What ever did those poor Inuit hunters do when they went out all day, and then had to drag a 250 pound seal back with them? If this was their check list, I believe they would have packed it in, moved south and taken up farming; or opened a small store with the contents of this imaginary day hatch. I don't have a day hatch so my perspective is different I guess. Seems to me if you have the space you try to fill it, regardless of the gyrations you have to go through to get at the contents. I can't see pumping out a day hatch full of wet whatever either, at least not in front of anyone. > What else do you want to carry?...Tell us what you have, maybe we can figure it out. Typical day hatch ingredients: First aid kit; camera; mobile phone; knife; tow line; specs container; sun glasses, sun cream; wool hat; neoprene hat; sun hat; face mask; torch; duct tape; two lengths of line; glow sticks; banana, apple, 600 ml gatorade; 600 ml water; Mars Bars or similar; cag. Place all this carefully in the day hatch in order before launching. Paddle out through surf. Do a few practice rolls before the end of the day, then try and locate a particular item. You are set up for the worst imaginable capsize, that is, one where you go over with your right arm deep inside the day hatch trying to find something on the far side of the compartment. Is there a one-hand-up-the-day-hatch roll? PT, Melbourne, OZ. *************************************************************************** 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've thought about making something like the moveable partitions in a camera case, but haven't actually done anything about it yet. The partitions would have to be fairly low, and the arrangement would have to be customized for the gear you normally carry. Another possibility would be to put small items in zipped pouches or drybags, possibly differentiated by feel. I have partly implemented the latter plan by putting my old home-made deck bag and cockpit side pocket, both of which started life as accessory side pockets for a backpack, in my day hatch. One holds binoculars, notebook, pencil, film, etc. The other holds spare batteries, emergency flashlight, Krill light, pee bottle, sun block, insect repellent, spare Croaky, snack, etc. Chuck Holst *************************************************************************** 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've gotta' question about day hatches! When I was looking at kayaks, before I bought the one I did, the question of day hatches and if I wanted one had to be addressed. I found for my advanced age and lack of flexibility I couldn't even think of getting something from the day hatch without turning over. Do you rely on a second paddler to come stabilize you while you throw your center of gravity so far off to the side that you'll capsize, while contorting your body to see what you're doing? Or is there a trick? John Blackburn "Old Guy" Chuck Holst wrote: > I've thought about making something like the moveable partitions in a > camera case, but haven't actually done anything about it yet. The > partitions would have to be fairly low, and the arrangement would have to > be customized for the gear you normally carry. > > Another possibility would be to put small items in zipped pouches or > drybags, possibly differentiated by feel. I have partly implemented the > latter plan by putting my old home-made deck bag and cockpit side pocket, > both of which started life as accessory side pockets for a backpack, in my > day hatch. One holds binoculars, notebook, pencil, film, etc. The other > holds spare batteries, emergency flashlight, Krill light, pee bottle, sun > block, insect repellent, spare Croaky, snack, etc. > *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
The system I use sounds much like Chuck's. My day hatch normally contains (loaded from least accessible to most): SeeBag5 (loaded with all manner of rarely needed items for survival. See list below), 96oz water bag, Signal Flares (2 smoke, 1 parachute), Repair Kit, First Aid Kit, NightNav Kit (Headlamp, Chemsticks, Clip-on Compass), AquaWallet, 16oz Water Bottle, Thermos, Lunch/Emergency Food, Camera, Spare Hat, Wet insulation (Scull Cap, Gloves, Pogies, Cag), VHF Radio. I can identify everything by feel, but would need to remove some of the items at the top to reach the items at the bottom. I could retrieve any item from the day hatch without the aid of another paddler. For day trips I leave out some of the most rarely used items and fill the empty space with a partially inflated paddle float. Contents of SeeBag5: Bandana, SunGlasses, SpareFilm, Granola, SpareBatteries(4AA), 2mm Line-50', PoopKit, Large Garbage Bags, Duct Tape(2x10'), ParaTool, LeatherMan, ScrewDriver, Marine Tex Epoxy, Sinew & Needle, Emergency Hatch Covers, Emergency Hatch Cover Kit (more plastic bags + shock cord), Bitchathane (as a boat patch), Storm-proof Lighter, Matches, FireStarter, LightSticks(2), StarTracer Flares(3), SigMirror Jed Luby -----Original Message----- From: owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net [mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net]On Behalf Of Chuck Holst Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2002 2:25 PM To: PaddleWise_at_paddlewise.net Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Day Hatch Organizing Another possibility would be to put small items in zipped pouches or drybags, possibly differentiated by feel. I have partly implemented the latter plan by putting my old home-made deck bag and cockpit side pocket, both of which started life as accessory side pockets for a backpack, in my day hatch. One holds binoculars, notebook, pencil, film, etc. The other holds spare batteries, emergency flashlight, Krill light, pee bottle, sun block, insect repellent, spare Croaky, snack, etc. Chuck Holst *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Nope, I just reach behind me and feel for what I want. It helps that I can remove and replace the hatch cover with one hand, and that I have tethered it. Some kayaks have day hatch covers that require two hands to remove. I don't see much sense in that. Chuck Holst 58 next July -----Original Message----- From: John Blackburn [SMTP:digipixs_at_erols.com] Sent: Wednesday, April 24, 2002 12:25 AM To: PaddleWise_at_paddlewise.net Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Day Hatch Organizing I've gotta' question about day hatches! When I was looking at kayaks, before I bought the one I did, the question of day hatches and if I wanted one had to be addressed. I found for my advanced age and lack of flexibility I couldn't even think of getting something from the day hatch without turning over. Do you rely on a second paddler to come stabilize you while you throw your center of gravity so far off to the side that you'll capsize, while contorting your body to see what you're doing? Or is there a trick? John Blackburn "Old Guy" *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:29 PDT