I think that paddlesports for all of us this season will offer more of a chance for us to step out of the ever-increasing compexities, pressures and sometimes insanities of life today, if only for a brief but calming time.

The Plymouth Harbor Paddles have started for the season. They will be held on alternate Wednesday late afternoons, meeting at Stephen’s Field (a recreation area on the harbor in Plymouth) at 5 pm. The proposed dates for these paddles are April 30, May 14, May 28, June 11, June 25, July 9, July 23, Aug 6, Aug 20. After that we will have to readjust the Wednesday schedule because we will be out of sequence with the tides. The trips are actually run by Eileen Kelliher, or myself when she is unavailable. These trips are designed for folks who have perferably 12′ or longer kayaks and have some experience in paddling sometimes windy and/or choppy water conditions. These trips tend to be of a laid-back nature and there are always very experienced paddlers present that can offer suggestions on paddling technique to novice paddlers. Most often, we paddle for 2-2 1/2 hours and then go somewhere afterward for pizza and conversation. A great mid-week respite. When there is a question of weather, we usually still meet at Stephen’s Field, make a decision and, if not to paddle, then we go to pizza earlier. We always try to err on the side of safety. If you are interested in these outings and want to be on the emailing list, please forward your email addresses to me and I’ll ask Eileen to add them to her broadcast list. Hope to see you on some of these paddles.

EXPLORING CLEAN ENERGY 2007

Join us at Jones River Landing for a day dedicated to better understanding clean energy options for the home.

ADMISSION IS FREE

The Jones River Landing is sponsoring an Alternative Energy Expo on Saturday, March 31 from 1-6 pm at the Jones River Landing Environmental Heritage Center.

Alternative Energy Expo 1:00-4:00pm
Learn about alternative home energy options, see product demonstrations, and get your questions answered by experienced local vendors.

Kayak Raffle Drawing 3:30-3:45pm

Your chance to get out on the water while preserving the environment. Buy raffle tickets at the event or beforehand: tickets are available at Jones River Landing, Rockland Trust (in Kingsbury Square), or at Billington Sea Kayak. The package includes an Eddyline Skylark kayak, paddle and PFD (personal flotation device). This package is valued at $1500.

Speakers’ Platform 4:00-6:00pm

Industry experts, public officials, and alternative energy advocates will share information, practical tips, and real-world guidance on how to increase your home’s energy efficiency.

ADMISSION IS FREE
Jones River Landing, 55 Landing Road, Kingston, MA

Send mail to: PO Box 73, Kingston, MA 02364

Please visit our web site at www.jonesriver.org

Beacon Boats
Beacon Boats has been building small fiberglass dinghys and prams for many years, but now they have added to very nice traditional rowing craft that we are excited about for our 2007 line-up. The Adirondack Guide Boat has the classic guide boat lines that became famous in the Adirondacks for use by guides and their hunting and fishing clients. This will be an ideal rowing craft for lakes, ponds and quiet rivers. Can’t you just picture a couple enjoying an afternoon picnic or a beautiful sunset while enjoying a peaceful row?

Or how about also rowing in a quiet harbor or estuary in another classic design? The Whitehall 13 has the graceful lines and excellent seaworthiness of the classic Whitehall design. Again, just imagine the feeling of gliding along with each pull of the oars and enjoying a beautiful day whether it be spring, summer or fall.

We have both of these boats in our demo fleet just waiting to hit the water.

Native Watercraft
Andy Zimmerman (former co-owner of Wilderness Systems kayaks) has started a new paddlesports company with a very innovative line of kayaks. Fresh concepts in hull design, stability, seating comfort, and the ability to accessorize for fishing are the strong points of these designs. Whether for fishing, photography or just paddling, these kayaks have received a lot of attention and favorable comments in the few months since their introduction. Again, our demo fleet includes the Ultimate 12 and the Ultimate14.5 .

Other New Models
There are several other new models from our usual list of manufacturers that will be described under our soon-to-be-added “Models - 2007″ page. Some of these models include the Eliza from Necky, the Cayuga 110 and the Cayuga 130 from Old Town, the Prowler Big Game from Ocean Kayak, the Santee Expedition and Phoenix 130 from Hurricane, and the Fathom from Eddyline. Please check our upcoming “Models - 2007″ for further information on these and other models.

At benchmark years, such as the beginning of a twentieth year for instance, one tends to ask, to use an old Dionne Warwick song, “What’s It All About, Alfie?” (I told you it’s an old song!) Well, that amount of time is difficult to compress into a few sentences, but I’ll try to hit the high spots and sum it all up in two sentences. First, the folks that have come through our door are the best! I am convinced that only nice people use a kayak or canoe paddle. Secondly, whatever we have learned in the first twenty years about paddling, the techniques, skill and enjoyment, is probably half of what we could learn and experience in the next twenty years. Every time we push off from shore, it becomes a new, rewarding, and re-energizing experience, even the “not-so-good” paddles.

I would like to thank all of our customers over the past years that have made this a worthwhile “trip” for us. You have served us well, and I sincerely hope we have done the same for you. To those of you who may “come through the woods” to find us, we will do our best to serve you as well.

And so…on to 2007

Every year it becomes more difficult trying to figure out which new model kayaks to carry in our already expansive line-up. It is tough at times to decide what model to promote and which of the models to let go or pass by. As best we can, the issue is approached from two perspectives; as paddlers ourselves and as a customer coming to our shop looking for accurate information, experience and honest recommendations. We represent approximately twenty kayak and canoe manufacturers and many more accessory lines. We have many models in our normal inventory at any given time. Even more important, we are a shop that believes that a customer should try before he or she purchases a boat. Each model will feel a little different to each of us. Whether it’s the fit, comfort, stability, handling characteristics, or the boat’s designed purpose…it is critical that someone just coming into the sport tries out several models so as to be able to make the best decision at that time. For over twenty years we have believed that the ability to try out boats at our shop on Billington Sea is our obligation so that each person can make the wisest choice. We have tryouts every Saturday and Sunday and have a demo fleet of approximately fifty different models. We also offer kayak instruction as well as kayak and canoe rentals for use on Billington Sea. And so on to 2007, here we go….again.

