At 06:19 PM 1/26/00 -0800, ralph diaz <rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com> wrote: SNIP >does inflate with just a few puffs. You have your choice of two >different type of inflation valves when you buy, a bite down type and a >pull out valve type. I have the latter type valve and find it very easy >to pull the soft end with my teeth, inflate the chamber and then push >the valve closed again without needing to use my hand at any point to >open and close the valve. > Ralph, If the paddlefloat spent some time in thirty-something degree water, would the valve material be as pliable as needed to perform as you describe above? Bill *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> If the paddlefloat spent some time in thirty-something degree water, would > the valve material be as pliable as needed to perform as you describe above? The valve has rubber hosing and the closure some form of plastic. In cold water it would suffer no more no less than any valve. If it clogged up with ice you would have to do whatever you do with any other valve to free it up. You could use your fingers to free it. My point is that it _can_ be a no-hands task under most circumstances. ralph -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 have the larger version, the "Big Swell". Like Ralph's Ultralite it has the regular (non-bite) valve. It's very easy to work it "no hands". I'm very happy with mine although I don't get to use it much. (I really should practice non-rolling rescues) Good Luck Jed *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
On Thu, 27 Jan 2000 22:26:57 -0800 Ralph Diaz wrote: >>The valve has rubber hosing and the closure some form of plastic. In cold water it would suffer no more no less than any valve.>> >From experimentation with both Gaia's small and large model, I'm not as prepared to wholeheartedly recommend them as Ralph. While the valves are fine, the squeeze clip that secures the float to the blade is less than adequate in my estimation. During pool trials, the thin 1/8 inch slippery cord simply could not be cinched tight enough to hold the float securely, such that the float, floated away. Perhaps a thicker cord or a different material is needed. Or, a different kind of clip. The floatation of the smaller unit, when we tested it with a 160# male, was just adequate, but only if you alight the deck the first or second time. If you have problems and are getting more and more tired, that's when you start to appreciate more buoyancy with your corresponding sloppiness. We didn't bother even trying it in a real sea. One of the gentleman in our club, who is an engineer and dedicated gear-head, had ordered the two models based on the fact that they were supposed to blow up with three or so breaths. Being an older fellow, he thought that sounded great. When he finally got the product, he realized some of the company's advertizing was just hype. It took him 6 months to receive his two floats in the mail. He said quote, "they were the worst company I've ever had to deal with", "they wouldn't answer e-mails, and I had to incur long distance charges to get any where, and even that did not yield satisfactory results in a timely fashion." My friend is fairly wealthy, and just buys whatever he wants, whatever new gear comes along. What he doesn't like, he gives to me. I've got an extra Sea Seat, floats, and even a Back-Up from him. If a product doesn't deliver or meet his expectations, its toast. Personally, I've found most products may need a little fine-tuning to become adequate for real-world usage. I think the Gaia products are good, but I'm not about to get overly effulgent about their stuff. I know my friend wishes he lived near their store, he'd be in their face in a second. BC'in Ya Doug Lloyd (With appologis to Ralph - I'm just calln' em as I see 'em) *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Hi Doug, Thanks for your inputs. As always with any piece of equipment or boat, people's experiences can vary greatly. Let me address each point from what I have seen (bear in mind again that I neither sell nor produce them and am just a very satisfied customer who has several other brand paddlefloats that now seem quite quaint to me): Doug Lloyd wrote: > > On Thu, 27 Jan 2000 22:26:57 -0800 Ralph Diaz wrote: > > >>The valve has rubber hosing and the closure some form of plastic. In > cold water it would suffer no more no less than any valve.>> > > >From experimentation with both Gaia's small and large model, I'm not as > prepared to wholeheartedly recommend them as Ralph. While the valves are > fine, the squeeze clip that secures the float to the blade is less than > adequate in my estimation. During pool trials, the thin 1/8 inch slippery > cord simply could not be cinched tight enough to hold the float securely, > such that the float, floated away. Perhaps a thicker cord or a different > material is needed. Or, a different kind of clip. Doug is referring to the cord that is at the open end of the paddlefloat which you cinch tight and is meant to hold with one of those squeeze cord locks. In my experience the cord lock and cord have held tenaciously. (I just went down to my living room to test my paddle float, which is protecting my paddle blades. I cinched the cord and cordlock and could not pull it apart even using two hands to try to open the paddle float end, i.e. the cord lock holds as well if not better than any cord lock I have seen. It is non-stretch cord with texture to it, so it should