i have just joined paddlewise and have enjoyed the present discussions on cold water paddling gear. i am an active paddler in the Champlain Kayak club on Lake Champlain and other lakes in Vt. and NY. We have a Frostbite group who paddle all winter. i am looking to purchase a foam paddle float to be used as my primary paddle float in winter and early spring paddling. any ideas? thanks, david miskell *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
HI David, They are vary easy to make out of a couple of pieces of high density, closed cell foam. I use two pieces about 8"x16"x1". I tape them together with duct tape and then go over that with strapping tape because the edge of the paddle blade can cut the unreinforced duct tape but the strapping tape holds well under all types of rough conditions. If your paddle blade is curved or dished, cut some of the foam out of the pieces before you tape them together to make room for the blade. I add a velcro strap that wraps around the paddle shaft after the blade is inserted. Total cost is a couple of dollars and it works better and faster than any commercial one I have seen. I am sold on foam floats; nothing to get a hole in and leak, most inflatable floats have a tiny hole to blow into which doesn't work well with a gasping swimmer in cold water. I teach my students to use their floats to keep from going over rather than as a reentry tool. You can paddle quite efficiently with a foam float; if you put it on when things get too pushy, you can paddle to a safer environment and have an absolutely bombproof brace while you are getting there. Randy Knauff David Miskell wrote: > i have just joined paddlewise and have enjoyed the present discussions on > cold water paddling gear. i am an active paddler in the Champlain Kayak club > on Lake Champlain and other lakes in Vt. and NY. We have a Frostbite group who > paddle all winter. > > i am looking to purchase a foam paddle float to be used as my primary > paddle float in winter and early spring paddling. any ideas? thanks, david > miskell *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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