"So what we're going to do is, we're going to take some sticks.... and light them on fire."
And that we did, though not in exactly the way I had initially conceived. But I'm getting ahead of myself...
Crack!
Just recently, the Spice and I were on a 5 day Salt river trip in
Arizona when, on day one, I hit a not very large rock in not very fast
current which punched a fist sized hole through the hull just where my
heels rest. I've seen plenty of straight line cracks, but this is a
full half moon shape that literally flaps open. If a kayak could be said to have a serious avulsion, this would be it.
"I have some terrible news..."
Fortunately, the only other person on the trip, my better half (let me tell you, a great way to spend 5 days on the water) was rowing a 14 foot gear boat, so my broken kayak and I had a ride... But, it was day one and I still had yet to run the big fun rapids that lasted for the next two days!
Elisha going to town!
Cue the flaming sticks! Going off some vague notion that to me had always been some kind of kayaker's urban legend, we set about to patch my boat at camp. To forage for plastic bits, Elisha and I cut strips off of the inside of the cockpit rim. She proved much more adept at this task than I... personally, I think Elisha (an admitted lifetime rafter) found some joy in hacking away at a plastic boat... but I digress.
About an hour later we had a small pile of plastic cork-screws and a few larger candlesticks. To our amazement, the plastic sticks could be lit on fire and drip like ptex. After applying a good layer to both the inside and outside, I let the thing cool and went back to enjoying my beer and the multitudes of brilliant starts over our heads.
A plastic candle
Fantastically, the patched boat did not sink right away the next day. I was thrilled to be able to paddle my own boat down my first time in the Salt River canyon!
However, even though I was being a gentle with her as I could, the inevitable little rock bounces and stresses on the plastic from just negotiating wave trains eventually began to reopen the wound. By lunch, I was slowly sinking again. Fortunately, we were taking 4 nights to go 50 miles and so could stop relatively early for the next camp.
At Camp Two, this process was repeated. The next day saw the same results, but with more whitewater, I began sinking quite a bit earlier in the day. For days 4 and 5, I was happy to take the oars for a while and spend more time on the raft with my best friend, and my camera.
All and all, this made for a rather fun project at camp and only added to the wonderful experience that was the Salt River of 2013. I did learn some things though: next time, I would try harder to heat the area around the crack so the area would be more pliable and could form a more integrated weld.
So yes, it can be done! I'm sure that if this crack had been a normal little straight-line crack, this patch would have been much more effective. But hey... she got me through.
Spring time is a stressful time in the mountains of Colorado.
We wait all winter, just skiing to pass the time, then we wait a bit more for the waters to start flowing. Then everything runs... several all at once.
I have spent hours upon hours studying gauges and books, stressing myself out. Obsessing over every cfs fluctuation, imagining rivulets of melting snow flowing together, getting held up behind some fallen wood until rushing forth once again. I feel I'm almost willing it to flow to where we can float in the new waters.
Then there is the coordinating. Calling, texting, messaging via any of half a dozen social media sites. Waiting to hear back. Trying to rally a crew that's scattered over many hundreds of miles of Colorado. What to paddle? When? Who with? Who has what kind of a car for a shuttle? Do I need to have the dogs looked after while I go camp for a weekend, or can they come with me?
We all know it won't last for long once it starts. Even sooner, at least for me, work will start up in earnest once the commercial rafting starts up on the Ark and I won't have the luxury of taking off any three of the best days.
Yesterday I was hiking low water laps on the Pine Creek rapid, now today it's snowing.
Never happy with most factory specks, I am forever playing with additions and small modifications to my kayaking gear. My latest obsession has been paddle grips and wraps.
Last year I wrote about my experiment using bike handlebar wrap on my AT2 paddle. Since then I have been very happy with how that has performed; it has proven to be more robust than I had first expected and it hasn't gotten slicker or degraded with oils from my hands. The complaints that I have with it is that it's the more expensive option (though only at about $15) and that I ended up adding too much bulk to the grip. There are some slimmer handlebar tapes that I found out there, but they are much more of an open weave (a lot like medical tape) and so would absorb and retain water. At any rate, this wrap is still on my AT2 and going strong and I plan on leaving it on until it needs to be replaced.
Electrical tape looks nice.
In the meantime, I just got myself a shiny new paddle! I had entirely too much free time over the winter to day dream about paddles and ended up wanting something longer for creeking and river running than the 188 I have been using for years. So... I jumped with both feet (hands?) into a Werner Sho-Gun, straight shaft, 197. I have used it only a couple of times, so I'll write a review of my feelings on transitioning from years with a bent shaft to the longer straight shaft after I take it down a few more runs. Even still, with it all new, I felt like experimenting with some kind of grip wrap.
