Forgot today is the kick-off of the summer beach season for MA Dept of Conservation and Recreation. Beach parking lot started charging $15 parking fee today. (Thankful for my lifetime senior parking pass that offers free parking at DCR lots.) The lifeguards were on duty and the outdoor showers were back on. Given today’s on/off torrential showers, there were not many beach goers. However, the surfing contingent was out in good numbers.
Finally got out with my new, preowned Mega Jester Storm, a 30 plus years old international class (IC) finless surf kayak. Though 11’x24", it is pretty low volume with a snug cockpit even for me. The boat is pretty fast but squirrelly without the help of fins. Even I use long paddle strokes, the boat wants to spin out. So, had to use fast cadence, short strokes to get it. On the waveface, have to learn and employ aggressive edging to engage the back rails to carve on the wave. Definitely a learning curve involved. But a fun boat to add to the quiver for the smaller, messier wave days of summer.
I don’t remember it being too squirrelly ,but a long time ago when I tried one I was surfing a finless mike johnson mako as my main surf craft . Yes from now until labor day I need to leave the house about 5:00 am to avoid being run over by lake lice and hug jet boats. Problem is my motivation to do long drives at 5. am for flat water is not really too great.
Yeah, I am still a very early riser but I don’t have a need to rush out for a dawn patrol to get a couple of hours of surf before work. Truly, time is a luxury afforded by retirement. i did get out early this AM to get another session in before today’s family cookout.
Waves were still 2.5’-3’, with occaisonal larger sets coming through. Waves were bumpy because of a diagonal offshore.
Got additional test and datapoint for the Jester. Did better carving today, but interesting when paddling flat, the boat does feel squirrelly still and even a bit tippy because of the low volume. Kind of reminds of the long WW boats we surfed, e.g Necky Jive and Rip. But on a wave face, the Jester carves much better because of the sharp rails beginning just behind the seat area. Also the sidewalls are less high than the WW boats. The deepest section of the boat is no more than 9 inches or so.
Anyway, fun morning session. Oh the boat took on a bit of water after awhile (contributing to tippiness). I suspect a leak around the coaming, which a patch job previously. Another repair project.
No waves forecasted for today. But checking NOAA Buoys is an obsession for me. Yup. Buoy registering 2’ swells at 10 seconds with a still 15-19 knot offshore wind to stack 'em up. Tiny but clean and surfable. Surprisingly, the SUPers and longboarders didnt get the memo. Had the waves to myself. These would have been great with a longboat, especially to deal with stiff offshore. But, left the longboat in favor of the Mega Jester because I have had encounters with “Ranger Rick” who don’t like the long boat near the DCR beach, even when no one is in the water.
The Mega Jester proved to be a good long “short” boat for this situation. At 11’, the jester gave just little more “Umph” to fight the wind and catch a wave.
i did get out early this AM to get another session in before today’s family cookout.
