I can't bear to wait til next Wildcard Wednesday.

Yes please, bear story. I would love to know more about this trip and kayaking in that area.

Great story and I’ll unsubscribe if we don’t get the bear story soon. 😅

bear! bear! bear!....

Bear story sounds good. These are even less bears than snakes here.

Of course we want the bear story ..

It seems like you could have preserved the sliding function by gluing on the lower parts only. I like a sliding seat, but the best thing that I have tried (and you could do this too now that you have given up the sliding business) is to take out the seat bottom and put a foam pad down on the deck. The increase in stability is noticed.

Bear story please, but only if it was wearing a PFD!

Bear story! Please!

That Delta rim is a terrible looking cockpit rim. I have never seen a less functional rim. What Were They Thinking?

"We see you" is one of those phrases thay can have some VERY different meanings

Add me to Team "interested in the bear story". As well as other camping experiences.

3:41 what did you mean when you said "key our mic"? Very cool story by the way

What is embarrassing about accidentally hitting the PPT button and not speaking for a bit? Did you hold it down for a super long time and they heard a bug chunk of your entire conversation with your paddming partner? I'm confused, how did you end up looking like idiots?

LOL, I KNEW IT! Wait a minute he said: "we have the right of way". LOL Maybe read COLREG72. In particular: Rule 8 covers action to be taken to avoid collision. In Rule 9 obliges a vessel of less than 20 metres in length or a sailing vessel not to impede the passage of a vessel "which can safely navigate only within a narrow channel or fairway." Rule 18 collision avoidance and traffic lane, also who is the stand on vessel (recreational vs vessel engaged in commercial activities) (Is it Rule 19?) behavior when encountering a vessel with limited maneuverability in a channel or other restricting water ways. Rule 10 states that ships crossing traffic lanes... That being said: The cruiseship proved that he was abiding by the regulations: Rule 5 requires that "every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing as well as by all available means. And acknowledge your presence. Cheers, a.

I had something similar with a Russian factory ship. It was sweaping the English channel and came right for me. I got on the VHF and just go out of the way. As I watch it slowly move away the ship slows down and came to a stop. Turns out it snaggled a ww2 German bomber on the seabed about a mile from me. The ship was stuck there for 24 hours while the Royal Navy send down a drone to inspect the wreaked aircraft. The Russains had to cut there nets and the Navy carry out a controlled explosion.

Brett, have you thought about re-editing/releasing your footage from your inside passage trip now that you have a larger following here? Or is it already posted somewhere we can find it? The Inside Passage is on my buck list, so I would love to see your footage! Enjoyed this story about the cruise ship and definitely think you guys made the right call to hold position regardless of who had the right of way....I've always had a saying about right of ways on the road: "He who has the most lug nuts always wins", meaning even if I have the right of way, I always try to be mindful of larger vehicles trying to navigate roadways since they would definitely come out the winner in a collision!

I'm up to hear about the bear!

This can be one of many reminders for kayakers to learn the rules of the sea, and to remember they are smal. I think many kayakers experienced and inexperienced, do not know/learn the rules of the sea. There are encounters with kayakers and ships all the time. And this same goes to things like visibility. Many ongoing discussions on if Kayakers need lights (they do, as you know). But there is also discussions on the colour of the kayak. Many forget that our the colour mostly maters if someone is looking for us from the skies. PFD, headwear, paddelcolor, can be more important. Do not see many kayakers with a flagpole with a visibility flag either. I think you have had something about these themes, but can be something to make new content on.. AND. Bear stories are always welcome! 🙂

Definitely down for bear!

Of course we want to hear about a bear and Delta encounter

Can’t have too many bear stories

Would love to hear the bear story!

Yes! Bear story on a kayak!

Oh yes. Really want to hear about a bear (standing on a kayak, or even if it's not standing on a kayak). Bears are good, but we don't have any in the UK 😞.

Yes, a bear story!

This story is much better but I guess the bear will do have to do.

Amigo, please study right of way rules. A cruise ship or ferry can be considered a vessel constrained by draft. While in principle they are powe driven and your kayak is not, they can be constrained by the course/channel they are in as their maneuverability is limited. We kayak in New England and all know that if the ferry is coming into New London or Portland, we yield as they don't have the space to avoid us kayakers. Besides, it would be embarrasing being run over by a ship on a sunny afternoon paddle ;)

I can bearly wait to hear the story. Nova Scotia Dwight.

I’m in for the bear story

Definitely beer to hear about the bear!

I do want to hear about the bear…

Nice additional footage of the boat and the iceberg. Cut short of getting the ladies reaction to the collision. kind of tickles you. Plus what she was saying at the start of the film clip.

Thanks for the term "first order retrievability"! I use smaller stackable clear plastic bins for all the smaller stuff I accumulated. As much as the see-through material saves me the labelling, I have to un-stack the boxes depending on what I need to get to. The term might serve as a justification (with my life partner) to go pro and build a proper shelve for the boxes ...!

As an alternative to the nrs quick change duffel; The simms or palmyth wader bags work well as a changing pad & zip up to hold the wet gear.

I saw in another video that you are really passionate about the bowl having a lid, could you elaborate why please?

I think the Explorer is the kayak that Tom Nickels uses in the paddle stroke videos he has put on KZbin (along with yours, his videos have also been very helpful). I hope you enjoy this project, seems like fun and you get to paddle it after it’s done!

