In my case, I purchased a new Epic V7 surfski at the end of December, along with very lightweight carbon mid wing paddle at basement bargain price from former PNetter, Pikeabike; bought a pre-owned Mega Jester IC surf kayak last week; and, for good measure replaced all the original shocks and brakes on my boat/gear hauler, a 2016 Honda Fit, several weeks ago to make sure I can get to my play venues more safely. Should be good for the upcoming year of paddling, fishing and camping.
No more purchases (hopefully) for the foreseeable future.
Need vs. want can be a bit of a gray area. I honestly have all of the gear that I āneedā until some of the aging gear fails beyond repair. But want is a little different story. Iām still working on getting back the strength that I lost due to a combo of arthritis & prostrate surgury. Still not up to lifting a ~50 lb solo canoe directly onto the 2015 Forester. We did get a 43 lb blacklite Northstar B17 two years ago to replace the 65 - 75 lb tandems. Is it time for a 30 lb (and $3500) solo? Maybe not. We are seriously considering putting in a Generac. Iām about over 5 gal gas cans & extension cords and we need power to keep the basement dry.
This reply is not about boats, but about your auxiliary power. One method for greatly simplifying your use of a portable generator is to build yourself a heavy-duty power cord that goes directly from the 220 output of the generator to the wall outlet for your clothes dryer. That will be the only power cord you need for running any electrical item in the house, but of course you MUST disconnect the main circuit breaker to isolate your house from the power grid when running things this way. You still wonāt be able to run several high-amperage appliances at the same time (you have to stay below the maximum power output of your generator) but you wonāt need any additional extension cords since every appliance / tool that you choose to use will run normally from the house circuitry. This might provide enough of a reduction in hassle to make spending a bundle on a stand-alone, automated system seem less necessary. Yes, I realize that giving advice that ādoesnāt meet codeā is not kosher, but if you understand what you are doing (and of course not everyone does or wants to), this method is perfectly safe and effective.
Regarding the roof-top loading of that 50-pound canoe: There are a few ways to slide a canoe up onto the rack so that thereās no need to lift its full weight over your head using your arms. Two methods that immediately come to mind would require slight modifications to your roof rack, but if your rear cross bar is close enough to the rear that you can lean the boat onto it as a first step, you are good to go. I see people enduring the strain of lifting their boats overhead with their arms, and so many of them would be better off thinking of an easier way. I used to describe some of these methods quite regularly on the old P-net, and as I used to post back then, even as a scrawny 135-pound teen, I was loading a 75- or 80-pound Jon boat onto the top of an IHC Travelall and even onto the roof of a Ford van without ever lifting the full weight of the boat overhead (both of those cars had longitudinal side bars on the roof rack to allow sliding a boat up onto the roof from one side), and to this day I wonāt ever lift the full weight of a canoe over my head (except my lightweight solo cruiser that weighs 38 pounds). This is just more of my thinking about how small changes might make it less attractive to solve a problem by spending lots of money. Still, light boats are a joy!
Ah, that might work with a different panel than ours. The is house is a 1970 build & the panel does NOT have a main breaker. It has 5 240 breakers one of which controls the 20 120 breakers. We are fortunate these days to be able to afford to have the automatic system installed. That also relieves our concerns about power loss when we are away.
(no one needs to know how I run our furnace when the power is out)
Ah, Iām all too familiar with slide up loading methods. The kayaks go up that way anyway & the heavy canoes (Prospector 16 & a Sawyer Crusier) have gone up that way for years. Betweeen the 78" bars & the factory rails I can slide boats up from the side. Two years ago I did get myself in good enough shape to (just) lift them up. The solos though, Iām not ready to admit that I might be showing signs of age.
We had a semi-feral cat have kittens inside my Necky Jive in our garage this winter. Unfortunately my PFD is about 20 years old and mama cat shredded it. Iāve been looking at PFDs I can use for whitewater and to take to Bay Area for surf trips. I think the shredded one cost me about $70 new; similar new PFDs are running over $250, yikes. Thinking I should invest before my IRA hits rock bottom, but canāt find one I am happy with.
Oh and semi feral kitty has moved into our house, with two grown kittens to avoid getting killed by Utah drivers (Iāve buried three semi-feral cats, run over this winter) . Our two California House cats are slowly adjusting to their new friends.
