Day 82 - Pyranha 'Ina Zone 232'

Last night a friend called at nearly 9:00 with news that good waves were predicted for today. I could use a bit of a sleep-in to recharge but the promise of good waves is always enough to drag me out of bed in the early hours. A person needs to be careful when they invite friends out with the promise of good waves. If predicted good waves fail to materialize the instigator of the session becomes responsible for whatever sub standard waves do arrive. So it was that our friend Steve found himself on the receiving end of a few snubs in regards to the minuscule waves we encountered when we arrived at the beach this morning. That was until he reminded us that, albeit small surf, we could catch more rides out there than we could at home in bed. Point taken, we suited up and made the most of what came our way.

It's true that the flat bottom and hard chine of the Ina Zone allows you to surf ocean waves. For the better part of a year that's all I ever surfed and I had a lot of fun doing it. The truth be told however, to really surf you need fins... pure and simple. This morning I had fun doing spins and trying my skills at back surfing and such. The sharp edges of the Ina Zone even held the wave face enough to get sort of a diagonal run. However, I mostly slipped sideways toward the bottom of the wave rather than gain speed across the face like fins allow. Surfing the Ina Zone (and any flat bottom river boat) is fun but if you really want to surf, do yourself a favor and get a boat with fins and REALLY surf.

Ina Zone 232 Review

Manufacturer = Pyranha
Brand = Pyranha
Model = Ina Zone 232
Type = Whitewater
Material = Plastic
Length = 7'-8"
Width = 25.5"
Weight = 33.2 lbs.

Location = Tourmaline surf park
Time = 7:00 AM
Distance = N/A
Duration = 1:00 hours
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Sunny with 2 foot waves with occasional 3-4

**Day 81 - Necky 'Chatham 16' RM

If you're wondering what the asterisks (*) are about on the blog headings they represent how many other boats I paddled on the day I reviewed the boat in question. So two asterisks means I actually paddled three boats in three separate outings in the same day. I didn't start doing this until day 50 when I started to realize how many times I paddled more than once per day.

Today started early with a morning surf session up at Tourmaline with me in the Valley Storm and our new help around the store (Paul) in my Mega Airforce. After burning a lot of time searching for waves we stayed out as long as we dare returning back to Aqua Adventures just in time to pick up my student to start a two hour sea kayak surf zone lesson during which I paddled today's boat the Chatham 16 plastic. Later in the day I caught up with the San Diego triathlon club and paddled the Holo Holo SUP board as a support (sighting aid) for their workout swim in La Jolla.

The Chatham 16 has never overwhelmed me with its speed but it's maneuverability allows folks to handle rough water with ease. It's a favorite of mine to take along for surf zone training because it fits folks well giving them the body connection and confidence they need in the soup. Today my student opted for the Manitou 14 so I grabbed the Chatham 16 for myself knowing that it would allow me to make my demonstrations look easy. Many folks (me included I must admit) complain about how slow the Chatham 16 is. But as a friend (who happens to be a staunch supporter of Chathams) pointed out, if you were to compare the speed of a Chatham 16 to a Romany or Avocet (two other well known playful boats) you may find that it compares fairly well for speed.

Chatham 16 Review

Manufacturer = Johnson Outdoors
Brand = Necky
Model = Chatham 16
Material = Plastic
Type = Sea Kayak
Length = 16'-5"
Width = 22
Weight = 59 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay to South Mission (surf zone lesson)
Time = 9:00 AM
Distance = Approx 3 miles
Duration = N/A
Speed = N/A
Conditions = Breezy and partly cloudy

Day 80 - Surftec 'Laird 11'

After wrapping up the July 4th fireworks tour at 11:00 PM last night. This morning I was on our dock by 5:45 AM sorting all of our La Jolla gear from our Mission Bay gear. By 6:30 I was on my way to La Jolla to unload two dozen paddles, 30 PFD's, 20 seat backs, and 8 kayaks that we had borrowed for the big fireworks tours on the 3rd and 4th. At 7:20 AM I had the truck and trailer unloaded and decided that I better try to scrub the bird poo off the truck before driving clients a ride this morning, so I stopped at a car wash to give the truck a quick scrub. By 7:45 AM I dropped off the kayak trailer and loaded five standup boards, paddles, and leashes in the truck so I could take them to the SUP lesson scheduled this morning. At 8:00 I helped Mike and Paul roll out the store and greet my 4 standup lesson students and 9 people scheduled for the SK-1 kayaking lesson. By 9:45 AM (already half way into what I expected to be an 8 hour work day) I was already on the far side of Santa Barbara cove doing a SUP lesson with an energetic group of students.