Nice set up and totally follows my own preferences. I just love boxes and how they make my life easy! Did you ever do a video on PFDs and your favorites (as you mentioned a couple here). I am in expansion mode...I love the one I have (Astral GreenJacket) but it is not good for longer expeditions as it has less "pocket" space and is a pain to carry the VHF radio. Still looking at shops and seeing what I can find...

We practice exit and rescue skills regularly. When we work with a newer paddler we talk about holding your breath...and practice holding your breath. Then put your face in the water (had a friend who just freaked out putting his face in the water). That gets people comfortable with the beginning. Then we talk about how to exit.

Wow I am jealous. I moved to an apartment and gave up almost all my “gear”. I don’t camp any more, so I just do day trips and that means lots less gear. But I have no where to stage my gear and storage is very limited. I keep too much stuff in my car. The move to the apartment was necessary and giving up storage, a workshop, and a staging area was part of the cost. The good news is that I am forced to be a minimalist, keep things organized, and only keep gear that I actually use regularly.

Inspirational! I need to build an indoor gear storage shelf. My paddles are leaning in the corner, my tent, cooking supplies and sleeping bag(s) are in a random box in the basement (I don't camp much anymore), and all my other gear is stuffed into one of those black and yellow beauty bins...but the lid doesn't shut anymore. Most of the extra stuff in that bin is extra: drytop and dry pants that I don't wear anymore, spare pfd, some random neoprene boots and socks I don't wear anymore, some bib pants that I only use when pressure washing, random drybags...it seems I need to just start getting organized! Or at least get a second bin. 🤣 I like those GearRax - what is the clear dimension between the hooks? I'm wondering if my Kalleq would still fit or slip right through.

I really need to build some actual gear storage. I kind of started letting stuff accumulate in a corner of the dining room when I started kayaking, and it wasn't a huge deal at first...but it's starting to get pretty bad

I need to organize my gear, but kayaking keeps getting in the way. 😁

Brett with the permanent marker pen you can use spray deodorant to remove it. I was something we leant at School. One of the boys accidently sprayed deodorant and it hit something that was labeled and it rubbed off. worth a try. How the deodorant happened to get on things was we had just finished School and returned back to our Dormitory and someone started a deodorant fight. We got banned from spray deodorant after that as the House Mistress walked in on us. I have recently been buy gear as when we bought our Motorhome we sold a lot of our camping gear or gave it away to friends to help get them started. I have only just replaced my 26 year old sleeping bag I got want I was in the Army, still usable but getting a bit too worn to really use. I still have a few things left to get, I have most of the basics. I haven't bought gear that is overly expensive but hopefully good enough quality to last a very long time. I do need to work on my storage as I have it placed or balanced in my Study. My PDF and Spray Deck are hanging off of a Guitar wall bracket that I could also use as a paddle holder. only whilst my Daughter has my Guitar that normally goes there.

Hi Brett, I've been coming across and watching more and more of your videos lately. I really appreciate your well-rounded, methodical and no-bs approach to many of these topics. Thank you! I came across this one and just wanted to share my own experience. I've paddled for 15+ years in rec/touring boats without any formal instructions and never leaving flat water. Then in one year, my wife and I planned a trip to Scotland, and I googled, "things to do in Scotland", came across a random blogger who mentioned a ocean 2-day kayak trip and I thought, hmm, that's kinda cool. So I called the shop and they were super nice, they opened a class specifically for the dates I'd be visiting Oban and we had an absolute blast!! I discovered sea kayaking completely by accident and now I'm hooked. I also went from 15+ years of experience "kayaking" to an absolute beginner and that's okay too :) But yeah, how many people don't even realize this is even a thing. Don't know if I'd blame REI specifically or any other outfit, but you are right, no one really talks about sea kayaks

I am 75 yo beginner kayaker. Your videos are very informative and very helpful for real kayakers who are in good shape. I am not in good shape but had the best time kayaking on family vacation. We actually just built a tiny dock on the Guadalupe river so I can put my Amazon Pelican beginner's kayak in the water and just enjoy paddling around. Who knows where this journey will take me. I am writing to encourage other puny paddlers like me to put your boat in the water and ride with the current. Stay safe!

Thanks Brett! I appreciate your videos, knowledge and instruction. My local kayak instructor teaches a technique and then says “at the end of the day do what works for you”.

Looking forward to following along on your refurbishing this Explorer. I have some older boats myself that I’ve had to do some minor fixes, upgrades and just TLC. I have a Current Designs Sirocco, its composite sister the Gulfstream (my favorite of my touring kayaks) and a P&H Delphin. I was shopping for a Cetus myself and ended up with the Delphin. On each one, there have been some things I’ve needed to do and some I just wanted to do to personalize them. Can’t wait to see how your Explorer turns out. No criticism from me at all. I’ve learned a lot on all the things I’ve done along the way and any mistakes you make along the way, I guarantee others have done as well. Good luck!

so i have a delta 15.5gt with a 1.7 delta spray skirt and i have a delta 18.5 with a seals 2.2 spay skirt with zero problems the 15.5gt is a great boat have done lots of trips in it up to 10 days i plan on doing some really long ones in my 18.5 but havent yet as i just got it. the 18.5 has everything that u want perhaps that maybe would have been a better choice? also the p&h cetus or rockpool tartan are much much better boats for longer trips then the ndk exp

I appreciate to instruction to find out what works for you. Keep it up.