Demonstrations at shows in N.H., Orono keep kayakers busy

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What a whirlwind this past week was. I haven’t covered as much ground or met as many people in a while.

Let’s see… There was a great group of folks at the New England Paddle Sports Show at the University of New Hampshire. Then there was another wonderful gathering at the Penobscot County Conservation Club’s Sportsman’s Show at the University of Maine. And it was all topped off by an interesting gaggle of folks slithering north on I-295 and I-95 on Saturday night in a snowstorm. I’d rather have met a few snowplow drivers, but you take what you get, I guess.

Then Wednesday night I got to play again in the pool, this time with some guide students reviewing wet exits and re-entries, and Thursday it was off to Searsport to meet with Maine Association of Sea Kayak Guides and Instructors (MASKGI) to catch up on the latest issues facing the guiding community.

You may have gathered by now I didn’t wind up at the bottom of either UNH’s or UMaine’s pool – I spent some time in them, however, flopping around the surface demonstrating the characteristics of a couple of different kayaks not designed for safe paddling far from shore in cold water.

In Durham, N.H., on Saturday fellow sea kayak guides John Rice, Paul Travis, and Karen Francoeur and I got wet for the audience as we sank a couple of boats and demonstrated rescue techniques. Most open cockpit boats, even when they’re filled with water after capsizing, can be rescued by someone in a small boat, but many are difficult for a single paddler to right and re-enter if he or she capsizes. The advice: Paddle in pairs or small groups, learn how to rescue one another, and learn the limitations of your boat.

It was great to get to the New Hampshire show. There’s something rejuvenating about wandering amongst all those boats and paddling gear after a long, dreary winter. We had the chance to mix and mingle with representatives from several boat makers and equipment suppliers and talk shop. For me it’s what the flower show is to gardeners.

Our presentation was the last of the day Saturday (apparently show organizers didn’t want to hurt sales of open cockpit, recreational boats during the day) and when we emerged from the pool after packing up, the display floor upstairs was empty – talk about clearing a room! The doors closed at 6 p.m. All the exhibitors had split for a dinner at the Red Hook Brewery in Portsmouth. A free meal was too much to pass up, so we found our way to the place, ate quickly, and headed north just in time to drive into a lousy snowstorm.

From the Saco River north it snowed, and the farther north we got, the slower the driving was until we found ourselves in an endless snake of red tail lights inching along at 25-30 mph. Needless to say the ride home was endless!

On Sunday morning fellow guides Mark Goff and Deb Merrill joined Francoeur and me for a rescue demonstration at the UM pool. We did one presentation with canoes and one with kayaks emphasizing the use of life jackets and safe paddling decisions as well as proper boat choice for the paddling conditions.

By the time I’d bailed out of and re-entered canoes and kayaks, I was a tad pooped. Three days later I was still finding new black and blue marks, and I still didn’t feel rested!

I got a bit of a boost on Wednesday when my kayak was delivered. It’s been in Quebec at the factory since last fall, and I’ve been out of sorts since. Even though I haven’t had that many opportunities to go for a paddle, it’s been a little strange not having my boat hanging in my garage.

It’s trip north got a start last summer when I noticed some water seepage around the hatch coamings. Boreal-Designs, the builder, gladly took it back to replace them. In the meantime I’ve had a boat separation complex, I think. Now I’m better and I’ll probably develop some sort of anxiety problem waiting for the ice to leave. I keep hearing from all sorts of paddling enthusiasts that they’ve been on the water enjoying winter’s solitude and beauty. At least now I can entertain the thought of getting back on the water.

But before I do, I’ve got some serious cleaning and buffing to do to bring the kayak back to life. It came back a little worse from the wear and tear of being trucked back and forth.

The newsroom scanner crackled a “security” message Thursday morning from the Coast Guard. The signal is used for messages about the safety of navigation or important weather warnings. This one was to let mariners know there would be some flare testing going on so no one would react to a sighting thinking it was an emergency.

It served as a reminder to me that I’d received information from Public Affairs Ensign John Hanley at Group Southwest Harbor recently regarding safety measures all boaters could use while on and around the water.

Hanley hoped that I could help spread the word about the importance of having requisite safety gear and a VHF radio aboard your boat, and of filing a float plan with someone. He provided me details of two recent search operations involving clammers who had experienced motor problems on their skiffs and became the objects of searches.

In February, two clammers were reported overdue by a relative of one. The battery on their skiff had died and they’d managed to get to shore, hike a couple of miles to a friend’s house, and borrow a battery. In the meantime the Coast Guard had launched a search. The boat was found and escorted back to Jonesport.

Hanely said that “although the clammers’ skiff was outfitted with the required survival gear, it would have been wise for the men to carry a cell phone or, preferably, a marine VHF radio. A simple 30-second phone or radio call would have prevented the need for the search and it would have spared the families of the men a lot of worrying.”

In another instance on March 16, the Coast Guard was notified of another overdue clammer who was out near Isle au Haut. Winds were high and heavy snow was forecast. A search was launched (it included numerous local fishermen) and the man was found around 10 p.m. in a cabin on Bills Island where he’d sought shelter. His skiff’s motor had broken down. He had no flares or means of communication. He was spotted on shore after coming out in response to an illumination flare fired by the Coast Guard.

In this instance as well, Hanley said, a radio call or cell phone call could have prevented a search, and the person could have been rescued much earlier.

I’ve talked with Coast Guardsmen about VHF radios and cell phones. They’ve told me they have the capability of triangulating on a VHF signal thereby locating its position whereas they cannot with a cell phone. Handheld marine VHF radios usually are waterproof or water-resistant where a cell phone likely isn’t (I’ve proved that, so get a dry bag or box for the phone). And VHF signals are broadcast for all on the water to hear whereas a cell phone has to dial a specific number. I think it’s good advice to have both if you can. That way you have an option or backup in an emergency.

For more on this topic be sure to come to the Paddle Smart from the Start Safety Symposium at the YMCA on 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in Bangor May 21.

Thursday night’s MASKGI meeting provided guides an opportunity to catch up on a host of topics. President Paul Travis said the organization is looking at establishing outfitter standards for businesses that rent paddle craft for use on salt water, and Amy Kirstein of Maine Island Trail Association brought us up to date on island monitoring. MASKGI member Natalie Springuel, who works with Sea Grant, said a scientific component will be introduced to the MITA island monitoring program.

There will still be anecdotal and qualitative information gathered, but now there will be scientific information mixed in to provide a complete look at island use. The system will be set up so volunteers can help gather this information on the public islands, and private island owners will be able to gather it on their islands as well.

Nesting seabird islands are another issue MASKGI is considering. At issue is whether to post signs on these islands warning of the nesting birds or to inform the boating public another way, say by a sign at launch ramps.

MASKGI is also in the process of doing an economic impact study of the kayaking industry. Members got some preliminary numbers, but officers want to wait for further analysis before releasing them to the public.

Travis also briefed members on an access issue in Freeport that is being worked out by L.L. Bean representatives, MASKGI member Dave Mention, and the harbor master. An amicable solution is in the works, Travis said, but it serves as a reminder to all of us who frequent launch ramps to be polite and don’t hog the space.

Generally outfitters and guides are not a problem, but groups of paddlers who clog up a launch ramp are becoming an issue with harbor masters and the rest of the boating public. I got this message loud and clear last year when I attended a meeting of harbor masters – they are not enamored with paddle craft.

Jeff Strout can be reached at 990-8202 or by e-mail at jstrout@bangordailynews.net.