Hi all- I've been listening in (reading in?) for a while and have decided that if anyone can solve my dilemma, someone on this list can...here it is: The people I paddle with all have kayaks without front hatches and so insert inflatable floatation bags into the bow for extra support. However, the little inflate tube is not long enough to inflate without someone scooting down inside the boat, mashing the bag into the end of the boat and inflating it. Because I am the smallest person in the group, I get to be that person. This year I got stuck and had to be pulled out by my feet and it was a rather unpleasant experience all around. How do other people deal with this situation? Am I doomed until a smaller paddler comes along? Does someone sell an extension to the little inflate tube, or has anyone made one? I hope someone can help me before I have to start faking claustrophobia or some other psychological excuse... Thanks in advance... Allison _______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.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/ ***************************************************************************
Allison, Bad floatation bag designs are a plague in sea kayaking. Most designs are made for river kayaks and canoes, and the few float bags made for sea kayaks are very small and designed to fill the small space at the tip of the bow and stern bulkheads. I use canoe flotation bags; they are the only ones 60 inches long which are acceptable for kayaks without bulkheads. The problem, as you describe, is that the inflating tube is too small. The solution is to get 2 feet of vynil tube at your hardware store, cut the floatbag tube in half and insert the halves in the vynil tube. Glue the junctions with aquaseal or goop. ------------------- tip ======= ============| float bag ------------------- tranparent vynil tube I hope the helps, - Julio *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Allison I have a plastic 14' Perception Spectrum I use for river jaunts that requires a flotation bag up front. The bag I use is from Perception. It has a long plastic tube (about 20" or so) which extends the bag's inflation/deflation opening out far enough so that it can be uesd while sitting in the seat [as opposed to having to scoot in]. Personally, if I were you, I'd buy one and let the other folks know that if they want theirs inflated by someone other than themselves, they'll need to make the investment as well. Seems it cost around $25 or so, but I could be wrong. I am curious, though -- why can't they/you just pull the bag out into the cockpit, inflate it and then push it back into the front of the boat? Even if my bag did not have the extension, pulling it in and out and inflating/deflating it until it was perfect would be a rather easy thing to do. Am I missing something here? Perception's site is: www.perception.com. [Seems as though it's presently down for constuction, but I'm sure there are other sources for this type of bag. Good luck! Jim Tynan Pike Road AL ----- Original Message ----- From: Allison Corning <acorning_at_hotmail.com> To: <paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net> Sent: Thursday, June 03, 1999 1:25 PM Subject: [Paddlewise] silly question about bow float bags > Hi all- > I've been listening in (reading in?) for a while and have decided that if > anyone can solve my dilemma, someone on this list can...here it is: > > The people I paddle with all have kayaks without front hatches and so insert > inflatable floatation bags into the bow for extra support. However, the > little inflate tube is not long enough to inflate without someone scooting > down inside the boat, mashing the bag into the end of the boat and inflating > it. Because I am the smallest person in the group, I get to be that person. > This year I got stuck and had to be pulled out by my feet and it was a > rather unpleasant experience all around. How do other people deal with this > situation? Am I doomed until a smaller paddler comes along? Does someone > sell an extension to the little inflate tube, or has anyone made one? I hope > someone can help me before I have to start faking claustrophobia or some > other psychological excuse... > > Thanks in advance... > Allison > > > > _______________________________________________________________ > Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.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/ > *************************************************************************** > *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
On Thu, 3 Jun 1999, JT wrote: > I am curious, though -- why can't they/you just pull the bag out into the > cockpit, inflate it and then push it back into the front of the boat? Even > if my bag did not have the extension, pulling it in and out and > inflating/deflating it until it was perfect would be a rather easy thing to > do. Am I missing something here? Yep, you are missing something. Floatbags only do their designed job if they stay in the kayak even when it is filled with water. If you can pull an inflated float bag out with your hands, then the water can do the same. If the bag is inflated in place, then there is a greater chance of it getting wedged in with a bit more force. Cheers, Kevin ------------------------------- | Kevin Whilden | | kwhilden_at_seanet.com | | Kayak Academy Instructor | | http://www.halcyon.com/kayak | ------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I tried inflating it and then pushing it down, but it didn't go all the way to the end and was loose enough so it flopped around. I'm not sure what kind of float bag it is- to find out would require climbing back in the boat! If I didn't get the bag all the way to the end and secure it would come loose and was a nuisance. The two boats I've had to climb in most are the Aquaterra spectrum and a walden vista...thanks for the tips about the perception bag and the hose extension. Any projects involving some kind of sticky goo are sure to be highly amusing:) From: "JT" <kayakbound_at_worldnet.att.net> To: "Allison Corning" <acorning_at_hotmail.com>,<paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net> Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] silly question about bow float bags Date: Thu, 3 Jun 1999 14:27:37 -0500 Allison I have a plastic 14' Perception Spectrum I use for river jaunts that requires a flotation bag up front. The bag I use is from Perception. It has a long plastic tube (about 20" or so) which extends the bag's inflation/deflation opening out far enough so that it can be uesd while sitting in the seat [as opposed to having to scoot in]. Personally, if I were you, I'd buy one and let the other folks know that if they want theirs inflated by someone other than themselves, they'll need to make the investment as well. Seems it cost around $25 or so, but I could be wrong. I am curious, though -- why can't they/you just pull the bag out into the cockpit, inflate it and then push it back into the front of the boat? Even if my bag did not have the extension, pulling it in and out and inflating/deflating it until it was perfect would be a rather easy thing to do. Am I missing something here? Perception's site is: www.perception.com. [Seems as though it's presently down for constuction, but I'm sure there are other sources for this type of bag. Good luck! Jim Tynan Pike Road AL ----- Original Message ----- From: Allison Corning <acorning_at_hotmail.com> To: <paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net> Sent: Thursday, June 03, 1999 1:25 PM Subject: [Paddlewise] silly question about bow float bags > Hi all- > I've been listening in (reading in?) for a while and have decided that if > anyone can solve my dilemma, someone on this list can...here it is: > > The people I paddle with all have kayaks without front hatches and so insert > inflatable floatation bags into the bow for extra support. However, the > little inflate tube is not long enough to inflate without someone scooting > down inside the boat, mashing the bag into the end of the boat and inflating > it. Because I am the smallest person in the group, I get to be that person. > This year I got stuck and had to be pulled out by my feet and it was a > rather unpleasant experience all around. How do other people deal with this > situation? Am I doomed until a smaller paddler comes along? Does someone > sell an extension to the little inflate tube, or has anyone made one? I hope > someone can help me before I have to start faking claustrophobia or some > other psychological excuse... > > Thanks in advance... > Allison > > > > _______________________________________________________________ > Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.