Steve: Thanks for this post, lessons from real experience are worth a lot. I have seen a few hand pumps washed off decks here. Surf will strip away anything loosely held under bungies. The lesson I take from that is to use a pump fitted to the boat. I have a foot pump fitted to the forward bulkhead on my present boat. A hands free pump gets rid of another problem you mention, not wanting to stop paddling to pump. You paddle and pump. A tether from paddle to boat when there is wind helps. If you can hold on to either boat or paddle, you have the other. If both have escaped, the paddle acts to slow the boat's drift a little. Was there a problem here of group spread? I'm starting to think that small groups of say 6 maximum are best, and everyone should continually check on everyone else. Peter Treby, Melbourne, Australia. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
I'm sorry I missed the initial post. I finally resorted to installing a foot operated pump. My foredeck, generally, has only chart case and compass. I continue to carry a hand-pump aft (along with fins and spare paddle). I've considered making a hole in my spraydeck that would accept the hand-pump and be self-sealing. The problem of a runaway windblown boat is avoided with a tether from paddle to boat. By the way, a loaded boat has much less windage. It is heartening to read the affirmative discussion concerning an ability to swim effectively with one's paddle thereby retaining it as well. Whitewater boaters understand this though, in my experience, sea kayakers are still debating it's efficacy. Sid Taylor *************************************************************************** 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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