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From: PeterO <rebyl_kayak_at_iprimus.com.au>
subject: [Paddlewise] Basic Tool Kits
Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2001 13:19:38 +1100
G'day,

Would be interested to know what people find useful for basic repairs on
kayak trips - I've given away multitools after damaging the pliers while
rewiring a pump. Always carry a knife, scissors, cord, bungee and duct
tape - wonder what else people have had to use in real repair situations?

All the best, PeterO

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From: <JSpinner2_at_aol.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Basic Tool Kits
Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2001 22:17:31 EST
In a message dated 12/12/01 9:27:36 PM, rebyl_kayak_at_iprimus.com.au writes:

<< Always carry a knife, scissors, cord, bungee and duct

tape - wonder what else people have had to use in real repair situations? >>

My list is a bit extensive and one thing I've found is this fiberglass 
patching stuff you soften and mold with your fingers that I got from West 
Marine or Boater's World, I don't recall which one. Has anyone had any 
experience with it?

Joan

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From: Joe Federici <fedo_at_hudsonet.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Basic Tool Kits
Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2001 13:14:49 -0800
Since I've been working in the field sort of speak as a BCU coach I 
get the chance to see what people carry in there kit. I find that 
many of the things people carry they do so every time they go out. In 
many cases it's a prepacked dry bag with little thought other then 
it's what someone like the BCU says they need. Much of this stuff 
never leaves the bag and the condition of things like flares are more 
then likely very poor. I also think that what you bring on a short 
trip and a longer trip can vary. So rather then just grabbing a bag 
in hopes that you've got everything I always try to stop and think do 
I need all of this and will I need something different for these 
condition I'll be in.

JFF

My list is a bit extensive and one thing I've found is this fiberglass
patching stuff you soften and mold with your fingers that I got from West
Marine or Boater's World, I don't recall which one. Has anyone had any
experience with it?

Joan

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From: Steve Scherrer <Flatpick_at_teleport.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Basic Tool Kits
Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2001 08:06:40 -0800
PeteO asks:
>> wonder what else people have had to use in real repair situations?

Denzo tape.

It's a British made plumbers tape that'll stick to anything, even wet.  It's
oowie/goowie, a tar/ heavy grease impregnated tape the width of duct tape.
I roll out double wide, 4-6" long patches onto aluminum foil backing then
cover with 4mil plastic and store in a ziplock.  These live in my deck bag
and are ready to go. A couple of these will quickly patch a huge hole in a
boat, even at sea.  It truly works.  You just remove the plastic sheet,
stick it on and leave the aluminum on as a backing.  It helps if you rub it
with pressure to get it to bond well. GRO imports the stuff, so anyone in
the states selling NDK or VCP should be able to get it by the roll <a huge
amount>.  We package it up <as above> in convenient little kits.

steve



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From: <Rick.Sylvia_at_ferguson.com>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Basic Tool Kits
Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2001 13:47:59 -0500
> I find that many of the things people carry they do so every time they go out. In 
> many cases it's a prepacked dry bag with little thought other then 
> it's what someone like the BCU says they need.....  I also think that what you bring on a short trip and a longer trip can vary. So rather then just grabbing a bag 
> in hopes that you've got everything I always try to stop and think do 
> I need all of this and will I need something different for these 
> condition I'll be in.


With the exception of adding something specific due to the conditions you will expect to face, and the conditions of things like flares that you hope you will never need, I have to humbly ask the following question about the snip above...

"SO WHAT?"  - it's easier to grab a pre-packed bag with *ALL* your stuff, you probably have room for it, and the weight doesn't generally impact the boat performance, so why risk forgetting something by packing specific items for each specific trip?

Everything I take paddling is together. I grab it, load it and go. It's quick and easy.  With the exception of food and water, of course.  I never have to worry about "what do I think I'll need today?".

So again, - serious question, not just being a smart-ass - whats wrong with having everything you could possibly need in one bag and just grabbing it and go?

I must be missing the point - help me out.

Rick - Poquoson, VA 
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From: Joe Federici <fedo_at_hudsonet.com>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Basic Tool Kits
Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2001 15:55:09 -0800
Nothing as long as everything stays in working order. For me however 
I find that when I stuff an all purpose bag I end up bringing to much 
stuff or forget to check things over on a regularly. Some would say 
if you've got the space why not. For me I just feel it slows me down, 
having stuff pushed in all my pockets and string hangout oh and a big 
knife, must have a big knife. All this for a short 2 hour trip on 
local water.

JFF


>  I find that many of the things people carry they do so every time 
>they go out. In
>  many cases it's a prepacked dry bag with little thought other then
>  it's what someone like the BCU says they need.....  I also think 
>that what you bring on a short trip and a longer trip can vary. So 
>rather then just grabbing a bag
>  in hopes that you've got everything I always try to stop and think do
>  I need all of this and will I need something different for these
>  condition I'll be in.


With the exception of adding something specific due to the conditions 
you will expect to face, and the conditions of things like flares 
that you hope you will never need, I have to humbly ask the following 
question about the snip above...

"SO WHAT?"  - it's easier to grab a pre-packed bag with *ALL* your 
stuff, you probably have room for it, and the weight doesn't 
generally impact the boat performance, so why risk forgetting 
something by packing specific items for each specific trip?