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/ > *************************************************************************** > _______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.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/ ***************************************************************************
Allison Corning wrote: > > However, the > little inflate tube is not long enough to inflate without someone scooting > down inside the boat, mashing the bag into the end of the boat and inflating > it. Because I am the smallest person in the group, I get to be that person. > This year I got stuck and had to be pulled out by my feet and it was a > rather unpleasant experience all around. >From what some people say, being born again is a positive experience. And you get to do it every weekend. Steve (can I get an Amen?) -- Test Scoring & Reporting Services Sometimes, you never can University of Georgia always tell what you Athens, GA 30602-5593 least expect the most. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
We have float bags made with tubes long enough so that they can be used by a paddler seated in the cockpit. They are also quite large volume and sized for sea kayaks. A more complete description is in the price list of our website. Matt Broze http://www.marinerkayaks.com -----Original Message----- From: Allison Corning <acorning_at_hotmail.com> To: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net <paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net> Date: Thursday, June 03, 1999 12:40 PM Subject: [Paddlewise] silly question about bow float bags >Hi all- >I've been listening in (reading in?) for a while and have decided that if >anyone can solve my dilemma, someone on this list can...here it is: > >The people I paddle with all have kayaks without front hatches and so insert >inflatable floatation bags into the bow for extra support. However, the >little inflate tube is not long enough to inflate without someone scooting >down inside the boat, mashing the bag into the end of the boat and inflating >it. Because I am the smallest person in the group, I get to be that person. >This year I got stuck and had to be pulled out by my feet and it was a >rather unpleasant experience all around. How do other people deal with this >situation? Am I doomed until a smaller paddler comes along? Does someone >sell an extension to the little inflate tube, or has anyone made one? I hope >someone can help me before I have to start faking claustrophobia or some >other psychological excuse... > >Thanks in advance... >Allison > > > >_______________________________________________________________ >Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.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/ >*************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
To add to this... I was on the Lehigh, a Class 2-3 river earlier this year. A Walden came down the river. The paddler had a sprayskirt on. At one of the last rapids he flipped & came out of the boat (along with the sprayskirt, of course). He was instantly followed by the airbags which pushed all the stuff he was carrying in the boat ahead of them. Off they all went down the river. The water force in the drop pushed the boat down to the bottom and kept it there. It took a while to get it afloat again. So as was said, airbags do their job when the boat is filled with water. They HAVE to stay in. Joe P. >> I am curious, though -- why can't they/you just pull the bag out into the >> cockpit, inflate it and then push it back into the front of the boat? Even >> if my bag did not have the extension, pulling it in and out and >> inflating/deflating it until it was perfect would be a rather easy thing to >> do. Am I missing something here? > >Yep, you are missing something. Floatbags only do their designed job if >they stay in the kayak even when it is filled with water. If you can pull >an inflated float bag out with your hands, then the water can do the same. >If the bag is inflated in place, then there is a greater chance of it >getting wedged in with a bit more force. >Cheers, >Kevin > > ------------------------------- > | Kevin Whilden | > | kwhilden_at_seanet.com | > | Kayak Academy Instructor | > | http://www.halcyon.com/kayak | > ------------------------------- > > >*************************************************************************** >PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List >Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net >Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net >Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ >*************************************************************************** > *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Allison, I think you need to find a better float bag. I have nylon float bags that have a long stem. I can easily put the float in part way, blow it up fully and then squash it in. I think you may be going for too much perfection - the bag does not necessarily have to be all the way up to the end of the kayak. So long as the bow bag is in good and tight (ie. blow it up fully when in place) it won't be going anywhere. Unless you are building a kayak and installing fiberglass tape, or else installing foot pegs, I don't think you need to be that intimate with the inside of the bow of your kayak! - Scott Allision Corning wrote: > > Hi all- > I've been listening in (reading in?) for a while and have decided that if > anyone can solve my dilemma, someone on this list can...here it is: > > The people I paddle with all have kayaks without front hatches and so insert > inflatable floatation bags into the bow for extra support. However, the > little inflate tube is not long enough to inflate without someone scooting > down inside the boat, mashing the bag into the end of the boat and inflating > it. Because I am the smallest person in the group, I get to be that person. > This year I got stuck and had to be pulled out by my feet and it was a > rather unpleasant experience all around. How do other people deal with this > situation? Am I doomed until a smaller paddler comes along? Does someone > sell an extension to the little inflate tube, or has anyone made one? I hope > someone can help me before I have to start faking claustrophobia or some > other psychological excuse... > > Thanks in advance... > Allison > > _______________________________________________________________ > Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.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/ > *************************************************************************** -- Scott Ives ssives_at_erols.com - avid father, husband, photographer, kayaker, jet skier and Mustang Cobra convertible owner *************************************************************************** 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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