In a message dated 1/8/2003 5:29:08 PM Eastern Standard Time, jka_at_netaccess.co.nz writes: > I will be putting net bags on the Nordkapp, and I would love a day hatch in > the Arluk. Both bags and hatches have their uses. The bags hold the stuff I > want to reach NOW, and the hatch holds things that would be good to have at > hand. An important difference. G'day with a thought or two, John. There might be an alternative for the Nordkapp, assuming it has an "ocean cockpit" -- a Kevlar Nordkapp must be fantastic, so you're probably driving it without a skeg and with the original (small) cockpit --- and carrying it home in one hand! The first mod (of many) that I did on my Pintail was to install a four inch Viking deckplate and "skinny" bag in the foredeck as my "glovebox". The orange bag hangs down into the cockpit just about between my knees, and holds a few small items. The alternative "fat bag" holds a lot more, but that's a mixed blessing in a Pintail. The foredeck has to be pretty flat to do this, but it's the best solution for me --- nothing on deck that would challenge survival if lost, and a nice clean deck --- except for the black deckplate. (Viking and Beckson make plates for the US market, Viking the only plate with the flange and the bags, but there must be something available down your way. Another option for your Nordkapp is a kneetube. A good, solid one for bracing and rolling. VCP quality, hopefully at some reasonable price. Cheap and easy to make. Yes, you'd have to pop the skirt at the front to get into the kneetube, but (1) you can see the stuff you want, (2) the water that gets in can be foot-pumped (or, for y'all, electric-pumped) out easily --- assuming you don't have a pump in the day hatch, and you're adding strength to your bracing skills. And not clobbering the deck. The only concern with any of these on- or under-deck schemes: immediate separation from your boat if you swim would mean that all that good emergency equipment is separated from you, too. (I've done a bit of research on kayaker deaths in single-boat accidents, and in every case I can recall, the boat was recovered with a lot of usable safety equipment aboard and the paddler's body usually had little in the way of protection or signalling equipment.) What conditions would knock you out of your boat, and what would those conditions do to you and the boat if you were separated even for a second or two? Stuff to think about. The equipment I really need is in my PFD or in the pocket on my skirt (Palm makes nice big pockets.) But that's me. Good luck with the storage plans. My vote would be the kneetube and the dayhatch --- the tube for vegemite sandwiches, and the dayhatch for the Brie and crackers. Nordkapps are too pretty to be turned into SUVs. Joq *************************************************************************** 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 Wed Jan 08 2003 - 22:44:40 PST
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