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I did a pretty deep dive on solar versus power banks, the short story is for most trips/uses/needs (say 7 days or less) you just can't beat power banks. With the solar panels, charge controller etc, the weight builds up fast and solar panels don't yield that much power ... you will require much...

It wasn't mentioned, but I don't think you have hit the actual cloth yet. That pattern shows up just as you are approaching the 1st epoxy coat, it has to do with how the epoxy fills the weave on the 2cd and 3rd fill coats. As stated, it will disappear (mostly) with the varnish. Brian

There are roll up mats you can use on a BBQ for frying ..... if you have a grill for the fire, it goes right on, minimum oil and seems to work fairly well for frying. Something like this...

When you say "The tarps don't offer as much protection", it is likely you mean "the tarp I use. doesn't offer as much protection". The tarp you use with a hammock is just another gear decision that gets made, you can get larger ones that tie out at ground level and you can get ones that are...

Process is almost the same, have done both, hammock far easier. Open fly in a hammock and simply put your feet out, stand up and pee .... cap and sit back down and resume sleeping. In a tent, you get up on your knees (version dependent), pee, cap and lay back down and go sleep. In practice...

After biting the bullet and building my first canoe, a whole world of possibilities opened up as I realized that making camping gear was well within reach and that customizing said gear to my own wants, needs, desires was also doable. I tent camped for quite a few years, but to be honest 2...

Like I said in an earlier post, the easiest way I have found to determine the area for an odd shape ... such as paddles, is to just take a piece of paper that is big enough to draw the shape on. 1. Measure the length/width to get the area of that piece, and then fold the paper up and weigh it...

While you can certainly determine the circumference/perimeter this way ... however, for determining area, it doesn't even work well for rectangular shapes and it only gets worse if you apply it to irregular shapes. That doesn't even consider the stretch string adds to the equation. As an...

Just a point about paddle dimensions .... for those of us trying to visualize what you are saying, paddle length IMO is not a good way to describe a paddle when comparing different blade types (or in most other cases as well). Breaking paddle dimensions down to "Shaft Length" and "Blade Length"...

Absolutely concur, this is about the easiest steam generator ... you can make up a pot with a stove and jury rig hose etc. but the steam generators (Earlex here) come with everything .... just plug them in and hook up the included hose. Something else to consider ... it doesn't have to be wood...

If you haven't steam bent wood before, the technique will creep into all aspect of wood working afterwards. Just knowing you can do it and the benefits over other means to make wood curve will have you adding the method to other projects. The tendency for the first one is to make it bigger to...

I am with Jim on this, I do mine low ... but I am a sitter, the knees don't like kneeling

My older Tilley started wearing badly on the brim, they didn't want to repair it, so it was replaced with a "new" model. To put it bluntly, it was crap ... something I would expect from a dollar store.

Glenn, that opens a whole new selection criteria for finish IMO, I don't usually use ash (or oaks) because of the weight, but their grain structure is so open that it would likely be best to get that sealed up. Ash is very strong, but I believe also prone to rot if left exposed.

As much as I wished there was one finish to rule them all, there isn't. You don't need to refinish a varnished paddle if it gets damaged, just like an oiled paddle, it gets some maintenance, albeit, it is a bit more work. Routine maintenance is probably one of the most important items for gear...

Glen, I wasn't suggesting there was anything wrong with rub on varnish, just if you have the thinner and the varnish, you mix it up on the fly a lot cheaper than buying a separate product. I had read an article (or 2) on wipe on varnish and was just sharing that info. If anything we are on the...

Would be interesting to weight that paddle before and after an outing, wonder how much weight it would gain after a few hours of submersion?

Interesting discussion on finishes, for the purposes of this group, I think the field needs to be narrowed down some to exterior spar varnishes (if epoxy is involved then UV additives should be included) and exterior oils. The reason I suggest just spar varnishes, is most of our application will...

I tried several varnishes on my last paddle batch and I keep going back to Epiphanes . I have heard good things about Interlux, but never made the chance to use it. Any reasonable marine varnish is going to work fine, but the better ones will work and finish nicer IMO.

Agree, taking the edge off is a good idea, not a full bevel, but easing the edge makes it harder to dent the inside of the strip.