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Welcome to new and prospective members!

Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 12:26 pm
by pat
If you are new to this website, let me first welcome you to our humble little (but growing) group. You are welcome to lurk as an unregistered guest in this General Discussion forum, but to gain access to any of the "members only" forums (currently there is only "upcoming trips"), you will need to register. (See link at top of page.)

If/when you <i>do</i> register, please pay special attention to the first couple of paragraphs in the registration agreement and understand what you are agreeing to.

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 7:29 pm
by Doug
Happy paddling everybody, I've recently joined the electronic world, and I'm paddling unchartered waters. I've heard many good things about this site and look forward to getting to know folks on line and on some trips. I will offer to organize a few trips and skills workshops as soon as my work schedule allows it. Thanks for creating and participating in a forum on paddling, what a great way to learn from eachother and make the sport safer.

Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2006 8:32 am
by pat
Doug wrote:I've recently joined the electronic world

That can only be one person... Welcome aboard, Doug! Looking forward to your opinions and also to taking some trips with you finally!

Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2006 10:46 am
by getnoutside
Now, if we can just get him to show up to volleyball :wink:

Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 11:18 am
by Birdseye
Welcome Doug,

I look forward to paddling with you.

Nelson

Just Joined

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 9:30 am
by beeshamook
Hi all. I've just joined the site. I may be a slightly out of area. WTP seems mostly around the South Shore and I'm out in Metro West. I have a Wilderness Systems Pungo 120 and I've been kayaking for one year. I'll keep and eye on the site for paddling opportunites...I try to get out nearly every nice weekend.

Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 9:47 pm
by BigWingBoy
Hello Everyone!

I am Gene. My better half is Samantha. We live here in Plymouth. We decided to try kayaking.

Our first stop was BSK. Doug, Bob, Joel, and Steve were great. (Doug can I have that $10.00 now?) Bob put Sammie in the Pungo 120 and me in the Pungo 140.

We paddled Billington Sea for about an hour. We were so hooked. I didn't want to go back in. We told Doug we were going to 'sleep on it' and let him know what we thought the next day.

Well the next day we came back and plunked our money down.

I'll bring out boats home this weekend. We've read your trip reports and look forward to meeting you all.

Regards

Gene

Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 10:13 pm
by Chip
Welcome aboard Gene. Too bad you just missed our North River Trip. Keep an eye out for future flatwater trips. You are now part of the cult.

Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 6:30 am
by pat
Welcome, Gene!

Too bad you don't have a better weekend coming up. Sort of like getting a sled for Christmas and the ground is bare.

You've got plenty of good kayaking spots in and around Plymouth. Billington Sea is great, and there is public access to it. Once you want to try something a little more exciting, you can park at Nelson Beach and paddle around Plymouth Harbor. Just keep an eye out for other boats.

Looking forward to paddling with you!

Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 8:14 am
by Todd
I initially looked at the Pongo, great primary stability. People at EMS told me that you can stand in them and fish. I'm not sure that you and Sammie want to try that yet. Alot of great ponds in Plymouth, and the Harbor area around Kingston would be great paddling also.

New Kayak - New to Kayaking

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 5:56 pm
by John O'Connor
Just joined your club. I'm interested in some basic paddling.

Re: New Kayak - New to Kayaking

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 7:00 pm
by Birdseye
John O'Connor wrote:Just joined your club. I'm interested in some basic paddling.


Welcome John,

How long have you been paddling, what type of boat do you paddle and where are you from?

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 8:12 am
by Todd
John, Look at the wtpaddlers homepage and look for the recent items on the right, it refers to paddling sessions on a lake in Hanson and Hingham that might be what you're looking for.

Re: New Kayak - New to Kayaking

Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 12:17 pm
by John O'Connor
Birdseye wrote:
John O'Connor wrote:Just joined your club. I'm interested in some basic paddling.


Welcome John,

How long have you been paddling, what type of boat do you paddle and where are you from?


New to formal paddling. I have a 14.5 Necky Manitou. I live in Milton

New to paddling

Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 10:26 pm
by Hconrad
I'm Heather and I just started kayaking. I just got a Loon 100 and am excited to get out and use it. Hope to paddle with you guys soon!

Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2006 6:32 pm
by BigWingBoy
Hi Heather and John!

'Looking forward to meeting you both...see you on the water! Keep an ear to the forum for get togethers...and read about the Hanson Thursday night meets.

Think Safety!

Gene

Gene Harriman
Plymouth, Massachusetts

New Memba

Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 12:09 pm
by rcasewst
Hello All,
My name is Roy and I have been paddling alone for a long time :( . I have been mostly fresh water but have been venturing off shore a bit more (around misery island, out to lanes cove, around plum island, and the porcipines in bar harbor). I work in billerica and live in metrowest so most salt water is a bit of a jaunt.
I can keep a 4.5 mph pace and am good to 15 mi. Anyone looking for a paddling partner feel free to email me.
Roy

Ahoy!

Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 12:19 pm
by Rich
Hi, just joined the group, thanks for all the great local tips, this is some good info.

Been kayaking around 3 years...probably still a novice since I've yet to do a wet entry....I've been mostly on the ocean (Eastham Cape Cod, Fore River, Hingham Harbor) with a few lakes here and there...started with a 10 foot Pungo and just recently got a 14.5 Carolina Perception.

I'm going to search the site, but I was wondering if sections of the North River are mud flats during low tide...tonight I have low at Fore River at 5:53pm.....the North River section of the site referenced high tide a few times, but nothing about low (of course I could have missed it!)

If anyone can offer some direction...that would be great. Thanks!

Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 12:31 pm
by Todd
Rich,

High tide is definately the time for most of the North River, it is the prettiest and most paddable (is that a word?). If you want to do any of the North River near low tide, I would reccomend the Driftway in Scituate and take the Herring River down to the Spit (referred to many times in other reports). This will bring you to the mouth of the North and South Rivers and you can find enough water to play around.

Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 1:05 pm
by Birdseye
Welcome Rich,

Every other Thursday night (this Thursday) some of us get together at the pond at Camp Kiwanee in Hanson to work on skills. You should join us one of these days and get that wet exit out of the way.

You can find out a little more about it here.

http://wtpaddlers.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=263

Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 1:38 pm
by Rich
Todd;

Thanks for the tip, much appreciated. Looks like we have the same boat...

Birdseye;

I appreciate the invite and will definitely try to head down soon (this week is out unfortunately). I need to learn how to do a wet entry! I'll give you a heads up so you can tell some friends and family to go watch, I'm sure there's nothing more amusing that watching a fat guy struggle back in to a kayak from the water for the first time.....

Rich
14.5 Carolina

Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2006 5:37 pm
by John O'Connor
I've been away a few weeks on vacation. Is Thursday night a Hanson night or a Hingham night.

John O'Connor

Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2006 8:34 pm
by Birdseye
John O'Connor wrote:I've been away a few weeks on vacation. Is Thursday night a Hanson night or a Hingham night.

John O'Connor


John,

It looks like we'll be doing Plymouth this Thursday. There's a post about it in the General Discussion forum.

Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2007 7:40 am
by tailspin
Hello everyone.

I've just joined the site. Now that winter's over, I was looking for
resources on kayaking and came across your group.
I've only been kayaking twice, both overnight trips to Little Chebeague
Island in Casco bay, ME with a group of friends who are much more
experienced than I am. Both times using 17' Perception Eclipses.
( one of the guys worked for LLBean and rented the boats dirt cheap ;)

I've since bought a 16'4" Wenonah Sea Otter and have been collecting
equipment. Not wanting to kayak alone as I think it would be dangerous
being as inexperienced as I am, I thought this site would be a perfect place to meet fellow paddlers.

I have three little boys as well that I'd like to get into boating as they get
older. ( That's one of the questions I have, what would be good boats for
young kids to learn on? )

For our "yearly" kayak trip in the fall, instead of going back to Little
Chebeague, we're going to try a 2 night river trip somewhere. Haven't
decided on the location yet. Suggestions are welcome. We're looking
for a scenic river with camping spots and no more than class 2 rapids
since most of us have touring boats. Most of the guys live in SE Mass
area but one lives in upstate NY so the Adirondacks are not out of the
question.