The staff of Billington Sea Kayak: Doug, Pat, Ross, Bob, Ben, Steve, George, Ellin, and Joel

Sounds great? Actually, it sounds like the beginning of a comedy of errors or, worse yet, possible a day that could end in tragedy. This paddling venture should have started on that raw, rainy Saturday a month earlier, the ideal day to go LOCO (Locate, Organize and Check Out your equipment).

We should check out our gear every time before going paddling, but especially the first time. The best way for most of us may be to start with your least used items first and then work your way slowly and thoroughly over each and every item while leaving the kayak for last. Why, you ask, would I leave the main item for last? Well, for one thing, if you check out the boat first, you may be more tempted to skip the rest of the check out routine and just throw everything in the car and go off for that first paddle, only to find out (at the worst possible time, of course) that the paddle had developed a crack or the paddle float didn’t hold air. Surprises like that can just ruin your whole day!

Make sure the supplies in the first-aid kit aren’t all stuck together by leaking tubes of antiseptic cream and sunscreen. Are there new batteries in the small flashlight? Does your whistle work, or is it still full of sand from the last time you got trashed in the surf? Any holes in your neoprene suit, paddling jacket or PFD? How ‘bout the pump? Hopefully some unknown rodent didn’t take the suction part out to use for its nest. Small things, you say? Yep! Until you need them.

If you do practice this LOCO idea, by the time you finally get to checking out the boat, you‘ll probably have developed quite an awareness for details, and the boat is where the details are as critical, if not more so, than the rest of the equipment. Are the hatches and bulkheads watertight? Is the seam between the hull and the deck on a fiberglass kayak showing any signs of separation? How about the footbraces, are they working properly? Does the rudder or skeg work smoothly and are the cables in good shape? Are the deck lines, static lines, and carry toggles in good condition?

By spending some time checking out your gear, you will find that your first trip, and every trip, will be more enjoyable and your gear will be there to help you when conditions aren’t quite as enjoyable!

Sea Venture by Hydra. One of the first kayaks we carried. Designed by Tom Derrer of Eddyline Kayaks, this was and still is one of the classiest 16 foot poly’s out there. This kayak was able to satisfy many paddling levels through its ability to handle any situation comfortably.

Vesper and Seeker by Dagger. The Vesper was the initial reason we were persistent in chasing the Dagger representative to carry the line. The first two Vespers we sold were boats that I had to buy in Maine at full retail, pay sales tax and pick them up there as well. The Vesper was a delightful river touring boat that would also do some coastal touring with good paddling strokes. The Seeker was a relatively fast coastal boat. Both were noted for their stability, sporty feel and ability in rough conditions. A particular crossing in Maine of the Damariscotta River from South Bristol to East Boothbay proved to me the ability of the Seeker!

Naturalist by Walden Paddler. Although not the first of the recreational kayaks on the market, the Naturalist’s hull design did bring attention to the fact that it was possible to design decent tracking short recreational kayaks. The other innovation was the fact that recycled plastic was being used in the kayak’s production.

Rascal and Pungo by Wilderness Systems. These two kayaks with multi-chined hulls added substantially to the progress in hull design for the short recreational kayak. Kayaks now were being tried and purchased by otherwise considered “normal” people.

Calypso by North Shore. As evidenced by the number of BSK and Coastal Kayak Educators staff that has and are still paddling the 17′ Calypsos, one quickly realizes that this qualifies as a memorable kayak. Excellent stability, responsiveness, speed and ability in rough water conditions are the credits of this kayak.

Quoddy Lite by Lincoln. The lightness in weight (12′ 6″ @ 31lbs) and the longer boat “feel” of this kayak opened the shore (pardon the pun) to those looking to paddle but not wishing to deal with long, heavy kayaks. Stability and versatility for protected coastal paddling are the merits of the Quoddy Lite.

Narwhal by Boreal Design. We sat in a 16′ Narwhal in our shop on a cold winter night several years ago. Immediately George, Ross and I knew that this was a “gotta’ have” for our lineup. Stability, performance, comfort and attention to detail are the traits of this kayak.

Micmac by Cal-Tek. I remember many day trips where there were three or four Micmac kayaks in the group. The North River, Taunton River, Saco River, and an awesome weekend over ten years ago paddling the Battenkill River, at one point sharing the river with some cows. Each boat was outfitted to the owner’s taste.from homemade seats and footbraces to gear-holding and fishing rod attachments to an English Springer Spanial sitting with his paws up on the foredeck. This is a 13′ 4″ open cockpit “do-all” boat for fishing, hunting, birding, relaxing or occasionally playing in Class 1-2 water. No wonder, this a Bart Hauthaway design built by Dan Sheehan.

Surge by Surge Kayak. My personal introduction to this kayak was along the Maine coast in some of the worst wind and chop that I had been in by choice. This performance-oriented 17′ 8″, 38-lbs. kayak has one of the most incredible hull designs we’ve paddled. It is fast, stabile, straight tracking, yet will spin on a quarter, surfs well, and will bring you through those unexpected conditions that you remember long afterwards thinking “How’d I do that?” If I’m in a bad place at a bad time, that’s the kayak I want to be in.