>> It seems to me that the discharge of a pump is influenced by the pump size and stroke length. I expect that relatively large pumps can find a home in most cockpits, so the problem must have to do with stroke. Certainly, the typical hand pump has a long stroke that would be hard to duplicate with your foot travel. Is this then the limitation? Could a foot pump be made to have a higher volumetric output by having some sort of linkage that would amplify the stroke that could be accomplished by foot motion? Any opinions?? Bill Leonhardt >> The limitation is in the pump itself, which for compactness is designed for a short stroke (the lever-type deck-mounted pump also has a short stroke). A long stroke would require a long pump, which could present mounting problems. The Chimp foot pump basically is a compact octagonal chamber with a rubber-like dome and one-way input and outtake valves. A push plate is mounted on one side of the dome and a return spring is mounted on the other. The amount of travel is probably no more than a couple of inches. The entire assembly has a depth of about 4 inches. Compare that to the longer, but narrower, hand-held pump. Actually, I don't think it takes all that long to empty my cockpit using my present foot pump. Even with a reentry and roll, I usually have no more than two to three inches of water to pump out. Also, to amplify a short stroke using levers would mean that you would have to push harder. Chuck Holst *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue Feb 02 1999 - 10:31:46 PST
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