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laci
Joined: 22 May 1996 Posts: 180 Location: SoCal&the Gorge
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Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 4:36 pm Post subject: Weeds at Leo Carrillo |
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Having sailed at Leo for the first time this season yesterday, I was struck by how much the kelp beds have grown since last year. There is currently no clear path to the wave zone without heavy kelp . I know that in past years the winter storms actually helped thin the kelp but it seems that the opposite has happened this year. Is there anything that can be done to improve this situation? When the lifeguards put back the buoys they will probably go right through the kelp.
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nealpar
Joined: 25 Oct 1998 Posts: 624
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Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 4:53 pm Post subject: |
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I think the lifeguards grafted new "weedlings" during the past 4 months to create an impassible forest for us. I say we get our garden tools and paddle out and go to town....then dry it out and smoke it.
PS: Seaweed isn't some protected plant, is it, so that we end up in jail on some felony charge?
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MikeUzi
Joined: 12 Aug 2007 Posts: 28
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Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 5:06 pm Post subject: |
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I found a channel through the weeds, but man it was narrow. A little higher tide probably would have helped thin out the weed clumps.
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mikecole
Joined: 21 Sep 2000 Posts: 164
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NORMPE
Joined: 26 Oct 1999 Posts: 11
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Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 11:00 pm Post subject: |
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The kelp is usually worst this time of year, but i'll admit it is very thick this year. It really only takes a couple of high wind weekends with a good crew to carve out our usual channels. So sharpen your fins and full speed ahead!
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laci
Joined: 22 May 1996 Posts: 180 Location: SoCal&the Gorge
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Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 11:37 pm Post subject: |
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So I guess there really is no better solution to the weeds than to bite the bullet and sail right at them until enough of us have done it to cut a channel. I also have been using a surf-weed fin for a few years now, mine happens to be an Orca Weed Wave, and I actually did sail through the kelp a few times last Saturday. I was hoping there might be an easier way, such as Nealpar's suggestion. Seriously, one guy with a mask and fins and a pruning knife.
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jp5
Joined: 19 May 1998 Posts: 3394 Location: OnUr6
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Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 9:18 am Post subject: |
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"Seriously, one guy with a mask and fins and a pruning knife. "
We might be able to talk DaBull into that one.
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MalibuGuru
Joined: 11 Nov 1993 Posts: 9300
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Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 9:30 am Post subject: |
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Since kelp can grow a foot in 2 days, we have to hope for warm water which halts the growth of kelp. Summer warmth shuts it down.
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FredBGG
Joined: 01 Aug 2004 Posts: 725
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Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 10:48 am Post subject: |
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Carefull what you hope for......
Last year warm waters kept the wind from comming right down to the water surface.
I remember a ton of days when I was powered up on a relatively small kite while sails on the water surface were having trouble.
Kelp can be nasty, especially for kiters, but warm water can be worse.
Having done some underwater work in the past my guess is that it would be a very long and hard job clearing out a channel wide enough to be usefull.
I used to ride a twin concave windsurfer board with very sculpted rails.
Busted my fin to down to about an inch and a half... still I could ride that board. It was pretty thin and on the long side. It could really hold an edge, however it tended to flip over if I was hit by a sudden lull.
Didn't try it in the waves though...bet it would be tough...
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MikeUzi
Joined: 12 Aug 2007 Posts: 28
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Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 2:20 pm Post subject: |
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I was full speed kelp cutting this one time at Leo and ran into a piece of driftwood a little bigger than a baseball bat. I got freakin launched!
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