I used these "wacky noodles" on a recent trip to the Boundary Waters for all but the diving idea, attaching them with webbing and quick release buckles. It was a stable platform for fishing (the main intention) and also served well for paddling when I got tired. I paddled a hand-built, greenland style kayak that is inherently tippy--to the chines at least--and with only one week of paddle practice, I was happy for the extra stability; at one point I actually dozed off for a few winks, something that would have had me swimming without them. They're tricky to put on if you're in the water. I strapped them on top and then dropped them in when I needed extra floatation, although they got in the way of my paddlestrokes when on the deck. Rich >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/ ***************************************************************************
> swimming without them. They're tricky to put on if you're in the water. I > strapped them on top and then dropped them in when I needed extra > floatation, although they got in the way of my paddlestrokes when on the deck. I haven't tried this yet, summer down here is just to brutal to go outside, and I'm not sure of how you rigged yours. Maybe if one half of the noodle has long straps with male fastex clip-on buckles, and the other has just an inch or two, with the female side; might make it easy enough, both while in the boat, and while in the water. I hope I get to give this a try before going out on serious paddle. My best bet to diving spots is still a 2-3 hour paddle offshore. Not unreasoable, but certainly wouldn't want to spend all my on-station time fiddling with a poole-noodle. I also haven't decided whether bungie cord, or webbing straps makes more sense for the $6 sponson... Any thoughts?? 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/ ***************************************************************************
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