Electrical tape wrap
The hard, cold carbon just didn't feel right in my hands. First I tried using just electrical tape. While I thought that looked really nice and clean, and it did give me a little bit of added texture, it just didn't give me as much of a substantive change as I was looking for. It was still hard and cold and not particularly "grippy."
Tennis racket wrap
Pondering on sports tape, I finally landed on tennis racket tape. I found this to actually be pretty neat stuff. It's not as bulky or squishy as the bike handlebar wrap, and it is actually tackier than I had expected to find. I would say the texture has that "sticky rubber" feel. It's not sticky on the inside, but when you wrap it tight and overlap the tape it kind of sticks to itself. The only end I had to tape down was the tale end as I could overlap the start. I used standard duct tape and wasn't really able to get it to lay flat from the tape to the shaft, but that's not a huge issue. My only worry is that it isn't cut as long as I had hoped and so it didn't span very much distance on the paddle shaft... about the length of t a tennis racket handle... go figure.
One advantage to this option is that it will be easy to take off if I change my mind and it only cost about $4 after tax for a packet of three.
It had been a few years in the coming, but I finally acquired for myself a new helmet. This is the twofold problem that I have: that CKS is my local kayak shop and that I work one door down the street.
So I caught them on a day when they were holding an end of summer sale, and thought what the hell, I'll go all in and came out with a new Sweet Rocker HC. While I don't have any other Sweet helmet experience to compare it to I haven't been disappointed.
Sweet Rocker HC
Two main impressions on this item: it's massive and it's quite possibly the most comfortable out-of-box helmet I've ever tried on my head. The bulk comes from the fact that this helmet is constructed around a hard compressed foam body not unlike a bike helmet, then layered with a full coverage Kevlar shell, and then that is covered by a durable hard plastic shell coating. From all that' I've read, this is generally considered to be one of the most protective pieces of head gear on the market, but it's not small. My perspective is probably a bit skewed being as the helmet I had been wearing for about five years was just a Kevlar shell with a little bit of foam padding on the inside, so quite the change. The coverage over the brow, temples, and occiput is all cut quite low too, adding to the fact that there is just a lot of very useful material on your head. I also keep attached the removable sun vizor which definitely increases the relative size of what is attached to your head. It's pretty smart though in that it's easy to adjust up or down so as not to interfere too much with your view. It has taken me a while to get used to it so I stopped banging it with my forearm when going for a bow draw.
As for a word on fit... as I mentioned this one was very comfortable straight out of the box. That being said, I still had to get creative with some foam pads to get it perfect. I don't think any helmet will ever be a perfect fit without some customization. Sweet was quite generous with the handily cut peel and stick foam pads. All I had to do was meticulously test the position of each one to build out a pattern and it was a done deal. Now it feels uniformly snug and I can bend over to touch my toes without it strapped on my head and it actually stays in place.
The sizing, though, was initially the most curious thing... When trying them on in the store, the Medium was way too small. Mostly it was too narrow. Then the Large is almost too large for me. I have it fitting very well, but still I had to use most of the foam that came with it and generally have to keep the adjustment system that goes across the back cranked down nearly as tight as it will go... not all the way, but almost. The one system of the helmet that I find overly complex is the chin strap. It's a double slider type of system that is very secure, but next to impossible to adjust while it's being worn.
Another nice feature is that with all the extra coverage, this helmet is actually quite warm. It even came with insulated ear guards that can be snapped into place. I haven't needed them yet, but I expect I will be breaking them out now that winter boating is upon us.
This helmet comes in a Full Face version as well. I seriously considered getting it like this, but I couldn't reconcile myself with having the extra bulk around my face all the time just for the relatively few situations when I think it's actually warranted. That being said, on one of my first runs out with my shiny new head gear, I was yards a away from another paddler when she did a most impressive face grind on a rock at the end of Trashcan in Bailey. Thankfully, she DID have the full face version of this helmet and definitely saved her chin and a few teeth.
The Rocker HC is not the cheapest helmet on the market to be sure, but I don't think the protection of my head is where I want to cut any corners. This helmet is large and in charge and is probably not for everyone. Honestly, if you are sticking to Class III (for example), I think this particular helmet would be overkill and you would find it hot and bulky... But for steeper water, I really wouldn't want to be wearing anything else.