operate the same when wet.) Perhaps the company ran a batch of the paddlefloats with a subpar, extra slippery cord or inadequate cord locks. In any case, the paddle float also has a webbing strap with fastex type snap buckle. It takes just a second to attach this if one wanted to be extra safe, although I don't feel it is necessary from my experiments and experience with the cord and cordlock. > > The floatation of the smaller unit, when we tested it with a 160# male, was > just adequate, but only if you alight the deck the first or second time. If > you have problems and are getting more and more tired, that's when you > start to appreciate more buoyancy with your corresponding sloppiness. We > didn't bother even trying it in a real sea. I had a 6 ft 3 in, 220 pounder, who is one of the clumsiest people I know, do it well in 2 foot choppy close frequency wakes. No problem. But as I stressed several times now, the Gaia Ultralite does not have the flotation of the two chamber bigger paddle floats. I think it is best for a lithe individual who isn't a clod but I have seen it work with bigger, cloddier individuals. > > One of the gentleman in our club, who is an engineer and dedicated > gear-head, had ordered the two models based on the fact that they were > supposed to blow up with three or so breaths. Being an older fellow, he > thought that sounded great. When he finally got the product, he realized > some of the company's advertizing was just hype. On the number of puffs required to blow it up. It takes me 3, perhaps 3 and half, and I am not getting blue in the face with each puff. If I try 4 puffs I get blowback from overfilling with air. This is one of the great features of the Gaia that I had failed to mention, i.e. minimal number of breathes and quick inflation time, so I am glad you brought up. And I am an _older_ fellow too, 61 as of a week ago. I often wondered whether living in a clean environment like the Great Northwest is all that it is cracked up to be (maybe Woody Allen was right). Now I know. We New Yorkers can do it in 3 puffs; maybe polluted air has some undocumented positive features. Also I guess I may have an advantage being a folding kayaker that requires me to inflate sponsons and the extra flotation bags I always use in any folding kayak. Hmmm, another selling point for folding kayaks...they are good for exercising your lungs. I gotta remember that. :-) > It took him 6 months to receive his two floats in the mail. He said quote, > "they were the worst company I've ever had to deal with", "they wouldn't > answer e-mails, and I had to incur long distance charges to get any where, > and even that did not yield satisfactory results in a timely fashion." Some manufacturers are simply not equipped to deal directly with retail orders. And whether we like it or not, many are focused on meetingfirst the sales orders of dealers and reps who account for a steady flow of cash. Most retailers and suppliers, from my experience, tend to be a bit slow to answer email; it is a dubious form of trying to communicate with them. A phone call works best. My suggestion is call Randy at the NY Kayak Company as I have mentioned. I have not been at his shop in a few months, but I do know that he tends to stock up well on accessories such as this item. He is at 1-800-Kayak-99 > Personally, I've found most products may need a little fine-tuning to > become adequate for real-world usage. I think the Gaia products are good, > but I'm not about to get overly effulgent about their stuff. I know my > friend wishes he lived near their store, he'd be in their face in a second. Amen, on the need of lots of accessories to get some tweaking. The only tweaking, however, with the Gaia that I have done is to write on it in big block letters, DIAZ, so light finger envious types don't swipe either of the two that I have (one is left with an assembled folding kayak; the other at home to take with a knocked down foldable). > > BC'in Ya > Doug Lloyd (With appologis to Ralph - I'm just calln' em as I see 'em) Me, too :-) saludos, ralph -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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/ ***************************************************************************
At 04:13 PM 1/28/00 -0800, you wrote: >Hi Doug, > >Thanks for your inputs. As always with any piece of equipment or boat, >people's experiences can vary greatly. Let me address each point from >what I have seen (bear in mind again that I neither sell nor produce >them and am just a very satisfied customer who has several other brand >paddlefloats that now seem quite quaint to me): Ralph, et al: I picked up the Gaia paddlefloats from my friend today. I was hoping to re-test them in the pool, but I signed in too late for space last Saturday. On closer inspection, however, I see that the squeeze clip is broken. There are four small holes that the cord runs through, and when the tension is released, the four holes bisect and pinch tight. It appears that one of the holes is broken, so of course it will not pinch and hold the float to the paddle. My friend is elderly, so I'll forgive him his eyesight if you will forgive me for not having more faith in your opinion. Of course, the fact that the clip broke in the first place is another question! BC'in Ya Doug Lloyd *************************************************************************** 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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