The kayak performed great, I weigh 95 kg and 1,8m long. The cockpit was just right and gave good support but enough freedom to stretch. The backrest was supportive but low for easy of rolling should I have needed to. Cruising along at 7 km an hour with fresh side wind was no problem and it was easy to bring up to 8-9km an hour for shorter periods. It rode well over waves and tracked well with help of adjusting of the skeg, which was easy as I could hit the control without taking my hands out of my pogies.


I carried a lightweight alpine tent, jet boil, freeze dried food and the usual first aid, repair kit etc, 6 liters water, Exped sleeping mat and one change of clothes (I wore a dry suit for safety being solo). So I wasn’t particularly heavily packed, but there is space I guess for a week, if I used lightweight gear, or was with a friend. But it is not a kayak like the Kodiak that can be packed for 6 weeks.


I did like the fact I cold lift it out of the water by myself packed as I had it. The hatches were unusual for rubber hatches in that they were easy to take on and off and did keep the inside dry. I did see we need to round the edge of the inside hatch as it was sharp and I cut my thumb a little packing, easily fixed.


Going home it behaved well with some waves and wind from behind, leaving me with a very happy impression, an ABS or thermoformed kayak that will definitely please the traditional English style kayaker. More about Hurricane Tracer.


Spot.


So the main goal was to see what problems and how well the Spot unit works, I have read some questions on forums, so the best was to try it myself in a cold wet environment.


Here is what I learnt:


  1. 1)Leave the unit on for 25+ minutes before setting out and putting it in track mode by holding down the OK button for 5+ seconds. It needs this time to fix it self and find a telecommunications satellite.


  1. 2)Before putting it in track mode send a test signal and check it came through, it did within 4 minutes, reassuring me it was working before setting out. eg:


Hi, just thought you would like to know we are testing the new Spot GPS Messenger, &  I m OK James Kajaktiv

ESN:0-7392355

Latitude:59.7042

Longitude:18.9701

Nearest Location: Vreta, Sweden

Distance: 1 km(s)

Time:04/05/2008 09:59:09 (Europe/Stockholm)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=59.7042,18.9701&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1


3)Occasionally check the unit, so long as the two green lights are flashing its is either sending your OK message or is in track mode. If you want track mode and it stops try again for a little longer when holding it down, I experienced this on the 2nd morning and it came right after I saw I hadn’t held it long enough, human error.


4)The first morning I had it on my chest in front of me on my lifejacket, I noticed it did not get a signal away for 60 minutes, missing 2 messages of the 11 it should have sent approximately before lunch (sent every 20 minutes, between Track location 32 & 31, note the numbers go in reverse order). But when I moved the unit later onto my deck in a more exposed place it worked fine not missing any scheduled signals in track mode. So it could be that my body blocked some of the signals to the telecommunications satellite. So a clear uninhibited location seems important.









5)When looking back at the map after I logged into my account, the numbers for each spot it sent a signal is in reverse order, i.e. the last place it sent a message is “Track 1”.


6)Overall the unit tracked me exactly where I went. I also received to my mail and to Pelle´s the OK messages I sent when I stopped and started each day.


I felt secure having the Spot knowing if my battery in my phone died, as it was only a few degrees warm, I could send a message to Pelle a very experienced sea captain and friend. As he said it’s the missing link, he would know I need help and could collect me easily as he would know where I am. More about spot.


James

Spot kayak test to Norpadda


Having a free weekend and the need to deliver some kayaks to Gavle and Norrtalje, I made the most of the opportunity to get 2 days solo paddling in, and at the same time to test some products. Namely the Spot GPS messenger and new Tracer kayak from Hurricane.


I wanted to test the Spot unit to see how well it worked from personal experience, including what difficulties it may present, it gives me a better understanding as well and knowledge about its limitations when it comes to selling them.


Hurricane Tracer


The new Hurricane Tracer I have test paddled only in short amounts, so having loaded it for the weekend it was at the same time to get an in depth feel for this kayak that is different from our usual range, namely it was English style skeg kayak.


Where did I go? After checking weather particularly the wind forecasts, I decided to head out in a southeasterly direction to Norpadda with the wind at 9ms from the south. Then with a South easterly wind the next day to push me home through the islands north of my previous day of open crossings.

Kappelskär

Norpadda

Västernäs