Nick Schade News Today

The water’s really not THAT cold, I mumbled last Jan. 1, while running with a lemming-like mob toward frigid Palmer Cove in Noank. I’ve been telling myself the same lie every New Year’s Day, and every...

“All right, the first thing you want to do is make sure your drysuit zipper is closed all the way,” Curt Andersen advised. He continued: Not just the main zipper across your chest, but also the so-cal...

The sky turned orange, pink, and then several shades of purple as the sun set over Goose Island on the Connecticut River in Lyme this week. We kayakers drifted with the current, waiting for the show t...

A gusty breeze kicked up whitecaps near the mouth of the Connecticut last week as our flotilla of six kayaks approached the southern tip of Great Island. High-pitched chirps of circling ospreys and c...

Nick Schade designed surf kayak Matunuck.

Petrel SG (Stitch-and-Glue) kayak kit by Nick Schade.

A brisk tailwind that pushed our kayaks toward the eastern tip of Fishers Island last Sunday would have been a lot more beneficial if it weren’t for the near-full moon flood tide surging against us. “...

Gerry Polinsky’s annual Polar Paddle Practicum class encourages kayakers to “push their comfort zones” while honing rough-water skills.

As we crossed a reef, waves became “confused,” churning from every direction. A few washed over the deck; my spray skirt kept them from

2019 17 strip built cedar canoe with all aluminum Trailex trailer Description:  Nick Schade design built with all cedar strips purchased from Chesapeake Light Craft with oak gunwales and seats. Great canoe for calm waters. Includes 51″ wooden paddle by Bending Branches. Trailex trailer is all aluminum except for axle, wheels and springs. $2,000 firm.