Thanks for the food for thought, but I am sorry I do not know the difference between nautical and statuary. Sorry, I am relatively new to the water terminology. And yes, you make a good point regarding the fact we do not kayak in straight lines. If you could clarify the differences, I would greatly appreciate it.
Mr. Bill

Gary, mariners such as us kayakers (and also aircraft pilots) measure distances in nautical miles (also called sea miles); these are just about 6,080 feet, or, more exactly, 1,852 meters. It's much easier to remember that a nautical mile is just about 15% bigger than a "regular" or "statute" mile of 5,280 feet. There are exactly 60 nautical miles per one degree of latitude. Nautical charts show distances in nautical miles (plus often other measures like yards, kilometers, statute miles). For talking about speed of our vessel, or of the wind, we talk of nautical miles per hour, or knots (don't say knots per hour, just knots). If I paddle at 4 knots, that means I'm paddling 4 sea miles per hour. Using the rule that one sea or nautical mile equals 1.15 statute miles, that means that when I paddle at 4 knots, I'm paddling at a speed of 4.6 statute miles per hour. A 30-knot wind is blowing at 34.5 "regular" or statute miles per hour.

Hope that helps.

Carl

One of the main reason I use nautical miles and knots as measurement types while boating is convenience in navigation. As Strange Magic pointed out one degree of latitude is equal to 60 nautical miles. This means that one minute of latitude is equal to one nautical mile. When using a nautical chart distances can be taken directly by using the latitude markings on the sides of the chart. Just remember not to use the longitude markings at the top and bottom of the chart as one minute of longitude only equals one nautical mile at the equator.

Using nautical miles and knots makes it easier to communicate with other boaters as we're all speaking the same language.

I paddled a few times with a Swiss paddler that always like to use kilometers his reason being they always sound more impressive than either statute or nautical miles.

My GPS is in statutory miles and the river floats are referred to in statutory miles. I think that the estimations on miles may have been made 50 years ago and they used a much more primitive means of calculation than our current GPS. Plus we never go in a staight line which would account for a lot of discrepancy. We are in the middle of the US so there are few opportunities to refer to things in other than statutory miles. I admit the Kilometer thing does make the distance sound cooler.

While cleaning out some old boxes of stuff I found an interesting "time capsule" from 1985. It was an Oct. 1985 issue of "Messing about in boats" with an old Dirigo17 brochure in it. In the mag. was an add for "Salt Marsh Sea Kayak Supply Co.". Thats were I bought my first D17 in 85'. Don Forrest is the guys name and when I called the number I found it was no longer in service. He has to be around 60/70 yrs. old now.
I remember he was an iron-worker living in the Dartmouth, Mass. area. It would have been cool to talk to him about D17s. Oh well.

bilnik

Update: I just talked to Mr. Don Forrest! (I called information)
He doesn't know about the molds or the move to the mid-west. But he is still paddling at 69. He is into sit on tops and diving. I t was good to talk to him and he has my # if a used D17 comes around. Oh well.

bilnik

Yo bilnik, next time you contact Don Forrest, you could ask him what he knows about to whom Elliott Speer and Peter Chase sold the Dirigo business and molds out in the midwest. Messing About in Boats is/was a great mag. They published an article I wrote about circling Cape May NJ via Delaware Bay, the ocean, and the Cape May canal, in March 1986 (great trip!). I also bought my D17 in 1985, a demo boat from a small shop in central NJ called Boats and Paddles, as they were in the process of going bankrupt.

Carl

Oy- I asked about all that to Mr. Forrest and he did not know about the whereabouts of the new owners or the molds.

bilnik

I live in Florida and have a 1988 Dirigo for sale. It's in good condition and has always been stored inside. Please advise if you have any interest.

Mark, I hope we can find a buyer for your Dirigo. Have you been using it all along? Any stories you'd like to share?

I paddle mine all winter long here in Jersey--just did a 20-miler last Saturday.

Hey Guys- I've been paddling a bit myself lately, now that the ice is fading off Lk. Champlain.
I wish I was closer to Fla.!
Where in Fla. are you Mark? Why don't you bring that Dirigo17 up here in Aug. when its still nice and cool here? I need a new one.

Bill

Just a bit of information about the history of Dirigo...the company built these beautiful sea kayaks in Wichita, Kansas until at least 1989. I have 2 of them that I purchased 2 (demos) from them in either 1989 or 1990.

I have a Dirigo for Sale in NW Florida.
Mark at <birdsong@embarqmail.com>

Oz, thanks for filling in some missing info about the later history of the Dirigo. I knew that the two original founders/owners/builders in Blue Hill, Maine, sold the business to somebody (I always remembered the name as Mike Wigglesworth) in the midwest--but I couldn't remember where. You've supplied the location at last--Wichita, Kansas. Many thanks. Did you have any interaction with the Kansas owner? And any stories to tell?

Just returned today myself from a fine, fine daytrip in my Dirigo, exploring the marshes, islands and shorelines of Barnegat Inlet here in New Jersey.

Alas, I must begin to think about downsizing--and about thinning the herd. Hence, my faithful Dirigo 17, The White Whale, which has been thoroughly described here--warts and all--is for sale. Make me an offer--I'd just like to feel that the old girl's found another good home.