Re: [Paddlewise] Stoves and knives, etc.

My 4" (folded) nasty looking serrated SOG knife which I keep leashed to
the vest, went over to Japan and came back without a hitch [ANA - All
Nippon Airways, Spring '98].  The knife and vest were tucked away in the
Feathercraft backpack close enough to the surface for visible inspection
but as check in luggage.  I personally watched the knife show up
_brightly_ as it went through the check in baggage X-ray machine at
Dulles airport (N. Va.).

Plus, I've taken my Spyderco Ladybug pocket knife to Japan about 6~8
times with no problem - just toss it in the Security check basket along
with keys, change, and ferrous metal belt buckle.

Kind of beside the point, but definitely worth mentioning:

1) Knowing the sticklers ANA were about flammables ahead of time, I
didn't bother trying to take a camp stove and arranged to borrow my
father in-law's over there.

2) With Japan having sooo many regulations regarding VHFs and absolutely
no classification for kayaks to fill out the necessary paperwork as a
"sm. boater" (or whatever it was), I decided to leave my brand new
Apelco 520 at home rather than risk its confiscation (even though Doug
Simpson of F-craft had taken his to S. Japan several times).  Upon
arrival at Narita Internat. Airport, Japan (still somewhat fortified
with a para-military police force presence at that time), I hoisted two
bags, one suitcase, and the F-craft backpack up onto the customs
inspection table.  The suitcase was opened and checked through as was
our carry on bag.  The ~80 lb. gear crammed black backpack?  Wasn't even
unzipped, unceremoniously "ok-ed" with a nod after told what it was - a
kayak boat in a backpack.  Though things could have gone differently, I
still have major regrets about not having taken that VHF along.

3) Not wanting to have my all graphite paddle busted by the baggage
handlers, I tried every trick in the book to have the paddle accepted as
carry on baggage.  I don't know about other airlines, but ANA considers
a broken down two piece paddle to be a deadly weapon and is quite
adamant to its storage above deck.  It took about two hours of pleading
and a (false) threat to not go to convince one of the check in workers
to have a last minute talk with the plane's captain to make an
exception.  The paddle was stored in a vertical locker up by the cockpit
and was brought to me after everyone had departed the plane on arrival
in Japan.  Coming back was easier. A quick lie about it being a custom
paddle being used for teaching/racing and a bulkhead seat to get one of
the few long overhead storage compartments and it came home intact.
If I had the chance to do it over again, I wouldn't bother trying to
pass the paddle as carry on luggage.  I'd either just go with an all
glass "basher" paddler (and suffer throughout the trip) or construct a
hardened molded end cap to go over both blades sandwiched together, with
duel density foam out past the edges (all the way around) holding the
blades apart.  A plastic and foam end cap to go over the connecting ends
with two wooden dowels holding the end caps apart.  The whole package
would then be bubblewrapped twice and taped up with clear plastic
packing tape, then declared a separate piece of check in luggage.
E-mail me, if interested, to find out how I packed the paddles both ways
on the trip, also creative and no less elaborate.


Allison Corning wrote:
> 
> >When I take camping gear I usually check it in, but for shorter trips I
> >just
> >have one carry-on.  Someone told me that he puts his knife in the basket as
> >he goes through the "X-ray" machine.  Comments?
> >
> >
> 
> I have had no problem carrying swiss army knives on planes in my carry on,
> but I was on a plane in Japan coming back from a camping trip and the
> check-in agent confiscated a butter knife we had forgotten to remove from
> our carry-on luggage. I guess they had a rule about straight knives longer
> than a certain length (I think it was JAL Airlines).  They were definitely
> sticklers for rules, because I'm sure our peanut butter encrusted butter
> knife was not usual terrorist fare:)
> 
> I'm glad the stove question has come up-I've been trying to figure out how
> to get around it--so far I've been lucky to meet up stove owners at my
> destination...but I really like my stove and would like to be able to use it
> other places as well...
> 
> -Allison
> 
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