In all this discussion of relative merits of foot pumps, handheld pumps, deck mounted pumps, I wonder what is the experience of others with battery operated ones. I have not had personal experience with them, but I do know of about half a dozen people who use them on folding kayaks with excellent results. Various brands of submersible ones are available at marine supply stores in the $40 range. If they can pump out a voluminous folding double they can certainly make child's play of skinny boats. The whole issue of emptying out a companion's boat is fairly easy. Transfer it over to the other guy's boat. You don't have to waste time and be in a precarious position while doing it. You don't need to modify your boat. If you feel insecure about the dependability of a battery operated pump, get TWO! The price of two would be way cheaper than buying one of those foot pumps. If both work, you can empty your boat twice as fast. A battery would be consistent in its pumping. Your leg or arm will tire and need to take breaks. Your battery won't. My understanding is that the batteries are good for emptying a folding kayak several times over. Anyway, I would appreciate comments. Obviously a little old submersible pump isn't as sexy looking as those Brit deck-mounted ones but if it works and offers great flexibility, why not? -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** 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 Thu Feb 04 1999 - 13:17:41 PST
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:30:04 PDT