Re: [Paddlewise] Paddlefloats and re-entries

That issue with the lack of buoyancy in current solid paddlefloats
was addressed in the last design I made for a paddle float. The
other enhancements were lots of rigging and the possibility of using
it as a rescue ring to keep a person afloat while towing.

The problem is that the 3.8 gall paddlefloat was pretty bulky, which
for some paddlers is not apealing. But the inflatable floats that
the Greenlanders use are even bigger.

The latest version of my design is made out of the original two pieces
of foam, but thinner, with an inflatable chamber attached to each block
of foam. Deflated the volume is about 2 gallons, with the chambers
inflated the volume goes up another 1.5 gallons.

Designing paddlefloats and addressing many uses and rescue scenarios
has been a lot of fun, but the guys who wanted to put the designs
in production and sell them are not very serious about it. The result
is just a bunch of prototypes piled up in a corner gathering dust.
If anyone wants to commercialize my designs I would send the drawings
(rough sketches) and then they would be yours.

What I did was to cover the foam floats with waterproofed nylon. Then I
glued a commercialy available paddlefloat to each block with aquaseal.
That worked very well for a prototype.

The rigging is too complicated to explain in words, and putting it
depends on how interested you are in rescuing others.

Do not forget to put two or three grab loops so that it is easy to
make a paddlefloat roll.

Inventing useless things is a lot of fun. Why useless? Because like
any safety device no onewants to use them. 
It is always better to stay upright. :-)

- Julio

> 
> In a message dated 98-05-05 09:23:39 EDT, you write:
> 
> << I don't understand why people in hardshells don't use a rigid paddle
>  float rather than the inflatable kind.  The inflatable kind makes sense
>  for someone in a folding kayak in which the rigid type of paddle float
>  takes up roam in the kayak carrying bags.  But if you have a boat that
>  can't fold, why have a folding paddle float?
>  
>  They have several advantages.  1)  No air leaks.  And, 2) no wasted
>  breath in blowing them up in scary conditions.  It is amazing how being
>  scared makes you a bit short of breath especially as water is gushing up
>  close to your mouth and nose and you feel the shock of cold water
>  against your lungs.
>  
>  I have often thought of getting one for any boat I am leaving assembled
>  for long periods.  They make good seats too on rocky beaches.
>  
>  ralph diaz
>  --  >>
> 
> The one reason many prefer the inflatable paddle float bag over the rigid
> minicell is that it provides much more buoyancy. I have had some people in my
> rescue class with the minicell float and half of the time as they are climbing
> on the the kayak the float sinks before they get in. This would depend on your
> weight. Before you spend the money on one, borrow someone elses and try it out
> to see if it works for you.
> 
> As for leaks, most inflatables have two chambers. If one fails the other will
> provide probably the same amount of support as a minicell block. And we all
> know a lot of people who are full of hot air to readily blow that thing up. ;
> -)
> 
> You can also use it as a pillow at night to get your beauty rest.
> 
> Ray Killen
> Katabasis L.L.C.
> I'd rather be upside down in my kayak than sitting upright at my desk! 
> 
> http://members.aol.com/kayakillen/katabasis
> 
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