[Paddlewise] Homemade dry bags

I just made another dry bag for my new camera and was reminded about what a
cool trick this is (one of my favorite gear tips from Paddlewise).  For the
benefit of those who aren't familiar with this trick--it uses heat sealable
fabric, (available from http://www.seattlefabrics.com/nylons.html -- no
affiliation with me) using Chuck Holst's article on this subject as a guide
(see http://www.paddlewise.net/topics/boatequip/drybag.pdf).  After having
done this a few times, I can pretty much make a custom dry bag of virtually
any shape in about an hour (it would be much faster than that if I were
better at the sewing part).  This is a particularly nice technique for odd
or large shaped items (like for a thermarest pad, camera, vhf radio, tent,
etc) where off-the-rack drybags either aren't available or don't fit very
well.  Plus, they're much cheaper than commercially made bags (although the
fabric now runs US$12.75 or $16.75 per yard for the regular or heavy-duty
stuff).  Heck, you could even make one for your laptop computer, hibachi
pot, dvd player and all those other gotta-have-'em but expendable things you
carry on your rear deck :-)

Evan Dallas
Woodinville Washington
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