A New Year for Frenchman's Bay Kayak Works

A new year. An almost blank page. We need only rid ourselves of the unfortunate encumbrance of our lease at Frenchman's Bay Marina and all will be clear-sailing.
No longer are we burdened by the bureaucratic encumbrance of the S.E.B.
The English Branch of the I.D.B.F. have written indicating thier receipt of our trial paddle and registration fee. We are still waiting for a response from the Austrailians. We begin the year with orders for canoe paddles and a Kayak. We are engaged for a Workshop on Skin-on-Frame Kayak design at Lee Valley Tools in April. I look forewrd to taking the latest hull design (White Deer) across the lake as soon as we get a good North-West wind in May.
On behalf of Frenchman's Bay Kayak Works I would like to thank all the wonderful people who we dealt with in the last Year: Lee Valley Tools, Harborfront, Mountain Equipment Co-op, Amoka Wind Sports, Red Leaf Schools,
Paddlesports.net, Fanshaw Lake Dragonboat Festival, Pickering Powerhouse Toasmsters and Ajax Pichering Tostmasters clubs and the Region of Durham website. You are a good bunch of Kabloonas.
Now, putting in off the ice...

Kabogganing

Kabogganing.
Kayaking downhill in the snow. It is very different from kayaking on molten water.
With Kabogganing the water stays where it is. It doesn't suddenly gush up in a towering roller or drop away in a sudden sink-hole. What you see is what you get (see diagram). Kabogganing can involve trees, which are not so much of a problem on the lake. If you have a prissy plastic kayak this might scare you off. The up side of Kabogganing is that you can pretty-well break the sound barrier on a straight run. I recommend the forbidden toboggan run at twin rivers. They have a well established Ambulance access.

North Wind

A strong North Wind is making for cold air on the Lake today. Thanks to a hearty meal of baked beans the kayak is cosy and warm inside and riding high in the water. The waves are perfect for kayak-surfing. I run in at wave-speed. That feels really fast but I don't know how fast it is. I suppose I should figure that out. I suppose if I measure the distance between wave crests then put out a bouy and time the difference between crests that should give me the speed of the waves.I know it must be much faster than I can paddle. I'll need someone to hold the other end of the tape measure to measure the waves.

Kayak Surfing November

Frenchman's bay estuary is pretty-well iced over. The lake is providing some excellent surf for kayak-surfers. Where are all the plastic kayaks? Oh look, there is a real kayak with a real kayak man in it!

Shop Space for Rent

The shop space that was previously Frenchman's Bay Kayak Works is now for rent. It is a spacious, well lit workshop in a prime location (Frenchman's Bay Marina). Interested parties should contact Jim Prendergast at (905)420-1508.

New Location

We've moved!
Frenchman's Bay Kayak Works has moved shop from 591 Liverpool Road to a larger facility at 1414 Old Forest Road. The new Shop is housed in an Amish carriage house brought from St. Joseph. It has the capability of preparing and getting-out all the required stock for kayaks and paddles, with storage space for works in progress.
We will begin production with the new "White Deer" design hull, while we await I.D.B.F. certification of our Dragon Boat paddle design.

white Deer

I might borrow the name "White Deer" for the next Kayak.

CASPIAN HULL MODIFICATION

This fall has proven the stability and manouverability of our "Surf Kayak" (see pic)
The Surf Kayak is unquestionably the place to be in the heavy wave action. It is more reliable in storm water than any other craft we have tried. It lacks the speed and touring capability of our Caspian design hull. So here comes the fusion. we are incorporating the design features of the Surf Kayak into the Caspian hull design to produce a fast heavy-weather kayak. This will be the Caspian II. It will be out next spring.

Tobermory

Tobermory was beautiful. The water on lake Huron was as challenging as you would want and the Bruce Trail was fun to walk. The camping conditions were perfect and the wildlife so plentiful. Here is a picture of the waves.

Going for Flint

The M.E.C. paddlefest was interesting. Lots of plastic imitation kayaks.
We're off now to the Bruce Penninsula where the locals used to go for flints. I need some for my darts and lances. I hope we get some big water for my surf kayak.