I would not have guessed your electrical setup lacks a main breaker, but more than that, your need to have reliable drainage for your basement if the power goes out when you arenāt home sounds like a good reason to go with an automatic system.
I think Iām all set when it comes to gear. Iāve been thinking that way for several years now. I canāt imagine buying another boat, or anything related to camping gear. Boots wear out, though, and I can see getting new boots at some point. You mentioned fishing as part of upcoming activities and Iām basically done getting more fishing gear too. Itās hard to picture how it all happened over an extended time, but when I decided to organize much of my collection of lures and incidental tackle on one section of a wall in my basement, suddenly that wall looks like what I remember for the fishing department of an average hardware store when I was a kid, so yeah, I think Iām done buying fishing stuff too (other than occasionally replacing non-permanent things like line, or certain lures that might get lost).
I usually just carry a couple gallons of water (in a drom bag), after surf play, dump water in bucket, wash off sandals/booties, ferrule (salt water), etc
If I did the surf thing as often as you, I might consider the above (though donāt know if something like that is available in the US)
I have always found ways to get the right equipment. After 65 years of paddling, I have sold all of my canoes and some equipment. I keep my handmade paddle in the bedroom so I can look at it.
I still look at canoes for sale, but resist the temptation to buy any more.
I hear you. I am sure Iāll reach that stage too. But, for now, I am early in the āgo-goā stage of my retirement. I want to enjoy and maximize before the āslo-goā and then āno-goā phases.
Iāve been gearing up a lot for the last couple of years in anticipation of the āgo-goā! Likely done with acquisition and dollar output for the long interim.
Likewise, Iāve been incorporating more kettlebell routines to rebuild all around strength for lifting (car topping) and carrying (portaging). Has definitely helped. BUT, I am really glad that I got a Hullivator shortly after getting a Hobie Revo 13ā several years ago. That thing is the heaviest craft I owned at about 80 lbs plus. I cartopped alone several times and quickly realize the stupidity of this. I can get hurt and then not being able to paddle for weeks and months. So I paid full price for a new set of Hullivator. Two years later, I saw a near brand new set of hullivators for half price on Craigslist. I picked that up and have it stored in my basement, for when my original Hullivator gives out.
I agree with you question about the āgray areaā between āwant and needā. Ultimately, itās determined by our personal economic situation. Frankly, I would say all of my outdoor activities are āwantsā and not needs. If I had to I would give up on everything but a few fishing rod and my backpack (which are still wants, although relatively minimal).
I was pretty sure that what is happening now was coming. I positioned (diversified) the IRA accordingly and think it can weather a ābear marketā and even a short recession. I got gear and major repairs within my specific time frame.
Regarding a PFD, I have an S/M Astral pullover PFD that I do not use at all. Way too bulky for my taste. Good for a swim in white water, but it gets in my way when surfing. I prefer to offer less surface for the waves to pound on. Let me know if you want to try it. (You are welcome to it.)
Likewise, I am afraid to look at my fishing tackle Iāve collected since college when the father of my then girl friend (now wife) got me into fishing. Went from freshwater spinning equipment to flyfishing for trout, to saltwater fishing with flyrod and spinning equipment, back to simpler Tenkara fishing now.
Anyway, in past several years, Iāve been giving away my freshwater spinning rods and some tackle to the kids of friends and colleaques. I am slated to take and introduce to fishing to 8 and 9 children of my wifeās friend this coming May. Likely, will part with more equipment. The exception is probably lures and flies. Feel like these are āconsumablesā. They get lost and need replacement. Flies are much cheaper since I tie my own.
I like used boats. I have been buying them and repairing them and making money on them for over 50 years. You can build paddles. It is worth buying new PFDs.
No need to have perfect carbon fiber boats. They are going to get scratched up if they get used anyway.
My first canoe had been wrapped. I paid $25 for it and sold it for $400.
Thanks for the offer Sing, but I am definitely a Large still. You did remind me that I have a bulky Astral packed away in my moving boxes somewhere. I didnāt like it for similar reasons and kept it for guests. In the mean time I do have a cheap stohlquist I kept for guests, Iāll be using either one probably if I can find the box in my garage.
