I have had lots of kayaks from river tourers to playboats and sea kayaks and the one problem I always have is getting the thighbraces to fit. It’s better these days with playboats,as they have lots of great adjustments, but then white water paddling is not something you get a lot of near my place.
I have the Njak sea kayak from Nimbus and it’s beautifully padded out under the deck for your knees, only my legs don’t really reach the proper spot. I need extra thighbraces. In my previous Raider X I got some plastic ones from a Dagger sea kayak and fitted them with a few bolts and a lot of bending. They were just great. At last I have found a set of after market set, designed to be fitted to composite kayaks. Bought them from Rosco canoes in Brisbane and I will get a review and photos up after I have used them for a while.
Sea Kayak
Sea Kayak information
Edithburgh- paddle out to Troubridge Island
Had a great weekend at Edithburgh on the Yorke Peninsula. Stayed at the local caravan park and paddled out to Troubridge Island on the Saturday morning. What is it about headwinds and me ?. Paddled out there into a headwind and it then changed direction 180 degrees and strengthened on the way back.
The island, or what’s left after the shifting sands, is really now a tiny conservation park for birds. The lighthouse, now disused, and cottage is available as a “weekend stay”, with the operator taking people out on his boat.
We landed checked it out (with permission from National Parks ranger) and took a few photos. Unfortunately our resident photographer, Donna, wasnt with us on this trip so we had to rely on our own ability. Me with waterproof Lumix, Gavin with a new camera and constantly stating “I wonder what this button does”, Mal B for a couple of wide-angle shots. Still we’re paddlers not photographers – luckily.
I’m doing the usual youtube and vimeo stuff so if the link is below, it’s up and running.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngavgUbGXCc
Thistle Island kayak expedition
Just got back from a week paddling around Thistle Island, near Pt Lincoln in Spencers Gulf. It seems that everytime I go over there I come up against headwinds, maybe it’s something I said to offend the weather gods.
Still we had a great paddle along the coast for 2 days and then out to the islands, camping on Thistle Island for a couple of days. A great trip with Mal H, Mal B, Miss Kathy, and Donna the photographer.
I came back with some great video, especially of a feeding frenzy of dolphins and birds. They had a school of fish on the surface and were really getting into them. Ofcourse I’m not sure what drove the fish to the surface but I can guess. Ofcourse Donna had 750 photos !!!! which means my video stuff will be saved by her stills.
Nimbus Kayaks – Njak kayak for Xmas
I think I’m in trouble again. The shed is full again, Robyn’s yoga mat got rolled up out of the way and the Nimbus kayak Njak was installed in the kayak rack. Full kevlar construction ofcourse !!!. Nothing but the best. It was going to be Robyn’s new kayak, but once I had a couple of paddles in it it became mine and she’s still in the Seaward Cosma (and still loving it ).
I really love the construction on the Nimbus kayaks and this one is way better than the first one I bought in 1986. Full kevlar construction, vacum bagged, beautifully finished and even great to paddle. Super smooth finish on the inside making it comfortable even in bare feet which is great with summer now here. I’ve got to get to work and add a few things such as a camera mount, allround deck-lines and thigh braces, but that may take a while.
New Kayak – Seaward Kayaks G3
Just thought I would give you an update on the Seaward kayak G3 double that Robyn and I have been paddling. Bought it a while ago, looking for a double kayak that paddled easily, behaved in rougher water and had enough volume to easily handle all our gear.
“Mission accomplished” as Bush once said. It is the best double we have paddled and we’ve had a few. We both felt comfortable straight away, although I have now moved both seats forward a few centimetres as we are both a bit short in the leg department. This allows better contact with the thighbraces which needed a bit of padding out as well.
Have installed electric pumps (automatic Rule 500) to both cockpits in case of capsize. We went out for a paddle and did some rescues. Problem no 1. Bloody difficult to capsize, with both primary and secondary stability being high. Had to work out a rescue technique to get both of us back in the kayak, but soon worked out that I could “scoop” Robyn back into front cockpit then climb into the rear cockpit whilst she braced..
Had a few more upgrades to do on the kayak, including a sail system. Will put up more on that subject when I have it completed.
PADDLING SOUTH 