Kayak Surfing

Now that we are receiving some decent waves on the lake I'll be going out in my surf Kayak. This will be demo'd at the MEC Paddlefest at Sunneyside Park on the 15th. This craft is really fun! I can help you build one to your particular specs. at my shop (Frenchman's Bay Kayak Works) Check it out!

Kayak Cart Bike-Hitch

Having requests for the promised Kayak Cart Bike Hitch to go with the Kayak Cart I am posting pictures of the work-in-pregress. Many suggestions have been submitted and many avenues explored. This is the simplest design solution so-far.
I call it the "Plumbres' Nightmare" since it is mostly copper. Any suggestions are appreciated.

The Storms of Autumn

On Friday night we got some half decent swells on the lake. I think many of the plastic kayakers were put-off. I went out in my Skin-on-Frame Recovery Kayak and paddled to Petticoat Creek. The ribbed hull let it ride across the swells with perfect control and the skeg made it track across the waves with no broaching. I was wishing for bigger surf. In September we should get some.

Dragon Boat Paddles

Finally after months of impovement I submitted the latest design of DB Paddles to the I.D.B.F.

Fanshaw Lake D.B. Festival

The conditions were perfect for the Fanshaw Lake Dragon Boat Races. Mild temperature, no wind, blue sky. The races all were beautifully matched through the wide sectrum of classes. I parked myself under a chestnut tree, worked on paddles and talked to people passing by. I was really pleased with the positive feedback from racers regarding my newest Racing Paddle design. It is in for approval with the I.D.B.F.
I sold some paddles, which is nice. The most interesting thing was an enqyirey about a Bicycle attachment to go with my Kayak Cart. I had been thinking about this for a while and now I'm commited to coming up with something this week. This will be an attachment that will universally mount on bycicles and trycicles and hold the stem or stern of a kayak with a universal flex-joint. Suggestions?
Here is a picture of the D.B. paddle donated by Frencman's Bay Kayak Works at the Festival.

Redleaf School: Visitors from France

It was a perfect day at the beach for Arlene Heasmans' students from France. They were full of fun and phisical daring as they tried out my replica Eskimo craft. Then the Rouge Canoe club very generously lent them plastic sit-on-tops to try out and they had a wondergul time. They paddled on the estuary side of the spit and swam in the waves on the Lake side. A very active bunch, they showed the typical Gallic sence of humor. I don't think they really absorbed much of what I said regarding the history of Fenelon or the Eskimo use of the Kayak but the important thing is that they had fun in the sun and nobody drowned.
I wish them all the best, eh?
Jim Prendergast

Racoon Refugee

On Saturday afternoon I was in the shop working on some paddles and a raccoon came to the open doorway. He was a youngish raccoon, about a year old and h e looked a bit beaten-up. I suggested that he try the wildlife sanctuary next-door. He turned back to the sweltering heat outside then decided that the cool of the shop was more attractive. He snuffled around a bit, looking kind of shaky, then curled-up and fell asleep under my workbench. I had a look at him, he had serious cuts on his arms and had looked confused and shaky. I know that feeling. I used to get in fights when I was young. Not play-fights. Real fights. When they are over you shake uncontrollably, you feel sick to your stomach, your in shock. So I let the little fellow rest. When I'd finished my work I got him some Fries and Gravy and a bowl of water and left him in the cool dark to rest.
I called the Toronto Humane Society since the Durham Humane Society is Long-Distance from Pickering. They kindly referred me to the Toronto Wildlife Center. I left the particulars with them and they called me back first thing Sunday morning to arrange to pick-up the wounded raccoon for treatment.
The raccoon, who I've named Axle after my father (who was a legendary fighter) had spent the night in a kayak and was feeling somewhat revived on Sunday. He drank allot of water and washed his wounded arm. While I worked on another paddle he wandered around the shop. By the time the Toronto Wildlife people arrived he had fallen asleep again. The Wildlife experts put him gently in a cage. They said that they would sedate him and examine him for further injuries, give him antibiotics and dress his wounds.
I hope he recovers quickly and I hope he returns to this neighbourhood. Not everybody knows how to deal with raccoons but I've grown up around here and I know that if you make allowances for them they are fun to have around.
Good luck Axle!

