>> His recommendation was to build up the diameter of the loom of my Euro paddle with duct tape. Granted that this approach might work, it is, however, a rather inelegant solution and I am thinking of something less "red neck" like modifying foam bike hand grips, or using foam pipe insulation, as a more permanent and lighter solution. Any thoughts out there on alternatives to duct tape? Thanks John Blackburn >> If it is a two-piece paddle, slip large-diameter heat shrink tubing over the loom and *gently* heat it till it snugs up. If a hairdryer doesn't do it, try a heat gun or use the heat from a stove-top burner, always using the minimum amount of heat that shrinks the tubing. For a larger-diameter grip, wrap foam core tape around the loom first. I used this method, applying the foam core tape longitudinally instead of around the loom and carving it with a sharp X-Acto blade, to create oval sections on my old Wind Swift paddle. Heat shrink tubing can be found at electronic and electrical supply houses. It typically shrinks to a maximum of about half the original diameter (or is that "minimum" in this case?). A wraparound heat shrink tape is also available, but I have no experience with it. I have also used heat shrink tubing to protect from scratches the steel tubing frames of my wife's and my take-apart Travel Chair 189 beach chairs (which, by the way, are being discontinued by the manufacturer -- order yours now from REI). We like these chairs because we sit off the ground in them, unlike the Therm-a-Rest chairs, and they pack small enough to fit alongside the skeg box in our Romanys. 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Thu Nov 14 2002 - 11:20:32 PST
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