The lesson went well but the strong wind that was already blowing made things a lot more work for everyone than I would have preferred. We paddled upwind to the leeward side of the bay and worked on basic turning strokes. I was wowed by a 12 year old girl in the lesson that picked things up surprisingly easy and made some of the adults in the group look clumsy. Once again my belief held true that for many kids they don't need instruction so much as good gear. I kept to the Laird 11 which is the least stable of our SUP boards leaving the more stable boards for the students. Everyone did well despite the wind and we finished the lesson with a down wind run back to the truck. There was no time to waste as I had to get back to work the store till what turned out to be about 7:00 PM. Nearly a 13 hour work day to follow the 12, 15, and 14 hour work days I had the three days prior. No worries though I have a short day tomorrow... only a 9 hour day.

The Laird 11 is about as small a board as I'd care to use. It would perform better for someone in the 130-145 lb range. Just like the '11-6' and '12', this 11 foot board has the same flat shape that is great for flat water cruising but not so good if you're going to be trying to roll over rough water. The '11' is a lot less board to move around which should make it more surfable than its larger counterparts.

Laird 11 Review

Manufacturer= Surftech
Brand (shaper) = Laird
Model = Laird 11
Type = SUP
Material = Softop
Length = 11'-0"
Width = 27"
Thickness = 4 1/4"

Location = Mission Bay - Santa Barbara Cove SUP lesson.
Time = 9:15 AM
Distance = N/A
Duration = 2:00
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Partly cloudy and windy

Day 79 - SEDA 'Scout'

Tonight we had another fireworks tour with huge group of well over fifty people. This time it was off our dock and over to Sea World to see their Independence Day fireworks show. Along the way we took a break by Dana marina to watch the display put up by the Mission Bay Yacht Club. It was another great group and once again the canoes worked quite well as guide boats. I paddled the SEDA Scout tonight and found that I prefer it over the Wanderer for its turn-ability and overall solo paddling performance. I tried out my new knee pads in place of a foam mat and loved the way I could move all over in the boat and not worry about climbing off of the pad on to the hard bottom of the boat.

SEDA 'Scout' review

Manufacturer = SEDA
Brand = SEDA
Model = Scout
Material = Fiberglass
Type = Open Canoe
Length = 16'-0"
Width = 36"
Weight = 65 lbs.
Cap. = 750 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay Sea World July 4th fireworks show
Time = 8:00 PM
Distance = Approx 3 miles
Duration = 2:00
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Mostly calm w/ high thin marine layer

Day 78 - SEDA 'Wanderer'

We had 60 - yes sixty - people signed up for our Aqua Adventures July 3rd fireworks tour tonight. Add about 10 guides and a handful of visitors and we ended up launching almost 80 people off our dock by 8:15. From here to the cove where we watch the show is less than a mile but moving that many people took about a half hour. The trickiest part was crossing the main channel which we did in a series of pods of ten or so kayaks so we wouldn't end up with a quarter mile long string of kayaks plugging up the entire channel. Once in the cove it was just a little wait until the best fireworks show in town started up.

I tell everyone that, once you've seen it, this show is one by which you will judge all other fireworks shows. Normally for a half hour straight there is hardly a moment when there isn't sparks in the air. Tonight, after an entire crate of ordinances blew up on the launch barge, they did have to pause the show for ten minutes while they sorted it out. After that short delay the show resumed and later finished with a grand finally that is what GRAND FINALLIES should be.