Friday Night Kayak Social

Friday night at Frenchman's Bay is a wonderful phenomenon. Kayakers, Canoeists, Kiteboarders, Swimmers out in the wind and the waves by the beach.
People trading the Highway for the Lake. I met several interesting local Kayakers and Canoeists this evening. The most interesting was Bob with his hand-made Strip-planked canoe. I believe he said it was made by his Grandfather for his Uncle and Aunt. It sat for 30 years then Bob got it. He put a layer of Shellac on it (it doesn't have a skin) and it floats like a dream. It has a slight tumblehome like an Ojibwa or Peterborough design. it must have a hundred 1/4" ribs, all fit with clenched brass nails. No leaks. What a beautiful craft.

Final Kayak Cart Design

After much messing about I have completed the final Kayak Cart Design. It is light , rugged and stowable. It can be used with a shoulder strap for those with wrist or arm problems. Here are two pictures.

Friday Night Kayak Social

The weather on Friday looked pretty dismal all day, but when evening rolled around the sky cleared and presented beautiful sunshine, with a mild onshore breeze. We assembled at the West Shore Boat Launch on the Spit. We then proceeded west until we came to the mouth of Petticoat Creek. It is very rare that Petticoat creek is deep enough to cross the bar in summer but due to recent rains we cleared the entrance easily. We paddled up the estuary surrounded by the marsh. There were mash birds of every kind settling in for the night. The twilight scene was marvellous!
We the exited the creek and paddled back to the put-in. there we fired-up the BBQ and made hamburgers as night came on. A couple in a passing canoe pulled into shore and joined us claiming that they mistook me for a Pentecostal Minister of their acquaintance.
We had a good evening paddle and didn't have to go far to do it. I look foreword to the next one on August 3rd
Jim Prendergast

Red Leaf School

It was fun having the young people from Red Leaf School visit Frenchman's Bay Yesterday. They were a wonderful group of kids from various parts of Spain and France, here to have a Canadian experience. I talked to them about the history of Frenchman's Bay, then I lectured on the Eskimo migrations and technology. We went for excursions in a skin-on-frame Umiak. I then brought a Greenland Skin-on-Frame Kayak which was fitted for traditional seal hunting and demonstrated the use of Atlatl, the Bladder Dart, Sea Anchor and the Lance in hunting sea mammals. I also introduced them to Eskimo Wrestling for their amusement.
This was a wonderful group of young people full of vigor and joi-de-vivre. I must salute Arlene Heasman and the Staff at Red Leaf Schools for dealing with the incredibly complex logistics involved in making these enjoyable and educational events available for these wonderful young people.
Jim Prendergast

Friday Night Kayak Social

Friday July 27th at 7:00pm we are going to try holding a Kayak Social like they do at Harborfront. People of all skill levells can get together and paddle together then have hamburgers and socialize. This is for kayakers and canoeists, just a short trip for fun.
The location to assemble and launch from is the boat-launch on Frenchman's Bay.
Call 905-420-1508 for further information.
Jim Prendergast

Harborfront Social Paddling

I would like to thank all the wonderful people at PaddlingToronto.com for the opportunity to join the 20 plus paddlers on the Friday Night Social. They very kindly put-up with my "hot-dog" attitude and guided us to the most pcturesque parts of the Islands safely. When my fancy MEC water bottle emptied itself in the bottom of my Yak they generously gave me a bottle of water that the saved for just such an occasion. I met so many friendly, wonderful people I've lost count of them all. The hamburgers were delicious. Next time I'll bring the drinks.
That was an inspirational experience. I now plan to initiate a similar Kayaking Social on a smaller scale here at Frenchman's Bay.
Tahnks To James and everyone,
Jim Prendergast

Lost and Found

A kayak paddle was found at a put-in point on the public parking lot at the bottom of Liverpool Road on Frenchman's Bay. Witnesses have indicated that the owner of the paddle was paddling a blue Swift kayak. The owner can contact Frenchman's Bay Kayak Works to establish ownership of the lost paddle.
Call 905-420-1508 or email wurd@rogers.com.

