Re: [Paddlewise] [nswseakayaker] waterbuster modifications

Hi Nick and all,

Regarding your battery pump mods...it sounds pretty good to me. Can I
suggest that you place a plastic saddle (those used to secure garden
watering system hoses) over the switch to protect it. Switch operation is
just a matter of flicking under the saddle.

Still on this, could I ask you to turn this into a small "how to" article,
perhaps with a diagram for the club newsletter. I would also like to send it
to a few sea kayak operators in Victoria.

Norm and I were down at Phillip Island last weekend for a big Victorian
Canoe Board Sea Assessment weekend (I'll write it up tomorrow and post it on
this board). There were lots of paddlers turning up for assesment in plastic
hired boats without ''Hands-free" pumping arrangements. Fitting an electric
or foot pump to a plastic hire boat that suits everyone can be a problem and
it seems to me that this little battery unit may be the answer. Norm and I
thought the switch INSIDE the cockpit on the pump body may be a problem in
big seas but you seem to have overcome that with an exterior switch...so
well done.

While on the subject of "hands-free" pumps, the paddlers at Phillip Island
who didn't have them really stood out in rescues and re-enter and roll
exercises. Their boats were unstable, some had to raft up with others to
pump out with 2 handed gusher pumps and they all took a bloody long time to
be ready to rescue others in the rescue scenarios we gave
them......AND.....this was all in flat water - the seas were
uncharacteristically calm in Bass Strait! Because of the flat conditions we
marked hard, something we'll be doing at the Rock 'n Roll Weekend too.

The message, therefore, for NSWSKC members wanting to be assessed for Sea
Proficiency at the Rock 'n Roll Weekend is : FIT A ''HANDS-FREE'' PUMP NOW
if you don't already have one. The pump Nick is using may be just what you
need.

Dave


-----Original Message-----
From: Nick Gill <nicholas.gill_at_adfa.edu.au>
To: NSWSKC <nswseakayaker_at_nswseakayaker.asn.au>; paddlewise
<PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net>
Date: Sunday, 10 October 1999 10:47
Subject: [nswseakayaker] waterbuster modifications


>in case anybody is interested.
>
>I actually prefer foot pumps but for various reasons currently have an
attwood waterbuster pump in the boat. That's the self contained pump that
runs off d cells. volume is lower than a rule type pump but the self
contained design is handy
>
>problem is it only has a switch on the pump body. You really need a deck
switch on a sea kayak. I have added one, experimenting with modifications to
a waterbuster.
>
>I bought a waterproof toggle switch from dick smith electronics plus cable,
the necessary spade connectors etc.
>
>to the waterproof switch I soldered a length of cable and araldited and
sikaflexed the  joints. I then  toook the original switch off the pump (it
just unscrews) and inserted a blanking grommet in the hole. I then ran the
wires off the switch through the grommet (having punched  a hole in it with
a hot nail). I connected the relevant sized spade connectors to the wires
and attached them to the internal pump connections. I then smeared sikeflex
all over the grommet and wires where they went through the grommet - inside
and out. I probably should have used some araldite here as well for some
stiffness.
>
>So now I have the attwood pump with an external switch off a length of
cable. I then just drlled a hole for the switch just behind the seat ,
screwed the switch in and screwed on the rubber boot, alI with plenty of
sikaflex. I then  reintalled the pump in my cockpit, behind the seat. Voila,
a deck switch powered waterbuster with no new drill holes in my rear
compartment.
>
>Hopefully the pump will not leak, we'll see.
>
>
>nick
>
>Nicholas Gill
>School of Geography and Oceanography
>University of NSW
>Australian Defence Force Academy
>Canberra ACT 2600
>
>Ph. 02 6268 8317
>Mob. 041 7659440
>Fax 02 6268 8313
>
>Email: nicholas.gill_at_adfa.edu.au
>
>*** The NSW Sea Kayak Club mailing list - comments are the authors' ***
>
>


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