Re: [Paddlewise] Info on Foot Pump?

Date sent:      	Tue, 11 May 1999 04:34:56 -0700
From:           	Dave Kruger <dkruger_at_pacifier.com>
To:             	Jack Martin <jcmartin43_at_radix.net>,
       	PaddleWise <PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net>
Subject:        	Re: [Paddlewise] Info on Foot Pump?

> 
> Don't have a mental picture of the layout of the pump (yet) -- where is the
> lever/pedal you work with your foot/feet -- is it on the aft surface of the
> pump, center of the yak?
> 
Sorry it wasn't more clear, Dave.  For a start, imagine a low 
decked, 20" beam Greenland kayak --- the forward bulkhead is 
pretty small.  And, since this design is really a day-tripper and 
lacks hatches, it has a four inch deckplate in the bulkhead for air 
circulation during storage and, potentially, I suppose, access for 
storage of a spare ibuprophen bottle or two; I relocated the deck 
plate from the center to the port side, and attached the pump on 
the starboard side of center.  The exhaust hose covers a gap of 
one half inch between the pump outlet fitting and the through-the-
hull discharge fitting.  Things are tight!  

Henderson sells the pump with a plywood pedal --- maybe two by 
five inches or so --- which is bracketed onto the end of the shaft 
which goes through the diaphragm and which is, in turn, held in 
place by two plastic stiffening plates, on inside and one outside the 
diaphragm.  For obvious reasons, I eliminated the pedal and 
replaced the shaft with a stainless steel nut and bolt, along with 
two fender washers.  The minicell plug footrest surrounds the pump 
(covering the deckplate and the rest of the bulkhead) and the ball of 
my right foot can rest on the foam to the right of the pump body, on 
the round pedal (which is covered with a thin skin of minicell for 
comfort 'cause all I can wear in this boat is neoprene socks and I've 
got only a size 10 foot) or slightly inside the pump if I want.

Long explanation --- sorry.

> When you need to activate the pump, you have to slide your foot over onto
> the pump, yes?
> 
Yup, all 1.5 inches over!

> What happens when someone with shorter legs than yours uses the yak?  How
> would they operate the pump?  (I know the answer for someone with *longer*
> legs -- remove a few inches between knee and ankle!)
> 
Well, the boat has been in the water twice, and I don't anticipate 
many others paddling it.  Paul Hollebaugh had the opposite 
problem; being longer legged than me (and I'm probably in the 95th 
percentile at 6'1") he got part way in and got stuck.  A smaller 
person would rattle around a lot, and might not be able to reach the 
pump.  Hadn't considered that possibility much --- this is pretty 
much a one-person boat.  In the Pintail, I have an extra deep heel 
support to replace the one I use (also removable); it allows smaller 
critters to paddle it, and possibly to pump --- dunno, don't think I 
ever had anyone try.  Again, essentially a one-man boat, I guess.

To give a sense of scale, this structurally complete but un-painted 
and un-varnished, paddle-capable boat is still kind of in a work-in-
process status --- as are all my boats, actually --- but I'm thinking 
of significantly expanding my toe room by rounding off the lower 
inner edges of the sheer clamps --- one inch by three-quarter inch 
"timbers" which join the side panels and the deck.  A quarter inch 
radius round-off with a plane and sander will vastly improve the 
somewhat tight foot room.

Jack Martin

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