robert.butera.orgRob's Blog

Sea Kayak Trips About Rob Butera Drone Flying ← Older posts Greenland Paddle Version 2 Posted on 2022/07/18 by rob So I wasn’t happy with Greenland version 1. It wasn’t crafted fine enough, too fat in places, kind of heavy. In hindsight, I was fighting mediocre wood AND learning how to use hand tools and make mistakes using them (power planer, hand planer, spoke shave, chisel). I also wanted to tweak the dimensions – especially the location of the shoulders, based on how V1 felt and where my hands naturally go with the Akiak. I purchased two western red cedar boards from Premium Plywood Specialities in Hyannis. Sure they were more than a big box store ($40 each for a 10 foot length), but they really were straight and knot free! Working with this board was a pleasure, and my hand tools did what I wanted them to do. I was less timid with the wood because I knew where I wanted it to go. The finished product was coated with 6-7 coats of 50% tung oil / 50% organic orange solvent, 1-2 hours apart over 2 days. It sat for 7-8 weeks while I was back in Atlanta in April and May. And — I love it! It fits me perfectly, is quite light compared to the pine, and fits like a glove. I’ve done several trips with it now, and I am quite pleased (plus there is something satisfying about the fact that you made it for yourself). The Akiak is a great 2 piece stowed as a backup. I also managed to more aggressively trim the pine paddle V1. I still don’t expect to use it much, but it is always there if I need another backup. I’m still learning a bit about the paddle. I’m getting more comfortable with most paddle strokes and dealing with currents, still working my way up to larger waves. But after fighting the current in Nauset Marsh today and looking at my average boat speed with with a euro-blade, I think I’m dialing it in pretty well. Only negative that after 7 miles today, both thumbs have a blister in the making where they rub against the shoulder. I need to sand those edges smoother! Top: Akiak 2 piece carbon fiber, Middle: Version 1, pine, Bottom: Version 2, western red cedar Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment Greenland Paddles – Comparison and Next Steps Posted on 2022/04/11 by rob I purchased a 2 piece greenland paddle for Christmas – the Akiak by Gear Labs. I also spent time this winter building one from a 2×4 and plans from Cape Falcon Kayak. General thoughts paddling with the Akiak . It took about an hour to dial in, but once I figured out the paddle angle, I really liked it — so quiet! The lack of sound of my stroke is a sign that the paddle angle is just right. This angle (canted forward) is so different from a euro-blade, as well as the lack of paddle rotation (habit from whitewater kayaking). The Akiak also flutters a bit if the paddle angle is not right. I also like how the blade can be slid to be held off-center left or right (it is a greenland thing to do) and keep on paddling, and the change in depths allow a steady kayak turn with no pausing the forward stroke or needing sweeps. I do not like that the transition from the loom to the blade on the Akiak is gradual, since when I do go off-center I cannot feel when I am back to center. The paddle does have dots every centimeter or so and I know where my hands should be — I’m thinking of putting tape on the blade so I can feel the center position. In April I finished my 2×4 to greenland paddle using Cape Falcon’s plans. I made many mistakes, resorted to wood filler, misused several tools (band saw, power plane, hand plane, spoke shave) but learned in the long run the right way to use them. Comparison of the two paddles . I compared the two paddles with two laps around the lake at Herring Pond in Eastham (and again later that day at two ponds in Brewster). Total on the 2 trips was nearly 6 miles, with my time spent 50/50 between my wooden and Akiak paddles. The Akiak still wins. They both felt fine for the forward stroke. The wooden one does not flutter like the Akiak when the paddle angle is off (but I can hear it splash). The Akiak was much more comfortable sculling than the wooden one. The loom on the wooden paddle is a little thicker than I’d like. And I would definitely spend more time sanding the loom in the future. The one thing I DID like about my wooden paddle was the shoulder between the loom and the blade – a natural feel of the center point. I am going to make version 2 of my wooden paddle, with the following changes from version 1: Western Red Cedar instead of Pine I will more aggressively shape the blades with both the power and hand plane, both thinner and more wing like” cross section. I was too cautious planing the blades on this paddle, worried about over-cutting, and my later final shaping with the hand plane still wasn’t enough. Make the loom a bit thinner and rounder Shorten the blade a little to the length of the Akiak Possible widen the blade maybe 1/4″, similar to the Akiak Initially cut the paddle with 3″ extra at each end to avoid snipings when trimming down the board with the power planer. Only cut after the blade is at the intial thickness. Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged kayak , kettle pond | Leave a comment Paddling Log: Nauset Marsh – Hemenway to Inlet via NW Passage Posted on 2021/07/03 by rob Beautiful day, 80F, winds were 15mph or so, but no chop in the marsh. My goal today was to determine when the tide currents change in the marsh. Past experience has suggested that some paddling guides don’t quite have it right. I launched from Hemenway around 1030, thinking I’d reach the inlet not long before the tide turned. I was half right. Paddling was the typical Nauset trip, tide was low (but as I learned later, 2+ hours from low). I arrived at the Nauset rip, and there was still a healthy ebb current out the inset. The Atlantic surf was moderate and I really wanted to try some close in waves, but I didn’t know how the ebb current may add to rip currents and decided not to until the current turned. According to the tide charts, low tide at Nauset Beach was 1130. I got out at a spit in the inlet to wait the current out. I could see the tide slowly coming in on the Atlantic side of the spit, but the ebb flow out was still significant! Out of stubborness, I waited about an hour (and enjoyed the views!) but the ebb flow still had no stopped. View from a spit island in the Nauset inlet, Orleans side Seeing how it had decreased, I decided to start paddling back. Before I did, because the surf was mild and rising tide had the waves starting to reach the inlet, I paddled through the cut and caught one long surf back in. I am not very experienced at ocean (vs whitewater river) surfing and the speed took me by surprise! It was a fun long run, and I clearly have a bit to learn about how ruddering and edges work on a surf in a sea kayak vs a whitewater kayak. About 15 minutes in I made it to the narrowest part of the channel, but here the current was stronger again. I ferried over to the Eastham (vs Orleans) side of the channel and again waited a bit longer. Waiting out the current a bit longer further in, on the Eastham side of the inlet Finally, I started paddling back. Still fighting an ebb current, and also a significant head wind now (I passed several tour groups happily paddling with the current against me!) I made it back to Hemenway around 2pm or later, at what appeared to be dead low. Putting the boat on the car roof while being savagely attacked by greenheads was not fun! After a few trips out, my general rule for Nauset is this. The Nauset Beach tide forecast is for the water levels at the ocean. It is accurate, and I could see the levels starting to rise past low tide at 1130 or so. However, the Pleasant Bay tide forecast (where low tide was forecast for 2pm) appears to be a better guide for levels far inside the marsh and also for estimating the direction of tidal currents. It is a bit south but suffices for within 15 minutes or so. Useful for the future! Being the academic...