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Whether driving up from the water's edge or approaching by the road, there's plenty of room to diagonal park or right-angle park there. I've parked there a couple of times, and IIRC both times our car was the only one when we launched but there were a number of cars when we returned. And they...

Kate: @cougarmeat has explained the options more clearly than I could. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: For rescue- and rescue only - a PLB is the best satellite communication device. VHF is useful if there's anybody listening, and a DSC VHF - despite its disadvantages IMO- is probably the best VHF...

Excellent. I have a few float bags, since sometimes Mariner kayaks have come to me with bags and left without them, after having bulkheads and hatches added. The main hazard I notice with the bags is that most of them have mold/mildew growing in the transparent fill tubes, and presumably in the...

I agree - that's not the kind of service a reputable company would provide. Do you have pictures of the defective clamping bands from your kayak?

Hopefully you'll never need the float bag, but if you do you won't regret buying a new one or making absolutely sure your repair is reliable. https://www.kayakacademy.com/products/copy-of-bow-float-bag-for-sea-kayaks? If I planned to day paddle on a trip, I'd probably just take along the float...

A dry bag full of gear will probably keep you afloat, a float bag with a split seam or unattached valve patch won't.

That's exactly what happens. Sand can wear away at fabric (like sandpaper) with repetitive paddling movements or walking. A small pebble will put a pinhole in a GoreTex drysuit sock in minutes if it's in a 'pressure spot'. When I wear sneaker-style water shoes with dry pants or a drysuit, I wear...

Because in my part of the world an emergency (or even a planned) landing can put my feet on to sharp rocks, mussel and oyster shells, etc. and if I lacerate my feet I'll be a liability to myself and my companions. I won't paddle with folks who don't wear shoes.

Amen to that!

If the deck on your boat is low enough to make it a tight fit for your feet (and shoes), shoes with protruding heels may require a trip to the disc sander. That's what I had to do with some similar shoes I got a few years ago.

Is that a sea kayak or some sort of downriver boat? Usually I'm the only old guy ranting about (lack of) deck lines; it's nice to have some company. :) Please direct your attention to the 'Greenland' and SOF crowd and also the many many homebuilders of kit S&G and 'from scratch' boats. A quick...

I'm not sure if it's the same for shock cord as line, but I've noticed that a lot of line sizes have changed a bit - either metric (EU/Asian) line marked in Imperial fractional sizes or the converse with US made line. And with line, the diameter changes quite a bit after it's...

I use a tapered hand reamer a lot, so for only a few holes it might be a better choice (more long-term utility - I don't think I've used that tapered drill more than a half-dozen times) Perhaps I'm not brawny enough :) , but I find that the 1/4" doesn't stretch as much. I got used to using...

I wouldn't drill them with a standard twist drill if I wanted to enlarge them. I'd use a tapered (hand) reamer, or alternatively a tapered drill. With either of those, once I'd determined the correct size, I'd mark the reamer with tape to replicate the size on the other holes. Do you have 1/4"...

I've threaded a lot of shock cord through Mariner decks.. :) I think I read about the technique somewhere on the Mariner website, but I couldn't find it in a 30 second look just now. At the cut (not melted) end of the shock cord, grab the inner rubber strands with needlenose pliers and pull...

More tools in the 'stroke toolbox' are always good. :thumbsup: But for beginners, the priy could be a bit unstable? You can 'lean away' from a sculling draw, which can be reassuring.

And, from Matt, the right paddler and the right boat:

More from Matt Broze:

On the hatches:

In an email to me, Matt Broze (Mariner Kayaks co-founder with his brother Cam) added some excellent information which I will post here. On flotation and float bags: Reading the Flotation Manual on the Mariner kayaks website would also be a good idea.