kabrew 12 started off with a daunting weather forecast threatening to put a serious damper on things. We did get some rain to start the festivities, but for the most part things calmed down. The skies looked ominous as we approached the takeout on Friday, but way better than the original forecast leading up to the trip. Saturday was perfect. As is the norm, we brought our full complement of 350 jello shots, a KabRadio blasting out tunes, and a dozen kabrewers. We often run into crews that have been doing this even longer than we have and we met one of those crews on kabrew 12. I'm pretty positive our boats have crossed paths in the past. Hats off to the pirates with 30 paddlers on the river spanning generations, all in private boats and a full 3 decades under their belt. A trip of 30 all with private rigs is impressive. Our humble crew did all private boats this year for the first time since Kabrew 2. Looking forward to Kabrew 13... lots of work during the off-season that should benefit Kabrew. The Spud-Gun that failed on Kabrew 11 is no more. Kabrew 13 will welcome the KaLauncher. If you are picturing it, you're picturing it wrong, it's far from an ordinary spud-gun. The KaLauncher is fueled by a propane cylinder with a regulator and metering pipe to ensure the ideal air/fuel mixture. The spark is generated by a stun-gun, so no anti-climactic button pushes with no launch. The chamber has a valve and a fan to exhaust the chamber after launch (to get oxygen back in the chamber). Numerous test launches, and some broken lumber, fencing, etc. It'll be ready for K13. The KaLauncher should be a fun addition, but the biggest effort is the re-birth of the KaTrailer. After K12 I wanted a way to get the paddles strapped in quickly... that turned into a closer look at the trailer... That turned into a blasting job, welding (re-enforcing some areas of concern, re-designing some supports, and adding new tie-points), primer, paint, new straps, new wiring throughout, new LED lighting, new tongue jack, a full deck, etc. It is no longer a rust-heap modified and re-purposed back-yard find.
12 Kabrewers paddled Kabrew 12