RE: [Paddlewise] Fitting a hands free pump to a Kahuna - sea socks in their infancy

From: PeterO <rebyl_kayak_at_iprimus.com.au>
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2003 20:04:26 +1100
Mike wrote: -
>Since no one else answered...................
>Do you want a self contained unit? ............
>Since the Aussies are associated in my mind with
>originating the trend towards putting electric pumps
>in kayaks, you should be able to get good local advice.

G'Day Mike,
		You were right on all counts. Plus I received some good advice 'off line'.
The advice goes like this: -

1. Attachment of a pump seems to be quite straight forward with most people
suggesting a platform attached to one of the crossribs. The outlet hose as
you say is a bother with the only straight forward option being, as you
suggested, to take it out between the sock and the hull over the side of the
cockpit.

2. However, with oversised flotation bags and a sea sock, there should be no
need for a pump between the sock and the hull.

3. The Attwood Water Buster is a good self contained unit to empty the sea
sock, provided it is mounted on a semi rigid platform so the sock fabric
doesn't choke the inlet.

Meanwhile a controversy rages off line as to whether its hard or easy to
empty water out of the sea sock without a pump. The protagonists for
electric pumping maintain that the sock can't be turned inside out against
the partial vacuum in the space between the hull and the sock.

Think of all the useful modifications that could be made to a sea sock?
Pockets for example would be nice to have and a valve for releasing the
partial vacuum (if it exists) so the sock could be emptied without a pump,
or a hydrophobic fine mesh panel to achieve the same effect without a valve.
Zips in the sock for accessing gear in the boat. Built in inflatable back
pads. Sea sock design is in it infancy!

Now, thinking about the electric pump exemption option and how to argue
worst possible cases? The worst flooding scenario I could think of would be
a rip severe enough to penetrate both hull and flotation bags - it seems
unlikely - but thats what they said about the Titanic. This leads to the
thought that multi compartmented flotation bags might do the trick.

Anyway I happen to have an Attwood pump and some flotation bags - so I'll
try these out.

All the best, PeterO
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Received on Fri Nov 14 2003 - 01:39:07 PST

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