Yes, you are right to be concerned whether dry bags with camping gear is enough flotation. In my experience: 1) In principle, multiple small dry bags with gear do provide reasonable flotation for the space they occupy (assuming they aren't filled only with iron fry pans and canned beans). 2) The 'empty' space between a number of typical flat or round dry bags is significant, enough so that if filled with water in a capsize, it will noticeably decrease flotation. I'd guess 30% of your "bulkhead" volume would be water in a complete capsize. You'll float, but lower, with more water that will be harder to drain. The combination could be a problem in a marginal rescue situation under dicey conditions. 3) There is a tradeoff: the more you fill the dry bags with air (along with the gear) to increase flotation, the more you compromise their ability to squish together and eliminate the 'empty' space. 4) The solution is to use one large, tapered drybag with an inflation tube (Voyager at Mad River Canoe sells them among others). Basically, these are flotation bags which can be filled with gear, closed through a roll, zip or clip mechanism, inserted into the ends of the kayak, and then inflated via the tube to fill the space, much like a standard flotation bag. If the bag holds air, you have got more or less the same setup as a bulkheaded kayak. 5) One vulnerability is indicated by the phrase "if the bag holds air". A flotation dry bag is susceptible to tears and punctures (sliding past footbraces, ends of bolts, etc.) and leaks (the closing mechanism or the tube). Personally, when loading a bulkheaded kayak, I put most gear into dry bags as a back up for flotation...and to keep my food and clothes dry in case of a leak. Seems to me this is all the more necessary when loading a drybag through the cockpit. 6) Yes, straps to lock in the flotation bags are essential. In a capsize, watching the bags pop loose is a real possibility. 7) Other disadvantages of no hatches are the hassle stuffing and retrieving small bags (if you go that route) at the ends of the kayak, and difficulty accessing gear if you need something on the water or during a beach pit stop. 8) This setup should work, but there is nothing like direct experimentation. So load up your new kayak and go capsize. We all should try self- and assisted-rescues with our kayak loaded for camping under controlled conditions, whatever our setup, so we can work out how to handle it when it happens for real. Scott Camlin *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Mon Jan 15 2001 - 23:37:47 PST
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