History of Frenchman's Bay

This is the first of a series of records of the history of Frenchman's Bay.
The supporting doccuments have been passed to me by Frank Threlkeld who is a long time resident and ardent advocate of the Bay.
This first entry is a transcription of a doccument compiled by Tom Mohr in 1998 on behalf of the Pickering Township Historical Society. Since I am a Kayaker and not a Data-Entry specialist I will enter this in a series of pages.

The History of Frenchman's Bay

A discussion of Frenchman's Bay is a study in change. We are all familiar with the concept that; if a society doesn't change, it stagnates. Change in human society is generally abrupt rather than gradual. It isn't instantaneous; there are transitional periods and that is where the drama tends to be found. The other side of the coin, though, is that these times are usually poorly documented and that which is Known may be biased to some degree, most likely in favour of the dominant culture. Therefore the historian must not only document facts, but also interpret data as well. That is why our historical perspective remains in flux and why the task of recounting our collective past is never really complete.
Frenchman's Bay has seen many changes; it has witnessed the passing of cultures and technology. It has also figuted in the transitional periods between them. It is part of our cultural landscape. History reveals little, though not for a lack of research.
Frenchman's Bay ought to be familliar to most of us. In the south end of town, it is regarded as a major feature of day-to-day life but many people outside the immediate area don't know where it is, if indeed they know it exists at all. It appears to be a well kept secret. Talk to anyone researching the history of the Bay and they will tell you that this blank space in people's conciosness extends right back through recorded history. Around here that accounts for about 400 years.
Of course, the Bay has been around for a lot longer than that, it just seems that this little jewel has been ignored. One can read accounts by travellers who left York heading east and didn't rport anything of note until they made Kente or Trenton. That is probably a good thing, though. While the Bay suffers from modern day pressures, it hasn't yet been filled in or surrounded with apartments and luxury condos. We'll get to some of those pressures and threats later.
Enough typing for today. Now I'm going out in my kayak.

Kayak Carts

Colette Hetner wrote to enquire about my workshop for the Kayak sled, asking if it could be used for the general transport of kayaks. Fortunatly Alain Thuride, A Lake Kayaking enthusiast has just given me plans for a great kayak cart. This cart is ultra-light ad dis-assembles easily into small components that will fit in the kayak. The kayak cart has two wheels and it straps on to the kayak. You then throw all your gear in the kayak, grab the bow and away you go. This allows you to take the kayak a long way from your car to the water. I will be making a few in my workshop on Friday (15th) if anyone wants to join in come on down to Frenchman's Bay Kayak Works at the bottom of Liverpool Road in the Dry-Dock.

Kayak Kiting

This is a wonderful way to start a new blog. This past week-end in Frenchman's Bay I tried Kayak kiting for the first time. For years I had dreamed of kayak kiting but never managed to bring it to reality. Fortunatly a fellow Kayaker: Kayleena Frost lent me her Kayak Kite. I have never seen such a thing. A kite made specifically for use with a Kayak. It's small, light, simple and easy to deploy. I set off from the Westshore boat-launch with a 20 knot south-wester. I paddled out past the luffing effects of the spit and threw the kite up. It instantly formed a wing and rapidly climbed to the end of its' tether. I skimmed across the Bay to the North using the Caspians' keel and my paddle to cheat off the wind. Then once clear of the Dragon Boats I tacked East crossed the gap at speed and fetched up at the Marina.
It was so much fun I went back to the spit and took my wife kiting in our canoe. The wind took us rapidly to the north end of the Bay. We could not steer the canoe like the kayak. W paddled back.
Kayak kiting is really a thrill and I intend to get in a few different kites to try.
JimP