a loaner 'Nordkapp LV' as poor 'Tassie' is still undergoing her winter (spring?) maintenance and repairs. I miss my kayak but the Nordkapp is an interesting paddle. Not for me, but I can understand the reason for it's loyal following.

Helped a nice couple in white-water boats with their sculling, rescues, and rolls. Which they both nailed! Sure is fun seeing someone you've worked hard with, and works hard at it, pull it all together and roll successfully. Thanks guys.

Time on water - 3 hours
Time Instructing - 1 1/2 hours

Brentwood to Finlayson Arm

Met up with Mario and went for a paddle to Senanus Island, then up Finlayson Arm, Squally Reach to Elbow Point and back. Was paddling a 'Spartan VI' prototype kayak generously loaned to me by Peter, as 'Tassie' is in the shop for a delaminating patch.

Time on water - 5 hours

Pool Session

Had a good pool session. Yeah, yeah, yeah... I always say that. It was - really.

Hopefully I've got the video, as I attached a borrowed camera to the front deck and let it run. We'll see what turns out I guess.

Worked on rolls for the better part of the two hours. Also flooded my front bulkhead and paddled around the pool. WAY too much fun cruising around with my stern sticking straight up. Kayak folk call it 'Cleopatra's Needle'. Can't remember how I pumped it out while floating around the pool last time. I know I had the kayak upside down to create a vacuum to keep air, couldn't get it right this time though. Wonder if I could use pump in reverse to blow air into the hatch...

Was supposed to head out on the water today with N, but 50km/h winds from the West with gusts up to 80km/h made us re-think the sanity of it. Rain varied from showers blowing side-ways, torrential rain blowing side-ways, and snow blowing side-ways. Temperatures were yo-yoing all over the place. Icy cold to moderate. Still it was tempting to poke my head out Esquimalt Lagoon and see if I could catch some wind waves back-in.


Time on water - 2 hours

Full Moon Paddle

Well that's gotta qualify as the coldest paddle I've ever had. Brrrrrrr... took an entire thermos of sweet and rich tea to keep me warm.

Threw my kayak on the roof of a borrowed van and decided to catch the midnight full moon off Esquimalt Lagoon. Temperatures must have been well below zero as I had to cover-up my entire face. My whiskers froze and my moustache was caked in ice from my breath.

No rolls...

Why paddle so early in the morning? It's so peaceful and quiet... and it feels right. Not to mention the great view...




Time on water - 3 hours

Pool Session

I was the guy standing at the door counting heads and asking folks to remove their shoes at tonight's pool session.


Had a good pool session, but also wanted to stay focused on the other paddlers as I felt responsible for their safety. When I had a chance I banged off a few quick rolls. Later, at the end of the evening, when many had left the pool - I worked with a few people on their bracing, sculling, and rolls.

Time on water - 3 hours
Time Instructing - 1 hour

The Windvinder

Stumbled across this very interesting project on the QajaqUZA site.

The Windvinder

More on the woman and artist behind it all HERE.

Early Morning Peddle & Paddle

It was a nice warm early morning, so I loaded up the kayak and hit the water around 0130. Portage Inlet and the Upper Gorge. A sunrise rain-shower 'put a damper' on things.

Time on water - 3 hours

Sea Lions at Hornby

...and A REALLY COOL LINK!

Another future paddling destination...

As if there weren't enough places to paddle... I'd like to paddle around Brobdingnag some day.

In my dreams... heh heh heh



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