Re: [Paddlewise] Sponson Improvement

From: Michael Daly <michaeldaly_at_rogers.com>
Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2001 18:38:10 -0500
From: "Michael Daly" <michaeldaly_at_rogers.com>

> Leaving them inflated on the rear deck increases wind load on the
> kayak.  Autoinflating means expensive CO2 cartridges.  

I just thought of another way to make an auto-inflating sponson.
This from thinking in terms of a Thermarest.

Make the sponsons with a long internal coil spring inside.  Open 
a valve on one end and let the spring expand, filling the tube with 
air.  This would be like those collapsible garden waste buckets
and dirty laundry hampers that have recently arrived on the scene
(Lee Valley and Ikea respectively - couldn't find online photos). 

This wouldn't create a rigidly inflated sponson, but a few puffs after 
the spring inflates it would do the trick.

Mike

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Received on Fri Dec 28 2001 - 15:37:22 PST

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