Hey Jack! Been awhile. Apparently you and Nanci are doing fine.
That was a bot post advertising some âexpert in all things paddlingâ site. As it violated the Pcom TOS, it was deleted. Funny how they always target old threads, like this one from 2005.
Agree that the Apple Watch is terrific for tracking all sorts of info. Have you ever capsized, rolled, or done a wet-exit while wearing it? Iâm curious if it will interpret that as a âfallâ and want to call 911.
Iâd try it but water is too cold right now and I prefer to avoid brain-freeze.
Wonder if the OP ever found a watch. 
Anyway, I use a Garmin Fenix 5 for kayaking and installed a rowing widget that tracks paddle stroke and duration. So I get HR, GPS, mapping, time and a whole bunch of other data that I donât do anything withâŚ
I stayed âold schoolâ, so I donât have to look for my glasses to read a digital, with an analog titanium Swiss Army dive watch.
But I donât really need to know the time much anymore⌠
Same here. Sunâs up, time to go. Sun going down, relax and enjoy it.
I seem to specialize in breaking watches and pairs of reading glasses (from the dollar store) while loading boats onto vehicles. I done it so much that it is now a regular loading ritual.
GPS: Mostly I carry a very small gps unit on my pfd. This is my second gps, my first one was lost when it detached from pfd and fell into water. My gps is supposedly water proof (but it gets condensation clouds inside the screen and it shuts down completely when it gets really wet). Despite all of this I now consider the gps part of my regular paddling gear (although it has no maps or coordinates and I donât know how to use this stuff). I do like the average speed, distance, and elevation (gradient) features.
The WATCH: Naturally the watch band on my current el cheapo walmart model is broken (from loading boats) so it stays inside the pocket of my pfd. I find the watch to be a valuable tool (in the absence of the gps) for timing out the day (pace) to meet a shuttle bunny/buck and also for helping to determine âthe distance to goâ . My inner paddling voice sometimes want to know âare we there yet?â and âhow much further?â. âŚand that inner voice wonât take âjust around the bendâ for an answer. The biggest variable is that I usually underestimate the time and distance of the trip before I even set out. This is usually just due to sheer laziness (didnât read the guidebook/map/trip report) or a poor recollection of a long ago glory years recreated paddling trip.
Even if itâs just an up and back paddle, I often want to go just a little bit further before turning around. I like to keep tabs on my progress, especially on short days in the winter. Lookinâ for the takeout in the dark is its own special fun and the watch lets me know just how long I have until it gets really dark (without a flashlight or matches) and we get to play âWho can spot the car in the dark from the water?â Iâve played that game a few times and the watch kinda letâs me know just how interesting itâs gonna be before it actually happens (my inner voice really likes the watch).
1 Like