RE: [Paddlewise] Chimp Pump

I'll second Debbie's statements, although, if you do check the PaddleWise archives, you'll probably see that I've been a past proponent of foot pumps over handheld pumps which, in conditions where they're really needed, are essentially useless.  And I'm in the slow process of going electric, myself, for the reasons Debbie notes.  They're not fast, even in the foam-filled cockpits of my low volume boats, and they can cause a lot of cramping, fatigue and discomfort.  (The Aussies make the best argument for battery operated pumps on the list.)

That said, I still have Henderson footpumps in the Pintail and the North Bay, and they're basically foolproof.  Will make fine backups to electrics --- and I'd never paddle without a good backup for an electrical device in a kayak.  

Downside, Henderson foot pumps are hard to find and are very expensive, especially if purchased in North America and from kayak retailers; the markup to get them here is horrendous.  (A good boat supply store can afford to sell them for betweeen $80 and $110, but a kayak-oriented catalog house will charge well over double that.)

An option --- Bosworth Guzzlers.  Good pumps, very tight springs (according to users), made in the US and relatively easy to source and obtain parts, and lots cheaper.  (From memory, about $50.)  They're larger than Hendersons and probably a little heavier, but, if you've got the real estate in the cockpit, they'd be a good option.

But check the writeups, and discount my posts a little --- or a lot.  I'm going from carbon to gel cell.

Jack Martin
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