[Clark Perry-Bater]

Howdy friends, I’m car-less for the Spring Fling next Saturday. If anyone lives in Burnaby or New West and could pick me and my kayak up near Metrotown, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks. -Clark Perry-Bater

[Nick Heath]

Hi Jill.  I use both electronic CHS (government) charts, Navionics for an iPad and Garmin BlueCharts in my GPS. They all cost $.  I find the CHS charts best. They are identical to the printed charts. The newer ones have quite strong encryption on them which makes it difficult to share with others, as was the intent since they are Copyright material, but I have a set of older charts that work sufficiently well for kayaking when one does not need all the nav aids to be updated etc. Some SKABC members have used these with usccess. If you want a specific chart or group of charts for an area please let me know which ones. I might  be able to help.

[Maureen Benzon]

Navionics is fantastic, but it is an app for a phone, so not much good on the water. For paper charts you have to pay for them – about $20 at any marine store. All US marine charts are free. Ours are not. You can purchase the electronic charts for a GPS and print what you need and there are printable electronic charts but they are expensive and you get a lot that you never use.

The bought paper charts are strong and you can use them over and over. They get more fun to look at the more you use them.

[Former Member]

Navionics (navionics.com) is what my son the sailor uses.  I haven’t looked at it in detail yet, but he says he paid $15 for the app for his phone and that’s what he uses.

Jacquie

[Former Member]

Hi All,

Could anyone recommend a website for free downloads of nautical charts?

Thanks!

Jill

[Former Member]

Many of you are already out there on the water enjoying BC’s fine spring weather. If you are regularly out on the water and/or or would like to paddle with others, here is your chance. SKABC would like to fill our trip calendar with at least one day trip every weekend. We will post these trips on the club calendar – they will be official club trips open to all members who meet each trip’s experience criteria. Here’s where you come in – we are looking for trip organizers. If you are interested please contact Harald Riffel (hrifraf@gmail.com 604-230-7072) with your choice of date and destination.

If you are interested in seeing more trips on the club calendar, but are new to the club, or hesitant about becoming a trip organizer – here’s what to do: Join some trips and let the organizer know that you are interested in organizing trips yourself. The organizer will show you what they do, and after two or three trips you can jump in and organize your own club trip. Another great resource is the Leading A Trip page on our website http://www.skabc.org/trips-2/leading-a-trip/

Please contact Harald Riffel for more info about these weekly day trips.

[Former Member]

Here’s an event that may be of interest and that some paddlers may want to support:

Link:  http://pdchampions.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1158283&supid=435048756

From the website:

Around ten years ago my father died from Parkinson’s. That same year, my younger brother Blair was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at age 44. Blair continues his life with the illness, showing grace, insight, and humour. His blog of this life journey entitled, Sometimes You’re the Dog, Sometimes You’re the Fire Hydrant: Life in Parkinson’s Wake, can be found at:http://lifeinparkinsonswake.blogspot.ca. The blog is actually quite humourous, in a twisted, Rasmussen kind of way.

To raise money for Parkinson’s research, we will kayak 700km over five weeks from Port Hardy on Vancouver Island to Ketchikan, Alaska. Leaving on June 7th, our route will follow the BC coast and Inside Passage.

[Yekaterina Yushmanova]

 

Thank you, Allen!

[Former Member]

Beach immediately east of boat launch ramp beside the Coast Guard Station and near the Burrard Civic Marina behind the Vancouver Museum on Kits Point. Parking is city park metering so not free or super cheap but very convenient. Public washrooms at Burrard Civic Marina before launch.

Launch and if windy/wavy head into and around False Creek (about 2 hours). Mid to high tide can disembark at Olympic Village at large stone steps and visit Terra Breads. Or nice weather head out into English Bay towards Jericho Sailing Club and Gallery Cafe deck for a beer or around Stanley Park to Siwash Rock with a stop at the 2nd or 3rd beach.

[Yekaterina Yushmanova]

Folks,

Where do you ususally launch from to go for a paddle in False Creek? I see a few locations on the map, which one is best in terms of parking, etc?

Thank you!

[Former Member]

Looking forward to getting on the water with everyone on Friday, Earth Day. I’ll arrive just after 3 pm to help out. As a kayaker I want to express my concern for the health and well being of our ocean. I’m bringing my Earth Day flag. I’m up for socializing at the pub afterwards too.

RSVP me if you are coming.

Hope to see you there.

Shirley Brunke

[Nick Heath]

These are good suggestions.  I like the fly to extend close to the ground. This results in less wind-borne dust etc than with a higher cut, but the bad trade-off is more sweating/dripping – hence the use of mesh has become more common.

I like gear to last forever, but it doesn’t.  With some tents the zipper fails early but can be replaced. My last couple of tents died when the fly’s waterproofing layer became porous or peeled off. The same thing happens to floors too, but that doesn’t bother me as much. You can’t fix it and usually the manufacturer will not sell a replacement or give a warranty replacement for  the fly – except MEC might with their brand – they replaced my Wanderer fly when the annoying zipper jamming design was changed to a more sensible design, even tho it was still in good shape.

Compact packing size and good metal poles are important but light weight is not an issue for kayaking. MEC is a good bet overall but MSR, Sierra Designs etc are worth considering, although usually more costly.

[Maureen Benzon]

seems I was too hasty to cancel the call as some volunteers have made other arrangements. There is still room to be a participant.

[Former Member]

Really looking forward to paddling with like-minded kayakers on Earth Day.  A great opportunity to increase awareness of the impact of pipelines and tankers on our beautiful coast, ocean and marine life.  Dogwood will have people on the seawall near Olympic Village talking to people about the proposed Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion and the Woodfibre LNG development.   Hoping for a great turnout!

Sandy

[Former Member]

Thanks Roxanne,

The April 22nd paddle in False Creek is a wonderful way to celebrate Earth Day!  Although the paddle is not sanctioned by SKABC, it is an excellent opportunity for us to show support for and promote the club’s appreciation of marine conservation issues and encourage concern and respect for the environment.

Linda

[Author]

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