Richard Walker wrote: >Speaking of the dread sp***on idea. I was in Toys-R-US a few >weeks ago, and noticed this big pool noodle. My first reaction >was, what a great, cheap way to add solid floatation to a kayak >with no forward bulkhead, then I think, *no*, this is a great >resting float for freediving from a kayak, then I think *NONO*, >this is a $6 sponson! Cut it in two pieces, add some shock >cord, and walla, instant strap on sponsons for getting back >in the kayak after having dived myself to exhaustion!!! So you use a kayak as a diving platform? How do you make sure that the kayak doesn't drift away while you are diving? Where do you put the paddle? Do you use an anchor of some kind? regards, Jukka *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
> >this is a $6 sponson! Cut it in two pieces, add some shock > >cord, and walla, instant strap on sponsons for getting back > >in the kayak after having dived myself to exhaustion!!! > > So you use a kayak as a diving platform? > How do you make sure that the kayak doesn't drift away while you are > diving? Where do you put the paddle? Do you use an anchor of some > kind? Anchors work fine. Pick the size and type of anchor based on bottom type, depth, etc. My paddle is a werner 2 piece. Pull apart, I can slip it inside the cockpit. No forward bulkhead in the Dagger Edisto. Be careful about trusting the anchors most kayak shops sell. They are inadequate to truly hold the boat in place, especially on soft bottoms. I use a ~10 pound anchor for my 15' kayak. Holds rock solid even in the presense of a current and wind. Though it is a pain in the butt to manuever on the kayak. A rocky bottom will allow a lighter anchor to be hand placed on the bottom to hold the boat. Most folks who use a kayak exclusively for diving choose a sit on top, like the Aquaterra Prism. I wanted a bit more flexibility, so I chose the Edisto. It is much harder to get back into though, after you are tired out from chasing fish or whatever; which is the reason for the float, and thoughts about a $6 sponson... Also, fwiw, I don't do scuba, don't like machines much in general. Carrying air tanks could make one choose a sit on top, without a doubt. Richard Walker Houston, TX *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
> From: Jukka Vaijärvi <jukka.vaijarvi_at_dinosoft.fi> > > Richard Walker wrote: > > >Speaking of the dread sp***on idea. I was in Toys-R-US a few > >weeks ago, and noticed this big pool noodle. My first reaction > >was, what a great, cheap way to add solid floatation to a kayak > >with no forward bulkhead, then I think, *no*, this is a great > >resting float for freediving from a kayak, then I think *NONO*, > >this is a $6 sponson! Cut it in two pieces, add some shock > >cord, and walla, instant strap on sponsons for getting back > >in the kayak after having dived myself to exhaustion!!! > > So you use a kayak as a diving platform? How do you make sure that the kayak doesn't drift away while you are diving? Where do you put the paddle? Do you use an anchor of some kind? > > regards, Jukka You might check out this site. Sit-on-tops have been used by divers for kayak diving for some time. Many are designed with that in mind (place to carry the air tanks). http://members.tripod.com/~kayakdiving/index.html - Author is selling a book but this is still a pretty comprehensive description of kayak diving. Those colorful and fun, somewhat flexible foam tubes Richard is referring to (or so I think) have been really popular at the pools because they have attachable sections which allow you to attach more tubes and build strange-looking floating objects/platforms. Looks like great fun to me! :-) Cheers, Jackie *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Jackie wrote: > Sit-on-tops have been used by > divers for kayak diving for some time. Many are designed with > that in mind (place to carry the air tanks). Sounds great. I've never really thought of a kayak as a diving platform, but clearly sit-on-top has advantages over outboard motorboat. Too bad that the Baltic sea has visibility of only few meters (and cold waters), I really envy you, who can spend your day gliding over coral reefs and kelp beds. regars, Jukka *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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