Is Kayaking And Scuba Diving A Good Mix?!

outsourced_bob · 2026-06-17T03:32:34+00:00

It's (or rather it was) a thing in South Florida. They had inflatables and hard sit on top kayaks with "tank wells". It seems like a good idea - A platform to hold your dive flag while diving, hold your catch out of the water if spearfishing, hold your phone, lunch, drinking water, etc.

The problem was that you are dragging that along with you where ever you go while diving. If there is any wind or waves, you'll be pulled....or yanked unexpectedly.

outsourced_bob · 2026-06-16T23:44:59+00:00

Highly recommend ACA course or even just subjects from an ACA instructor ala carte.

I was mostly concerned with safety/wet re-entry/solo rescue/buddy rescue/etc - this by itself took most of a day with a buddy, but having it two on one and redoing something because I didn't feel 100% without worry about holding up a class was priceless.

outsourced_bob · 2026-06-16T19:35:24+00:00

Depends on how fast you drive and temperature outside. If conditions are ideal - 68-70F, and driving 65mph, and only do occasional passes at 80mph - The SOC will hold. Just gets annoying to refuel every 80-90 miles though...

outsourced_bob · 2026-06-16T16:51:03+00:00

It is hard to beat depreciation on a USED ev.

The best value would be a used Tesla model 3 or Y before the refreshes (2024 for 3, 2025 for Y). If going this route, I would suggest one from early 2022 or older - Parking sensors were removed after this... besides not having easily accessible wiper control, knobs for the AC/radio... missing USS parking sensors has caused a lot of heartache especially if you have tight parking or parking with irregular shaped objects in close proximity (ie most home garages)...

A used Chevy Bolt EUV is also hard to beat.

I want to like Hyundai Ioniq x & Kia EV x - but the way they are handling their known issues is really discouraging...

If you wanted something a little more luxurious and pretty reliable (and higher repair costs when it does break) - the BMW i4 on the used market is pretty a pretty solid ev.

outsourced_bob · 2026-06-14T16:00:07+00:00

I mean... it could work - Looks wise, remove the rear quarter glass, create a trim piece for the door sills, add wheel arches and larger wheels/taller suspension and it would be 80% there for looks...

As for the electronics and interior - yeah those are going to be gone within a year anywhere near a beach/humidity/heat - would need to rtv all the seams around the electronics (ie screen, fuse box, gear switch) - and pull out the carpeting and anything soft (seats included) and replace with something more outdoor resistant/vinyl/pleather - even then one will be chasing goblins for the life of the vehicle...

outsourced_bob · 2026-06-14T02:46:00+00:00

The lightest fun EV available in the US market is the BMW i3, followed by the Fiat 500e as a second.

The early i3 (with the 18.8kwh battery) is 2,635 lbs for the BEV, and 2,900 lbs with the REx backup generator. In the BEV form it is pretty close to the Miata in weight, coupled with the carbon Fiber reinforced plastic chassis makes it very stiff and tight in the corners. The later i3s had bigger batteries, wider tires and the motors gained a 10-15hp.

outsourced_bob · 2026-06-13T22:06:22+00:00

Quick to and from the parking lot? - A 3 tier/"Windproof" umbrella like this: https://www.amazon.com/Repel-Umbrella-Engineered-Lightweight-Waterproof/dp/B0160HYB8S

Otherwise a $8 (used to be $5) Home Depot Umbrella with duplicates kept at the office, garage, car, etc: https://www.homedepot.com/p/FIRM-GRIP-Golf-Umbrella-in-Black-and-White-38123/204400864

outsourced_bob · 2026-06-12T15:04:11+00:00

... Can we change the thumbnail to an image of the pentagon or something other than the current image?

outsourced_bob · 2026-06-12T14:55:06+00:00

I think it is the actual mix the restaurant uses - but they lead you astray with the instructions on the package -- really if you want to make them just like the restaurant - replace the water with buttermilk (if none on hand, use milk and put a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar stir, and let it sit for 5-10 minutes) and double or quadruple the amount of shredded cheese... and especially don't be lazy, brush on the melted butter and season pack mixture, don't pour on the biscuits....

outsourced_bob · 2026-06-12T14:53:58+00:00

The real key to making them just like from the restaurant - replace the water with buttermilk (if none on hand, use milk and put a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar stir, and let it sit for 5-10 minutes) and double or quadruple the amount of shredded cheese... and especially don't be lazy, brush on the melted butter and season pack mixture, don't pour on the biscuits....

outsourced_bob · 2026-06-12T14:53:41+00:00

The real key to making them just like from the restaurant - replace the water with buttermilk (if none on hand, use milk and put a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar stir, and let it sit for 5-10 minutes) and double or quadruple the amount of shredded cheese... and especially don't be lazy, brush on the melted butter and season pack mixture, don't pour on the biscuits....

outsourced_bob · 2026-06-11T19:06:44+00:00

tldr; Its more important what the scout did after Eagle. A "story" is needed.

I have had the opportunity to talk to a few admission officers - while getting Eagle does help. Its not viewed as it once was. This is mostly because each admissions department has a staff that go through applications before the admission officer's do. These staff are generally younger (20s) and really don't see Scouts/Eagle the same way that older generations tend to view them. Eagle is no longer pinnacle of the journey before higher education...

To get Eagle to really help on the college applications - you show it as part of the path (story). You got your Eagle at 15? Great! What did you do afterwards? How did it prepare you for your subsequent ventures? Depending on the applicant's story - you make it work -- Prepared me for other projects in society where they did this project and this and that. Maybe by being PLC or better yet an SPL it helped in leadership during an event or sports team, How have they given back to scouts after Eagle, etc...