Just for grins, here's a shot of me looking like a total goof... but there's the helmet.
And yeah, I still keep it in the nifty carrying bag that it came in...
Tragically low water aside in my part of the Great State of Colorado, this has been a pretty good kayaking year for a few of us here. For 2012 I have a record of at least 818 river miles (thus far!), probably about 750 of which were from the seat of my Pyranha Shiva.
Back in April I wrote a review of my then new to me Medium Shiva. Naturally, I had only had it out a hand full of times then... so a followup is due.
My end of season verdict: I am still enamored with this boat. Like anything however, there are some characteristics that I have given me some trouble.
Speed
Long Nose
Pro: The Shiva is fast! At 8'6", give her two or three strokes, the bow raises up a tad and you can be at top speed, which is not a bad clip. Also, the front is very tapered making it easy to get good vertical strokes without feeling like you're reaching around the boat. For a comparison, I was running the Baily section of the North Fork of the South Platte one day when the fellow I was paddling with commented that I was outpacing his Stomper by a fair margin. He was counting that we were taking the same number of strokes while in the Class II paddle out. Personally, I usually really appreciate a fast boat. I find it really helps when negotiating larger rapids, or when accelerating to punch that hole or to square up to a boof. Basically, there are lots of situations when I think speed will keep you out of trouble.
Con: The Shiva is fast! There have been a few instances when I have overshot my approach to a boof or some such and ended up biting off too much rock. This usually just leads to a bunch of ungraceful floundering. I'll fully admit, though, that this is really more paddler error than any issue with the boat.
Stability
Extra Volume Stern
Pro: There's a lot of it. The Shiva is built around a subtle Suede design which puts its widest point around the back of the cockpit. It is this feature, I feel, that most contributes to the boat's stability, especially when it is moving through the water. Also, the back deck is very high volume and nicely rounded with quite high side walls giving the Shiva excellent secondary stability. The front deck is pitched too allowing for a quick and predictable resurface after a drop or through a hole. At 80 gallons, there's enough volume to keep you happily on the surface.
The Author in Middle Tampax on Bailey
Con: Until you get used to it, primary stability is rather touchy. The Shiva does an excellent job of being able to switch from edge to edge when, say, flying off the back side of a rock boof... but I suspect this would make it feel initially less stable if you're not one who feels comfortable being in a kayak.
Edge Control & Maneuverability
Pro: For technically a displacement hull boat, the Shiva has fairly well defined edge control. The edge on the Shiva is nothing like the edge on a Burn, but it's there. The edges are placed kind of high up on the hull curvature, so there is still a rounded underside to make for generally softer landings. Also, the rolled edges make it very predictable and stable when bouncing over rocks. Don't let the softer chines fool you, this boat still whips into micro eddies like a champ.
Launch Pad right under the Seat.
As for overall maneuverability, I think an important aspect is a boat's rocker. The Shiva has what I've always called a progressive rocker. When sitting on the living room floor, the stern of the boat is off the carpet starting at the back of the seat, and the front of the boat rises off somewhere around the knees. For me, this seems to make it handle as if it was shorter than it actually is. The center of the boat makes for a nice spin disc and launch pad. You can see exactly where that pad is by the abrasion pattern. This progressive rocker also allows the bow to easily ride up, helping the boat maintain its stance on top of the water. Combined with the high tapering around the nose, the front half of the boat tends to ride up and out over the water when you hit a rock, as opposed to being deflected to the side. Result: auto-boof.
Fat Bob Styles the Lower Drop of Tampax
Con: It is essentially a displacement hull and not a planing hull. There are pros and cons to both to be sure; for me, when creeking I'd rather a displacement hull, it's softer over rocks and on landings. However, I have noticed that the displacement hull does not do as well in big water. Even with the Shiva's moderate chines, getting the boat to hold a solid line in big pushy water has been my biggest challenge. Plus, it wants to be heeled far over to the side to get an edge to fully engage.
Outfitting
Pro: Pyranha has their Connect 30 outfitting in this boat. There is an updated outfitting that can come in the later 2012 models, but I haven't played with that yet. I like it, not everyone does, but I do. It's simple, comfortable, and easy to work with. What I really appreciate about how this outfitting works with this boat is that I don't feel like the front deck is too massive and in my way and my knees don't feel too splayed out. Honestly, one of my chief complaints about the Liquidlogic creekers is that my knees feel way to wide for comfort. For storage in the ckockpit area, the water bottle is held vertically against the front column by a shock cord. Between that and the seat there is a handy area on top of the rail to hold a throw bag, but I had to add a simple webbing and clip around that rail to clip it in. I have written anther post about my outfitting additions and what I came up with to secure my Watershed camera bag.
