I have a Rule 1100 pump and a 7 amp hour battery installed in my tupperware boat. The weak point has been the switch. My latest itteration on that is to try sealing the switch housing in silicone RTV and put dielectric grease around the switch handle to see if I can keep the contacts from getting wet. If this setup fails, I will go the West Marine $37 sealed switch. When the switch is working the pump is much faster and easier on the paddler than hand pumping. The pump is intended for submurssed use and loses prime with about 1/2 inch of water remaining in the boat. Evidently the south pacific paddlers have a boat configuration that helps remove more of the water before the prime is lost. On the recharging, gell cells do need a low amperage recharge, that is why a special charger is necessary. Cabela's in the US sells a solar charger for 7 AH gel cells. I have one and will be trying it this summer. I have used a 2 AH battery with my 2.3 amp draw pump and had it work to drain the boat a couple of times during a 1 hour rolling/wet exit session. The high rate of discharge may over heat the battery and reduce the life of the same. OTOH, the price of the recycled battery was right. I would choose an electric pump over a foot pump using price, weight, effectiveness and ease of use as criteria. Dana Dickson Where the weather man is promising 50's for next week and outdoor paddling this week is not the time or place to try wet exits. *************************************************************************** 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 Fri Feb 05 1999 - 11:47:38 PST
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