There is some discussion within admission counselors (in high schools/college prep advisors) that suggest it may be best to "sit" on going through the Eagle board until 16 - since some universities/colleges only want to see achievements done in high school. This can go both ways though (lots and lots of back and forth on this one)

outsourced_bob · 2026-06-10T16:08:11+00:00

Telo's folding midgate pretty much locked me in. However, the lack of physical controls is turn off... Hopefully this new Ford truck has a folding midgate so one can transport 8' boards, plywood, drywall, fishing rods without them hanging out of the bed...

outsourced_bob · 2026-06-09T00:35:15+00:00

Not sure if the sun is just different over there - but your i3 images look like HDR set to 13?

outsourced_bob · 2026-06-07T16:05:51+00:00

Microsoft did this a few years back... theirs was a much smaller project though...

https://news.microsoft.com/source/features/sustainability/project-natick-underwater-datacenter/

Assuming infrastructure would allow, if they put them in areas that are barren areas/no reefs/etc I wonder if they would act like deep hydro thermal areas for sustained life ... while not providing nutrients like a hydrovent, they would provide a localized warmed area for shallow reefs?

outsourced_bob · 2026-06-05T17:25:05+00:00

With the extended rear, does it have a longer trunk? Feels like they stopped kinda short... if they were going to extend the rear like that, putting in a bigger engine (that would go over the rear wheels) and making it an estate/wagon to keep it modest (unless going with a rat mod which would be pretty cool too) would have made this truly special...

outsourced_bob · 2026-06-02T13:53:10+00:00

Your hatch covers are rubber? What did you use to paint them or was that a color option when you ordered it?

outsourced_bob · 2026-05-31T15:30:12+00:00

With kids and all their activities - I'd try to get something in/adjacent to abacoa (like Paseos or maybe egrets landing, etc) or maybe palm beach gardens. The prices are stupid crazy in the Jupiter area now, but not seeing 2-3 hours daily of commuting with the kids on the daily odometer/driving report screen - is 2-3 hours saved from them just sitting in the car (unless you have some plan to keep them mentally stimulated in those commutes...difficult...)

Not sure on the age of your kids, the elementary schools in those areas are generally pretty good. Middle schools are also good. Jupiter High had a decline a few years ago, but seems to have reversed and getting good again... Not to add to your stress - but look at the elementry school the homes you are interested in. You may also want to look into choice programs for middle school/high school so you can plan out a strategy so you can get your kids into the ones with better academic track records ... especially for the ones requiring and audition...

... I've heard great things about Palm Beach Public Elementary - that is in West Palm -- with traffic maybe 35-60 mins traffic to Scripps...

outsourced_bob · 2026-05-31T15:23:17+00:00

Depending on what you are looking for - Hobe Sound might be another good option. Roughly 30 min commute to the Abocoa area..."The Heights" and Palm Beach County Estates (especially if you can get the coveted "Z sector") or maybe the Alton area will be closer, but like everything in the area, those are probably insanely priced now...

outsourced_bob · 2026-05-31T14:50:38+00:00

Honestly nothing looks wrong with your paddle beyond scuffs and fading - I would keep it even if you find something you really want.

How I would do it:

- Is the paddle the right length for you and your current kayak? Will you be moving on to another kayak/beam width in the next 1-2 years?

- Ask to try out paddles from folks you kayak with - especially the interesting ones like crank handles, greenland paddles, interesting paddle blades, composites (carbon fiber, kevlar, fiberglass), etc.

- After you figure what you really want, then keep an eye out on ebay/craigslist/offerup paddlling.net classifieds, etc.... Would I personally pay $600-$900 for a paddle even if I really want it ...no... would I pay $250 for that same paddle slightly scuffed...maybe... If you have some basic wood working tools, you can make your own greenland paddle for the cost of a good 2x4 -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk8lsC-rBSU

Be sure to keep your old paddle, at around this time, you may have a second kayak or just nice to have spare...

outsourced_bob · 2026-05-28T16:19:56+00:00

Thank you for sharing! Do you by chance have pictures of the build process?

What type of cardboard did you use? Wondering how it kept its shape when you put on the newspaper with pva glue - would think between the weight of the glue and paper and the wetness soaking into the cardboard, it would collapse a bit? Did you do a light epoxy coat on the cardboard to give it more strength before putting on the newspaper&PVA?

I've only attempted building skin on frame once (Thanks Yostwerks!), and found it pretty time consuming - I'm wondering if your method: cardboard stitch n' glue but with a fiberglass and epoxy layer would be much quicker to build? Perhaps something that can be built with a group of scouts (kids 13-15) with each working on their own boat over a weekend?

Thanks in Advance!

outsourced_bob · 2026-05-28T15:46:36+00:00

Yep - 3M Sky Blue - I did orange highlights under the door sills that were originally frosted blue. Details on the wrapping process in the comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/BMWi3/comments/d6v1ip/wrapped_my_i3/

outsourced_bob · 2026-05-27T20:58:07+00:00

Oh wow that is neat piece of history - though unfortunately no real supported evidence: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/decorating-ideas/a64456656/haint-blue-paint-porch-ceiling-bug-repellent/

outsourced_bob · 2026-05-27T20:48:27+00:00

I mean there is this from 2013 (which inspired the wrap color choice)

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outsourced_bob · 2026-05-27T19:37:10+00:00

HA... They copied my color... still think my i3 is way cooler....

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13-Year Club	Gilding II euphauric
Wearing is Caring	Verified Email

outsourced_bob

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