Recent content by Baldy-Old-Troll

If you were both veering in the same direction it could have been the effects of wind on the boats. There are lot's of reasons for the boats veering off course, but I reckon in this instance the most likely was wind blowing on the left side of the boats pushing the stern round.

Seaworthy, the ability to cope with the given conditions, more seaworthy, able to cope with a broader range of conditions. For extreme conditions I'll take the ski, no contest, as for speed, the entry level ski's I was suggesting are about 40 to 50% quicker at cruising speed than most sea kayaks...

If you intend to cover longer distances or venture further offshore, then have a look at the beginners end of the surfski market. Epic have boats from 14ft on up to the elite skis at 21.5ft. The shorter boats are quite new to the market and are proving very popular, much quicker than a standard...

Sounds like the brakes are seized, not sure if the Freelander 2 has drums or discs for the hand brake but I would release the hand brake, chock the wheels so it can't move and have a look underneath for the handbrake cables, when you find them, give them a pull, if there's a bit of play then...

I think you would need to have the codes read, there are too many interlinked systems on a modern diesel to diagnose it otherwise. There is probably a forum that covers one of the variations of this van, they could probably point you in the right direction as to the glow plug light illuminating...

BMI is only ever going to be a blunt instrument, like others I've been heavily into my weights in the past and was once told I had failed a medical for a new job due to being overweight, I was so lean at the time that my forearms looked like road maps. If you carry any significant amount of...

They've been kicking around in the Glasgow area TK Maxx stores for about a month now, I had a look but they were all size 1.

The Apache range cost £600 for a complete boat or £400 for the kit, if you're looking at touring with the wee one along then I would suggest the Tribe. The issue of buoyancy was raised, bags or blocks are fitted to allow self rescue, not to prevent sinking. Most if not all plastic boats are self...

If your looking for a plastic boat then the price roughly rises as the weight falls, since they stopped making Royalex the remaining stock of light boats seemed to jump in price. Please, unless you intend to beat it to death don't buy a cheap plastic boat, instead have a look at Apache Canoes...

Flat Earth seem to be quite well thought of, they are available from Karitek in Ayrshire, my club has several P&H Delphins fitted with the P&H sail which also seems quite well thought of. These are both of the single fixed mast type, with various pieces of kit bolted to the deck, there are also...

Enjoy, my Apache is the most responsive canoe I've ever paddled, a dream to paddle in any conditions.

I had the programmable system in my last Saab, it was controlled by the climate control panel and would switch on every morning at the same time, the car was then warm and ready to go when I needed it. There are quite a few Saabs selling for low prices at the moment,and increasingly large...

Jim I think you'll find that your boat is now going to be very flexible, I don't think that glueing the spine in place will hold, l think that you will need to fit some struts between the bottom of the seats and thwarts and the spine otherwise your boat will just flex continually.

Sounds good mate. Stuart.

I've got an Apache 16, don't paddle the open boat as much as I should, but had a real blast last Saturday at the SOTP meet at Castle Semple , open canoeing in force 6 winds ! Stuart.