Knee Brace
Lateral Knee Stability
Con: Like any boat, at lest for me, a decent amount of work has to go into the outfitting to get it really dialed in. It always feels more comfortable to me to raise my seat, and the Shiva has been no exception. The NRS Hot Seat is peal and stick and had been every comfortable, raising the seat by about an inch. Usually, I prefer to move my seat forward, but that hasn't been the case here. It has felt great to me in its factory neutral position. The most amount of work I have had to put into the outfitting has been for my knees. The Connect 30 knee braces are just that, braces... not full wrap around knee cups.... so I had to make my own. I had to cut foam blocks into scoops and glue them to the hull to the outside of the knee brace. Now it holds my knee from both sides, but I definitely had to put in the work. Another troubling observation here: the ratchet for the back band connects to the knee braces and puts more torquing stress on that plastic than I would like to see when the back band is really loaded. In fact, I've seen this piece fail after some heavy use and the whole knee brace had to be replaced.
Conclusion
In summation I really like the Shiva and fully expect to get another one when or if I ever wear this one out. It's fast, stable, predictable, rolls easily and is highly responsive. I have no issue with staying in this boat all day and I can scramble in and out quickly. For big water situations I might like to have a bit more of the chine, but for steep creeks or shallower environments it's a machine. The stern is high volume and easily accessible; I can easily get a full drybag, med kit, pin kit, and breakdown paddle without really noticing a change in the handling characteristics. Fair warning, this boat is rather heavy. It is constructed with a double thick hull and really it's just a lot of plastic and boat. At 48 pounds, plus all your gear, it can feel like a lot to lug around on the steeper hikes to be sure.... But on water it's a tank!
It's true, I do love photography, It's such a wonderful excuse to go slow and really take in what's around you... especially when floating down a river.
SO..... I have just made another blog (yes, I know) that is my new gallery. To avoid confusion, it's called RiverVibe Photography. I will be updating it often with new work, so please take a look and tell me what you think.
I think I have a problem.... This low water year in Colorado has inspired me to get yet another kayak
Early this spring I got my hands on a shiny new Pyranha Shiva creeker and have absolutely loved dialing it in, but the rocks have been so high this year that I've been very troubled by how much nice new plastic I've had to leave behind. So I got it into my head to find an old creek or downriver boat that was long and old-school and made the winter Numbers and Pine Creek a little more challenging. Well, last week I found it! The Dagger Crossfire is a 1991 design, 11 feet long, 66 gallons, and a radical design in its day.
In the past week I've only been able to get it into the water once in the Salida town river park. I can tell already that this boat is stable and accelerates like a dream. If it was a little bit more rockered and had little higher deck, it would be a fantastic creek racer. This week provided a beautiful evening with kids and dogs playing in the water and trees in the height of their Fall turning.
I feel as though I really lucked out with the condition that this boat is still in, even the outfitting was in great shape. That said, it did need a little work... screws needed tightening, hip-pads needed installing, and a backrest needed to be created. It was the backrest that needed the most work and turned into quite the little artistic system made out of minicell foam! I had wanted to keep whatever I came up with to be generally in keeping with the period of the kayak and I looked to the old Perception foam block for inspiration.
Backrest System
Here's what I came up with:
What I'm really happy with is that it is adjustable. The wedge (resting between the stern center column and the backrest block) can be positioned up or down, thus moving the whole block forward or back. Holding it all together is a simple strap of flat webbing and a buckle. The webbing runs from one gear loop that is part of the outfitting forward though the block by a slit, across the front of the block to the other side, back through another slit, back through the other gear loop and back over the top of the wedge to buckle back on itself. The angles that the webbing makes across these interlocking pieces of foam hold them both equally down and back against the stern column.... so... if the backrest block is positioned forward or back, the tension on the webbing will always equalize, thus holding the whole thing at the desired setting. It might sound confusing, but a picture is worth a thousand words....
Far back (loose) position
Far forward (tight) position
Anyway, I'm really looking forward to spending a lot of time in this classic kayak for years to come.
At Camp Two, this process was repeated. The next day saw the same results, but with more whitewater, I began sinking quite a bit earlier in the day. For days 4 and 5, I was happy to take the oars for a while and spend more time on the raft with my best friend, and my camera.
So yes, it can be done! I'm sure that if this crack had been a normal little straight-line crack, this patch would have been much more effective. But hey... she got me through.
