Re: [Paddlewise] Death by Tether

Elaine Harmon wrote:
> 
> On Wed, 20 Oct 1999 rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com wrote:
> 
> > Jack Martin mentions using Thule or Yakima racks with pads on them and a
> > kayak stacker in the middle of the bars.  I used such a setup for years
> > and it worked real well.  The pads were more than enough to protect
> > delicate little ole folding kayaks
> 
> Hi guys, folks have mentioned using straight pads with folding kayaks, and
> I keep wondering, what happens when you strap it down? Seems like it would
> then ride on the keel tube plus one chine tube, instead of straight with
> the keel tube down. Then I'd worry that some kind of distortion might
> occur in a long trip. Not a problem? e
> 
> Elaine Harmon - eilidh_at_dc.seflin.org - eharmon_at_cs.miami.edu


Elaine,

Not a problem with straight pads.  I've done it with both wooden framed
and aluminum framed folding kayaks of every kind and every width. 
Moreover, I have not been dainty about how hard I pull down on the
webbing straps.  I pull down so hard on such straps that I scared the
hell out of a lady paddler when I started to do the same with her kevlar
kayak when her precious boat was riding on straight pads on my mini-van.

Yes, invariably, the boat will tilt to one side so that, in addition to
the keel bar, a chine stringer will also be in contact with the pad. 
However, do make certain to use some sort of pad since pressing down on
a wooden framed boat while on an un-cushioned naked roof rack bar could
break a wooden chine rod (I don't know how an aluminum chine rod would
do).  I had that happen once, the only time in 10 years that I have ever
broken anything on a wooden framed folding kayak.  Serves the boat right
for trying to imitate hardshells by riding on roof racks and showing off
to the motoring public. :-)

As for possible distortion, it ain't going to happen unless you get
Arnold Swartznegger to lash your boat down.  The pressures that would
distort the folding kayak resting on keel and chine would also be enough
to damage many a hardshell, i.e. it ain't going to happen with mere
mortals doing the lashing down.

Also, I do not let air out of the sponsons at all unless it promises to
be a particularly hot day with brutal sun and I am starting off early in
a cool morning (the heated up expanding in the sponson under such
extreme temperature changes could stress the sponsons).  Keeping air in
the sponsons allows the webbing straps to press in hard at their point
of contact with the sides of the folding kayak and indent them by quite
a bit, thus adding to the grip on the boat against forward movement in
the event of panic braking.

So leave the sponsons full of air except for the above extreme
temperature change situation or if you expect to go through a rapid
elevation change such as you may see in California if headed to mountain
lakes.  In the latter the altitude change could cause a popped sponson
as the compressed air expands with the lower ambient air pressures. 

ralph diaz
-- 
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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."
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