Kayak floatation in a Nautiraid Grand Raid kayak I think it is time to buy some additional flotation for my kayak. On a recent trip I ended up with a boat full of water. At that point I found the boat had “equal buoyancy”. It didn’t sink but it didn’t float either. Can someone recommend where and what bags I should purchase? Thanks _____________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Free instant messaging and more at http://messenger.yahoo.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Darian Dunn wrote: > > Kayak floatation in a Nautiraid Grand Raid kayak > > I think it is time to buy some additional flotation for my kayak. > On a recent trip I ended up with a boat full of water. At that point I > found the boat had “equal buoyancy”. It didn’t sink but it didn’t > float either. > > Can someone recommend where and what bags I should purchase? > > Thanks No folding kayak should be paddled without additional flotation. The sponsons will do exactly what you found out they will do, i.e. keep the boat afloat and awash. I have a photo in my book of a couple in exactly that predicament in a double Klepper. I wanted to hammer the message home, but I still find people who look at the photo and don't realize it could be them. Any standard set of air bags from any of several manufacturers will do. I use Perception standard sea kayak float bags but others are out there too. You want to fill the under deck area as much as possible. Don't forget, no matter what float bags you use, to run some straps across the cross rib at the back of the cockpit in order to prevent the air bag from floating out in a capsize and do something similar to keep the flotation bag in the bow from coming out. You should also add airbags in plastic sea kayaks, bulkheads or no bulkheads. They are subject to leaks or popping and the supposedly watertight compartments will then flood in a capsize. Even if the bulkheads have not shown any sign of leaks, the pressure of a flooded cockpit could pop the bulkheads and complicate your situation. ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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/ ***************************************************************************
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