Re: [Paddlewise] Flotation bags - Leaky valves and dirty pipes??

Thanks Joe,

Thats really useful - I'll give both those ideas a shot. I recently stopped 
inflating my Klepper sponsons to their full extent for much the same reason 
- subsequent air expansion could be quite a hazard in the hot Aussie sun. Do 
you have any ideas on keeping the air tubes leading from the valve clean?

All the best, PeterO

>From: "Joe Pylka" <pylka_at_castle.net>
>To: "Peter Osman" <rebyl_kayak_at_hotmail.com>
>CC: <PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net>
>Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Flotation bags - Leaky valves and dirty pipes??
>Date: Sat, 30 Oct 1999 09:28:08 -0400
>
> >I'll look into getting new valves and gluing them in. Are they the 
>weakest
> >link in the chain as far as leaks go?
>         Generally, no.  The only times I've replaced one have been when it
>got chewed up somehow and it couldn't operate properly.
>         More often, there is the likelihood of a leak where the tube joins
>the airbag.  This spot gets a terrific amount of flexing, so it's something
>I would pay special attention to.  Difficult to put a patch there, so I
>usually slather it with AquaSeal with Cotol catalyst.
>         Seams are vulnerable.  Air pressure goes up and down in these bags
>on the water or under transport. IF overexpanded, the bag walls exert force
>at 90 degrees to the seam and it could get pulled apart.  I once had one
>blow out when the boat was on my car on a very hot day.  --Thought i'd
>reduced the air content sufficiently to compensate for expansion,  but I
>guess not.
>
>
>

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