G'Day, I have a couple of Perception flotation bags which I use in my Klepper and they have a screw type valve for sealing off the blow pipe. These valves make it hard to clean the pipe and I also suspect that they are responsible for a slow leak which has developed in both bags. I have never had either of these problems with the Klepper sponson seal which is a simple plastic stopper which can be bought at any camping store. Has any one else had these problems. Is there a way to maintain these valves so that they don't leak and so the connecting hose can be cleaned - or should i just cut them off and try to find a non standard stopper to plug them with??? Glad of any help. All the best, PeterO. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
>I have a couple of Perception flotation bags which I use in my Klepper and >they have a screw type valve for sealing off the blow pipe. >These valves make it hard to clean the pipe and I also suspect that they are >responsible for a slow leak which has developed in both bags. >Has any one else had these problems. Is there a way to maintain these valves >so that they don't leak and so the connecting hose can be cleaned > >Glad of any help. All the best, PeterO. Nantahala Outdoor Center in North Carolina has them in their catalog. You can cut off the old one and glue the new one in with vynabond. There is on some bags an additional large circular valve to inflate/deflate rapidly -- mostly you'll see these on canoe bags, but they must be seated well. Having had my share of frustration finding leaks and repairing them, let me share a very simple procedure. Pour maybe half a cup of water down that tube and into the bag. You don't even have to inflate it much, just enough to keep the walls apart. Then slowly roll the water around in the bag. If there is a hole you will see a damp spot on the outside of the bag almost immediately, or perhaps a drop or two if it's a big hole. Check the seams especially, but you'd be surprised where holes can develop. Don't remove the water yet. Since the bag is only partly inflated, I put it on a table with one end hanging off the edge with the water in it. Then mark, carefully dry the spot, and use a patch kit to repair the hole. Then test it with the water again... sometimes the repair doesn't 'take' the first time. Joe P. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Joe Pylka wrote: - >Nantahala Outdoor Center in North Carolina has them in their > catalog. You >can cut off the old one and glue the new one in with > vynabond. Thanks Joe, I'll look into getting new valves and gluing them in. Are they the weakest link in the chain as far as leaks go? Also much appreciated your tips on finding leaks. All the best, PeterO *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
This is an issue not only with flotation bags but also with sponsons. 1. Leakage at the valve. This is fairly easy to check and was one of the points I made in a list of things to do to get a folding kayak ready for the season. To check for a leak in a sponson inflation valve, simply inflate the sponson and then place the valve end in a clear plastic cup and observe for any bubbles for a minute or two. Another potential weak spot is where the inflation tube enters the flotation bag or sponson. With the latter that is harder to check as you need to pull out the sponson, which is a pain in the butt. You could try placing liquid soap in that area as air would form bubbles in the soap film. 2. Dirty pipes. The clear tubes used to inflate flotation bags and sponsons get the look that only a petrie dish aficionado would love. Every time I go to inflate one my paranoia screams out "Legionaire's Disease!, Legionaire"s Disease!" when I look at those tubes. Rather than attempt to wash them out, and on the theory that what you don't see won't hurt you (or at least not scare you), I think the best solution is to replace the tubes with solid colored ones. I noticed that Feathercraft has lately switched to using red color inflation tubes for their sponsons rather than the clear ones that soon resemble the edges of a swamp. Replacing the tubes would also solve the problem of inadequate lengths you find in Kleppers among other folding kayaks. Feathercraft got it right the first time, i.e. the sponson inflation tubes should be long enough for you to top off the air in the sponsons while seated in your kayak (remember when the sponsons contact colder than air water they will decompress a bit). Go for tube lengths that you can reach while seated. 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 - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
>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. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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. > > > *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Do >you have any ideas on keeping the air tubes leading from the valve clean? > > Nope, mine look awful. JP *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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