Re: [Paddlewise] flooded boat - Gear all over the place

G'day all -

It of course depends on where you intend to be paddling which may
determine the level of additional floatation required in your boat or,
how secure you wish your gear to be in the boat.

I strongly agree, from experience, with Craig on this particular point -

There are few things more disappointing than, after having broken the
complete bow off of you kayak in a very narrow gutter along a rock
ledge, than watching several hundred dollars worth of gear either
sinking to the bottom or floating off into the back of the gutter to be
pummelled and broken into little pieces of flotsam.  Never to be seen
again.

Even worse is having to withstand the "hindsight" analysis of all your
mates on the myriad of things they would have done differently had they
been in the same situation.  A very sad, ego crushing experience - I can
understand why some Captains choose to go down with their ship.  To
avoid their mates cheeky comments. :)

Regards -

Wayne Langmaid


Craig Olson wrote:

> Snip
>
> This may sound like overkill to some paddlers, but I've learned the
> hard way that
> "flotation" does not simply mean having water-tight hatches.  Sad but
> true, hulls
> can be cracked or breached on reefs or unseen rocks, and it's *really*
> a good idea
> to have secured flotation *inside* your hull.  This means carrying
> inflated dry-bags
> bow & stern on day trips, and having inflatable gear bags for
> multi-day trips.  All
> bags tied in to the boat.  Since getting them, I've never actually
> needed the extra
> safety of "inside-the-hull" flotation, but I feel better knowing I
> have the
> secondary system, just in case.



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