I've been watching the "pillow / multipurpose paddle float" discussion. Great ideas for reducing bagage, but it begs a question from a novice such as myself.... Equipment breaks, but before doing so, it often gets stressed, weakened, then finally "gives up the ghost". How concerned should we be that with all the uses of a paddle float, it will be stressed but not broke, then, during the process of using it for a self rescue, will suddenly fail to hold proper air pressure? It would seem to me that we'd want to be overly cautious and protective of our safety equipment. What do you think? Is that a valid concern, or am I just being a momma's boy? Rick *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> -----Original Message----- > From: Rick Sylvia [mailto:Rick.Sylvia_at_ferginc.com] > Sent: Tuesday, August 15, 2000 4:23 AM > How > concerned should > we be that with all the uses of a paddle float, it will be > stressed but not > broke, then, during the process of using it for a self > rescue, will suddenly > fail to hold proper air pressure? It would seem to me that > we'd want to be > overly cautious and protective of our safety equipment. What > do you think? > Is that a valid concern, or am I just being a momma's boy? Being safety conscious is a far cry from being a "momma's boy"! You voice a valid concern, and one which Ralph mentioned in an earlier post. In keeping with the philosophy of having backups for your backup one could use a dual chambered paddlefloat like the one from Mariner (it's great! - I'll take that .02 discount on my next kayak Matt<grin>) or carry a second paddlefloat. I like the dual chamber design - inflating just one side works for me. The flip side of the argument could be made for regularly using your safety equipment - that way the odds are in your favor for discovering that a piece of gear has failed during non-emergency use rather than discovering a catastrophic failure whilst in dire straits. Dave Seng Juneau, Alaska *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
At 08:13 AM 8/15/00 -0800, Seng, Dave wrote: >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Rick Sylvia [mailto:Rick.Sylvia_at_ferginc.com] >> Sent: Tuesday, August 15, 2000 4:23 AM In >keeping with the philosophy of having backups for your backup one could use >a dual chambered paddlefloat like the one from Mariner (it's great! - I'll >take that .02 discount on my next kayak Matt<grin>) or carry a second >paddlefloat. I like the dual chamber design - inflating just one side works >for me. I've had my dual chambered paddlefloat (a Perception, I think) for a few years now and a few weeks ago I noticed the valve on one side leaks so all I can really do is inflate one side. I'm going to replace it, but on the last couple of lessons I've used it as a tool to demonstrate how much bouyancy even a half inflated paddlefloat will provide before they attempt their first solo paddlefloat reentry. I'll blow up the good side and then lean over onto it until I'm lying in the water next to the boat. Then I'll let go with one hand so that the shaft is sitting on the side of the boat to show how much support the float gives. When a student tries to do a paddlefloat reentry for the first time and falls in, it's almost always because they took their weight off the paddlefloat and they fall over the other side demonstrating the infamous yellow rainbow. Hopefully, demonstrating how much bouyancy the float will provide, even half way inflated, will give them confidence in the float and they'll keep their weight on it. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Rick Sylvia wrote: > > I've been watching the "pillow / multipurpose paddle float" discussion. > Great ideas for reducing bagage, but it begs a question from a novice such > as myself.... Equipment breaks, but before doing so, it often gets > stressed, weakened, then finally "gives up the ghost". How concerned should > we be that with all the uses of a paddle float, it will be stressed but not > broke, then, during the process of using it for a self rescue, will suddenly > fail to hold proper air pressure? It would seem to me that we'd want to be > overly cautious and protective of our safety equipment. What do you think? > Is that a valid concern, or am I just being a momma's boy? Probably not much to worry about in that direction. Actually, it is probably better to have regularly tested the paddle float's ability to hold air, which most people never do. If you use if for a pillow nightly, you will be acutely aware of leaks! -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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