RE: [Paddlewise] Kayak floatation in a Nautiraid Grand Raid kaya k

From: Mattson, Timothy G <timothy.g.mattson_at_intel.com>
Date: Thu, 20 May 1999 15:26:44 -0700
I hate sea condoms (also known as sea socks) so I am a "float bag"  fanatic
with my folding boat.  I used to use standard kayak float bags to fill up
the whole boat (other than the cockpit --- I have to sit somrwhere).  It
took six bags to do it, and tying each one of them to the frame was a pain
in the posterior, but I wouldn't have it any other way.  I like my boat to
have so much flotation that I can safely paddle it when its flooded with as
much water as it can hold.

Now I get the same float bag coverage with 4 feathercraft bags. I use their
standard large bow and stern bags and their more rectagular shaped mid
section float bags (that's not the official name, but it gets the idea
across).  These are very expensive float bags.  They work well, however, and
in the final analysis, that whats most important.

Tying them in is still a pain.  I am going to experiment with making netting
from nylon webing and creating "webbing bulkheads".  These would fit right
in front of my feet and just behind the seat.  Water would pass though the
netting, but the float bags and other dry bags wont.   I'm all thumbs when
it comes to building anything, but stiching webing into two loose nets
should even fit my meager skills.

--Tim


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Received on Thu May 20 1999 - 15:28:50 PDT

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