Thanks for setting up a great resource and hope to see some of you
out there.

John

Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2007 8:50 am
by pat
High John,

Well, you came to the right place, and it sounds like you've had a heck of a start. Sometime in the next couple of months, we'll probably start up our <a href="http://www.wtpaddlers.org/thursnight.html">bi-weekly Thursday night paddle out of Hingham Harbor</a>. It's a good beginner/intermediate paddle of about 5 miles after work.

On the alternate Thursday nights, many of us attend a rescue training session at a pond in Hanson. This is a free but invaluable opportunity to get some high level training by local experts.

As the water starts to warm up a bit (with no help from the recent weather), we'll be planning trips, so keep an eye on the forum as they get posted.

I'll leave the youth boat suggestions for the WTP fathers to answer.

Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2007 9:58 am
by Birdseye
Welcome John,

It appears that you are into beer brewing. You'll fit in nicely here :D

See you on the water.

Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2007 10:06 am
by Chip
Hey John,
I'll take a stab at the kid boat question. 2 boats that come to mind are the Perception Carolina 12 and the new Wilderness Systems Tsunami 12SP. Both are 12 feet long and 23 inches wide I believe. Most rec boats are 28-30 inches wide so kids have trouble getting the paddle over the edges. If you want them to learn how to paddle this would be the way to go. The smaller cheaper rec boats will work but will take more effort. They will have fun in anything.

A brewer and a kayaker, very cool!

Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2007 4:07 pm
by Dave
You found a good site for getting started, there are lots of helpful folks, and lots of advice to had (and when the weather warms up they'll be lots of trips as well I'm sure.)

I checked out your link, I hope to meet with you on the water. I've been brewing madly since last August. I have three batches bottled and two in the carboys right now, and nothing ready to drink since we finished are last two batches last week, a revolting development. Anyhoo, hope to catch up with you when the water warms up, best of luck with your new yak!

Kayaks for Kids

Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2007 7:08 pm
by Mark
My 10-year old daughter has been in a Wilderness Systems Piccolo since she was 8, and she handles it quite well. We have done overnight kayak-camping trips together and I make sure she carries some of the gear in her boat. (OK, so I end up towing her, but whatever.) This is a true sea kayak for smaller people - kids and even smaller women. It even fits me at 6-1, 190-200 lbs more comfortably than at least half the boats I paddle. I don't think it is made any more but used ones pop up for sale fairly often as kids outgrow them, or lose interest.

Tandems are a great idea for getting kids into kayaking too. They keep up with you much better when they are in the cockpit just in front of you, and you can take them places that you might otherwise not if they were paddling their own boat. Of course, they just might want the independence of their own boat.

Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2007 8:50 pm
by tailspin
Thanks for all the replies. It's nice to know that there are still lots of friendly
folks out there. I still have a few supplies to get before using my boat since
I had been using rented equipment till now - PDF, pump, paddle floats.
Going to try Dicks, REI, and online.

Are there many homebrewers here? I've been brewing about 4 years.
Entered Sam Adam's Longshot contest last year and going to again this
year. Hoping to beat my score of 33 out of 50 for my Irish Red Ale. I have
three batches bottled and just bought ingredients for another.

If you want to join with a lot of other very, very good brewers, there's a
South Shore Brew Club. Next meeting is actually Tuesday night at the BBC
in Walpole.

John

Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2007 10:00 pm
by Birdseye
tailspin wrote:Are there many homebrewers here? I've been brewing about 4 years. Entered Sam Adam's Longshot contest last year and going to again this year. Hoping to beat my score of 33 out of 50 for my Irish Red Ale. I have three batches bottled and just bought ingredients for another.
John


John,
I've brewed about 5 batches in my life back in the early 90s. Would love to do it again sometime just waiting for other things to take a back seat. We all are pretty fond of beer here and always look forward the PPR after a paddle (Post Paddle Refreshment), which is why I said you'd fit right in.

Nelson

Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 6:23 pm
by pabbon
Hi To Everyone,
I am fairly new to kayaking. I just joined this site. I've been paddling every weekend, but it gets kind of lonely out there. Looking to paddle with others. I live in Avon , MA. Looking to join people to paddle with.

