RE: [Paddlewise] FW: Foot pumps

John,

I was one of the people who helped start this thread with my "how to use a
handpump in rough conditions" message.  Some people might take that message
to imply that I advocate re-entry methods and hand pumps over foot pumps or
other rescues.  This isn't my position. 

I don't use foot pumps, but I'm convinced they are superior to hand pumps.
I have pumped out my boat in rough conditions with a hand pump. It works,
but it was not easy.   In fact, it was dammed hard.  I would have loved to
have a foot pump.  But for now, I'm stuck with hand pumps.  I have three
different sea kayaks and I can't afford a foot pump in each boat.
Furthermore, one of my boats is a folding boat (a Khatsalano) and can't be
used with a foot pump.  So I by necessity need a hand pump.  This need will
decrease over time as I install foot pumps in my ocean going sea kayaks, but
the need for hand pumps will never completely go away.

All of this pump talk is interesting, but I want to emphasize that I have
NEVER used a pump in a combat situation.  I have "bomb-proof" rolls on both
sides.  I practice my rolls in pools once and sometimes twice per week.  I
practice my rolls everytime I paddle in relatively non-polluted water.  I
enjoy rolling and consider it one of the fun things to do in a kayak.  

So when it comes to pumps, there is no doubt in my mind that the best
strategy with regard to pumps is to never need them. 

My position is quite clear:: if you paddle a sea kayak, you owe it to
yourself  to learn and practice bracing and rolling.  Unless (1) physical
limiations prevent it,  (2) your boat is for all practicle purposes
un-rollable, or (3) you don't paddle often enough to keep rolling skills up
to par; rolling beats every rescue in the book and should be one's primary
method for recovering from a capsize.  

--Tim


> -----Original Message-----
> From:	John C. Winskill [SMTP:johncw_at_narrows.com]
> Sent:	Wednesday, February 03, 1999 6:52 PM
> To:	paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
> Subject:	Re: [Paddlewise] FW: Foot pumps
> 
> Dana;
> 
> I actually do find myself paddling in conditions fairly often that could
> make paddlefloat and assisted rescues very difficult. 
	[Mattson, Timothy G]  ....snip   
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