Bringing all of those people back to the dock is always a bit more challenging than the way out mainly because most were in a hurry to get back as they were very ready to get out of their boats. It all went off without a hitch until the Seaforth sportfishing boat named "Legend" came out of Quivira Basin going way faster than the 5 mph speed limit in Mission Bay allows. This 80 foot fast moving boat caused us concern for those of our group just finishing their way across the channel. I tried to reach the captain of the boat on the radio but it appears that he didn't want to have a conversation about his reckless boat operating any more than he wanted to slow down to avoid hitting boats in the channel. Seems how the captain wasn't interested in communicating on the radio I turned to the only sign language I know to express my opinion of his pioliting skills.

Jen, Paul (our British friend visiting for the summer), and I opted to paddle canoes whilst guiding the group tonight. The higher vantage point and maneuverability of the canoes make them the perfect craft for an outing like this. Not to mention all the space to bring any extra gear that may be needed on the water (and cherries of course). I was in a SEDA Wanderer which belongs to a very good friend of ours, Teresa, who must own a dozen canoes herself. It handled quite nicely with enough speed to run up to the front of the pack when I needed and turn-ability to thread through the crowd of kayaks in our group.

SEDA canoe review

Manufacturer = SEDA
Brand = SEDA
Model = Wanderer
Material = Kevlar
Type = Open Canoe
Length = 17'-6"
Width = 36
Weight = 60 lbs.
Cap. = 1000 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay Paradise Point Resort July 3rd fireworks show
Time = 8:15 PM
Distance = Approx 2 miles
Duration = 2:00
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Slight breeze w/ high thin marine layer

**Day 77 - Necky 'Chatham 17' RM

I knew Jerry would be anxious to hear what I have to say about this boat. Seems how he's the guy that pulled off an expediton down the entire California coast in one last summer I figured there would be nothing I could say that he didn't already know. What I do have to say is that the Chatham 17 is a pretty fast, comfortable, and good handling boat but man... you can't fit much gear in it. That's too bad too because I think if the boat had a bit more cargo space it'd appeal to a whole bunch of people that would like to take it on trips but would also like to not have to pack like a minimalist to do so. I'll always be impressed by the fact that Jerry pulled off the trip as gracefully as he did in that boat. In some ways he proved my opinion of this boat wrong.

The Chatam 17 is a great pick for somone of average build who's looking for a nimble boat that can get you places effeciently, but who has the dicipline to pack like a backpacker when taking it on a trip.

Chatham 17 Review

Manufacturer = Johnson Outdoors
Brand = Necky
Model = Chatham 17
Material = Plastic
Type = Sea Kayak
Length = 17'-1.5"
Width = 21
Weight = 63 lbs.

Location = La Jolla Shores to Blacks Beach
Time = 1:00 PM
Distance = Approx 4 miles
Duration = 2:30
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Breezy w/ high thin marine layer

Day 76 - Wilderness Systems 'Tsunami 125'

Once again it was a Tsunami that is a bit too big for me. On the Wilderness web site this boat is described as the ideal day tripper for the larger paddler. That comment should instantly explain why, with my skinny behind, I swam around in the cockpit of the Tsunami 125. It does have potential, for a person that fits it, to be a pretty fun little boat. It's 26" beam makes it super stable and at only 12 1/2 feet long it's very easy to turn. I had to work to keep up with the Wednesday morning group today so I wouldn't expect to run with the pack in this boat but it will get you where you want to go... in time.

We had two new people joining us (John and Jan) on today's paddle to help swell the ranks with

a (year to date) record of 15 paddlers on the water at 7:00 AM. I'm starting to think that word of Mary's amazing post paddle treats is starting to get around.

Tsunami 125 Review

Manufacturer = Confluence
Brand = Wilderness Systems
Model = Tsunami 125
Material = Plastic
Type = Touring
Length = 12'-6"
Width = 26"
Weight = 52 lbs.
Capacity = 300 lbs.

Location = Wed AM paddle north from the jetty
Time = 7:00 AM
Distance = about 4 miles
Duration = 1:30
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Partly cloudy, warm, and slight breeze