Pabbon

Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 6:34 pm
by pabbon
Hi All Again,
I recently purchased an old town dirigo 120. I know this is a recreational kayak, but could I take this out on some of the sea trips like Hingam for example? I would appreciate some feedback since I am new to this .

Thankyou so much,
Pabbon

Welcome

Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 8:30 pm
by kayakerjnj
Hi Pabbon,

Welcome to the WT Paddlers. Stay tuned for the Thursday night paddles and skills sessions starting in earnest towards the end of the month, or as soon as the pond in Hanson becomes hospitable to all of our Thursday night skills session participants.

You might find these sessions, informative, helpful, and certainly entertaining.

Hope to see you there.

Jordan

Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 12:48 pm
by Nemo
Hi there, Just want to introduce myself. I've had an interest in kayaking for many years now, but other pursuits (sailing, hiking) always got in the way. Now that I have the Appalachian Trail out of my system (for now) I'd like to get serious about paddling. I'm reading just about every online resource I can find to learn more about the sport. I hope to purchase my own boat next spring and get out on the water (it's been a few years). Please be patient as I pop in from time to time with newbie questions. I live in Wareham, work in Plymouth, and am a big fan of beer.

Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 1:30 pm
by Johnysmoke
Nemo wrote:Hi there, Just want to introduce myself. I've had an interest in kayaking for many years now, but other pursuits (sailing, hiking) always got in the way. Now that I have the Appalachian Trail out of my system (for now) I'd like to get serious about paddling. I'm reading just about every online resource I can find to learn more about the sport. I hope to purchase my own boat next spring and get out on the water (it's been a few years). Please be patient as I pop in from time to time with newbie questions. I live in Wareham, work in Plymouth, and am a big fan of beer.


Welcome to the Turkeys! You can see if anyone is willing to let you demo their boats, so you can get a feel for different kayaks in conditions. Always a benefit.

Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 4:37 pm
by BigWingBoy
Hi Nemo, welcome aboard!

We like to go to Nelson Park and Morton Park in Plymouth. I have a Pungo 140.

Doug at Billington Sea Kayaks let us try as many boats as we wanted when we first started. He's right there on Billington Sea in Morton Park in Plymouth. 'Got us set up. PS I'm not an employee of nor have any vested interest in Billington Sea Kayaks. This is just my 2 cents worth. 'Look forward to seeing you out on the water!

Gene Harriman
Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

BSK

Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 9:10 pm
by Nemo
Yeah, I've been to Billington Sea Kayaks. Doug Grey has a great shop! He's a good and trustworthy guy as well. Gotta plug George Ward too (a former co-worker from Mayflower II); very knowledgable.(is that even a word?) Morton park has been one of my haunts since I was old enough to ride a bike and cast a pole, but I've only paddled there once. Nelson beach is probably the premier put in spot in Plymouth harbor (I sailed my old O'Day off that beach quite often). I'm working to pay off my credit card debt from the A.T. As soon as I do, I'll be in the market for a boat. I haven't been on the water in a few years and I have the itch bad!!! I'm drawn to paddling for a number of reasons and I was quite happy to stumble upon the Wild Turkeys (great name BTW). I hope I'll be able to join you in your adventures and learn from all of you. Thank you for having me. Mobilis in Mobili

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 10:23 am
by JohnHuth
Hi -

My name is John Huth. I live in both Newton and Harwich Port, on Nantucket Sound. I've been sea kayaking for about three and a half years, now.

I had the good fortune to paddle with some of you folks on Satuday in Cohasset rips.

A few trips I've done include a circumnav of Monomoy, and paddling/camping out of Jonesport Maine. Other stuff is just day trips here and there.

The area I call my "home turf" is the Cape-side of Nantucket Sound. I know some good fishing holes in the area - I do flyfishing sometimes for blues and stripers.

I paddle a yellow-on-white Tempest 170.

I'm working on my 4*, will be assessing later in October. I'm still working on my skills, but can do reasonably ambitious trips. I enjoy camping the most, but have the fewest opportunities to do so (kids, job, that kind of stuff).

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 10:38 am
by Todd
Welcome John. You're in the right place.