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From: PeterO <rebyl_kayak_at_iprimus.com.au>
subject: [Paddlewise] Fitting a hands free pump to a Kahuna
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 07:08:46 +1100
G'Day,

In order to meet my clubs safety requirements I need to fit a hands free
pump, probably electrical, into my Kahuna, between the sea sock and the
hull. Any ideas on how to do this? Or where I can get a small, effective
portable electric pump?

All the best, PeterO
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From: Michael Daly <michaeldaly_at_rogers.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Fitting a hands free pump to a Kahuna
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2003 17:34:19 -0500
On 12 Nov 2003 at 7:08, PeterO wrote:

> In order to meet my clubs safety requirements I need to fit a hands
> free pump, probably electrical, into my Kahuna, between the sea sock
> and the hull. Any ideas on how to do this? Or where I can get a small,
> effective portable electric pump?

Since no one else answered...

Do you want a self contained unit?  I'm not familiar with the Kahuna, 
but some of the folders have lots of room at/near the cockpit, so a 
combined pump/battery rig could be used.  I don't know much about 
them other than that they exist.

For a separate pump and battery rig, I'd suggest looking into the 
Paddlewise archive for stuff I posted a while ago.  Also do a google 
search on rec.boats.paddle.touring for a post I put up within the 
last couple of months.

I suppose that main issue I see is attaching everything.  With a 
hardshell kayak, you have bulkheads and such to attach to.  You can 
also drill thru the hull to attach the outlet hose.  

For a folder, you could easily attach the pump to a small sheet of 
plastic or waterproofed plywood and then suspend that between a 
couple of stringers or clip it to a frame.  

How would you handle the outlet hose?  I'd be loath to cut thru the 
skin.  Putting a hose thru the seasock and then letting it dangle 
over the coaming and under the mostly-attached skirt might be 
acceptable.When not in use, it would lie in the seasock with you - a 
bit of a leak in the seasock, but not much (you can get a checkvalve 
to prevent flow into the kayak).

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.

Mike
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From: PeterO <rebyl_kayak_at_iprimus.com.au>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Fitting a hands free pump to a Kahuna - sea socks in their infancy
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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From: alex <al.m_at_3web.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Fitting a hands free pump to a Kahuna - sea socks in their infancy
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2003 13:02:22 -0800
> Zips in the sock for accessing gear in the boat. Built in inflatable back
> pads. Sea sock design is in it infancy!

Yes, it's very basic.  I doubt, though, that zipper is a good thing - if it
won't leak, it is still a potential problem spot.

>
> 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

Feathercrafts have sponsons - unlike Titanic, it won't sink due to rip near
the bottom and when all "bulkheads" (inflatable in your case) are gone ;
such rip would have to be in sponsons (don't know if you would have to
puncture both sponons - this must depend on how heavy gear you have),
otherwise it floats, but you can't paddle it.  At least, it floats with both
sponsons intact. Carrying 2 gallon (10 liter) vinyl folding bucket is a good
idea too - works so much faster than manual pump, that in some situations
can be more effective despite leaving sprayskirt open.

> thought that multi compartmented flotation bags might do the trick.

I  don't know if such exist, but several floation bags look like equivalent
of smaller number of single-compartment bags.  The only problem would be to
lose some of these bags if they are not secured to the frame.
Alex.
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