Everything I take paddling is together. I grab it, load it and go. 
It's quick and easy.  With the exception of food and water, of 
course.  I never have to worry about "what do I think I'll need 
today?".

So again, - serious question, not just being a smart-ass - whats 
wrong with having everything you could possibly need in one bag and 
just grabbing it and go?

I must be missing the point - help me out.

Rick - Poquoson, VA
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From: PeterO <rebyl_kayak_at_iprimus.com.au>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Basic Tool Kits
Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2001 07:27:57 +1100
JFF wrote
>I always try to stop and think do I need all of
>this and will I need something different for these
>condition I'll be in.

Rick wrote
>whats wrong with having everything you could possibly
>need in one bag and just grabbing it and go?

G'Day JFF Rick and Paddlewise

Both points of view work for me.

How about a prepacked deckbag, and a drybag in the day hatch, for trips of
an hour or so. A third optional dry bag in the rear hatch for longer trips
or where more stability is needed. Most of my equipment is now in better
condition for being stored consistently and I no longer forget to take stuff
out. Packing a boat takes 5 minutes.

However, most of my trips are in familiar waters. If going somewhere new,
and after listening to the posts of the last two days, I would definitely
think out the equipment specifically for that trip. Also as stuff in the
deck bag gets wet and has consumables it gets checked every time. The
deckbag has the flares, paddlefloat, some food and water.

Any ideas on tools! Must try the Denzo patches and/or MiraDry but will also
keep duct tape as its useful in first aid.

All the best, PeterO


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From: Michael Daly <michaeldaly_at_rogers.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Basic Tool Kits
Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2001 17:28:16 -0500
From: "PeterO" <rebyl_kayak_at_iprimus.com.au>

> rewiring a pump. Always carry a knife, scissors, cord, bungee and duct
> tape - wonder what else people have had to use in real repair situations?

My Leatherman Wave has lots of tools, but I always carry a neat little screwdriver, too.
It's called a Ratcrapper and is a tool sold to snowboarders.  It is small and has a T-shaped 
handle that fits nicely into your palm.  It has a ratcheted bit holder and takes standard hex 
screwdriver bits.  When skiing, I carry a Posidrive #3 and misc others.  When kayaking, 
I carry the misc others.  The others include all Phillips and slot bits that fit any kayak screw 
on Amie's and my kayaks.  It can also take sockets with a small adapter, but I've only 
used that at home (most of the bits and sockets don't come with the Ratcrapper, but are
pinched from another tool set.)

I also carry wire ties - those plastic things that can't be undone once looped closed.  Useful
for quick attachments and repairs.

Screws and bolts for anything on the kayaks and replacement rudder wire (which, in a 
crunch, can have many other uses).

I usually take five-minute epoxy, but haven't needed it yet (kayaking - used it skiing to fix a 
friend's binding mount)

Other than that, my list is basically like yours.  I put most of the stuff into an old white Nalgene
bottle so it's always together and ready.

Mike


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From: Richard Hodgkins <canoe_at_interaccess.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Basic Tool Kits
Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2001 23:04:51 -0600
I use Aluminum tape and a little bit of soft wire. Never had to do any major
repairs but it kept me going in the Texas Safari. I went under a tree and
tore up the boat and put two 3" holes in the hull below the water line. Just
dried it off with a lighter (be very careful) and put on the tape. Went 80
more miles with the fix. The wire was for the rudder and but was never used.


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From: Patrick Maun <patrick_at_patrickmaun.com>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Basic Tool Kits
Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2001 09:51:48 +0100
>Rick wrote
>>whats wrong with having everything you could possibly
>>need in one bag and just grabbing it and go?

That's the ideal situation. In my glass boats I have a knee tube 
where I keep a Naglene plastic bottle with very basic repair and 
rescue items. Would come in handy for on-the-water or quick repairs.
I also carry a more extenive repair kit. I can't remember who makes 
it, but someone puts together a all-around gear repair kit (tent,
zippers etc) kind of thing. I suplemented this with some boat specififc 
stuff. It all comes with its own drybag. Very convinient. I got mine 
several years back at REI.

For my Khatsalano I don't have knee tubes, so I have to store everything 
in hatches. Feathercraft makes a repairkit which I keep in the bow 
of the boat for emergencies. I'd have to take the boat apart to get 
at it, but if something is wong with the boat I am going to have 
to do that anyway.

And I admit it, I don't have any denzo (it frightens me) or other 
fancy tape. Just that generic "boat repair tape" that looks like 
duct tape.

-Patrick







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From: Michael Daly <michaeldaly_at_rogers.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Basic Tool Kits
Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2001 12:32:56 -0500
From: "Patrick Maun" <patrick_at_patrickmaun.com>


>  I can't remember who makes 
> it, but someone puts together a all-around gear repair kit (tent,
> zippers etc) kind of thing.

One is made by Adventure Medical Kits.  There may be others.
They have neat stuff like Fastex buckles that can replace broken
ones without the need for re-sewing the webbing.  Worth considering
if you don't want to make up your own kit from bits and pieces.

Mike

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