RE: [Paddlewise] Another new product

Bob, Craig, Kasper, let me add a few clarifications and comments (yours are
appended in copy at bottom) -- by way of prior disclosure: I was part of the
"development team" for the PakPod. 

Firstly, I certainly agree that it is good practice to carry as little gear
as possible on a kayak deck. However, if one does end up stashing things on
the deck, and most paddlers do, then the more secure that gear is, the
better. The inside of a well-secured bag of some type is about as secure as
you get, I reckon.

Secondly, here are links to a couple of short clips of the PakPod in action,
which, a picture being worth a thousand words, might address some of the
concerns voiced so far, even if, for the sake of clarity, the clips were
shot in mill-pond flat conditions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bz3rTeLpF0c 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt1wJTr7T84

Note that every action of deployment and recovery of the Pod can be carried
out one-handed, leaving the paddler's other hand to hold on to the boat.
Note further, that all gear is secured at all times, except for the paddle,
briefly, before it is inserted and strapped into the mesh pocket on the
underside of the Pod -- and for that brief period it floats between the boat
and the paddler, and is unlikely to escape even if not leashed.

The PakPod is buckled to a webbing-strap-harness via four SRBs, any two of
which, as a transverse or diagonal pair, are enough to hold the Pod on the
deck temporarily. The harness, in turn, is itself secured to the four
hardpoints (D-rings et al) typically found on most kayaks forward of the
cockpit (or to deck-rigging lines strung on the foredeck), and stays there
even when the bag is used as a paddle-float. The Pod has the usual, proven
roll-top waterproof closure; this particular closure actually turns out to
be air-tight if rolled even with minimal care. 

The underside of the Pod is "soft" and thus conforms to any deck shape. The
"dome" results from a PE board stiffener (without bottom) inside the Pod,
which is removable for packing, i.e., you can pack the Pod completely flat
for travelling. 

When deployed, the dome shape guarantees that the Pod always displaces a
certain volume, whether you fill it with gear or not -- unless you fill it
with bricks, the PakPod will float. One positive feature when using the Pod
as a float with gear inside is that that gear acts as a counterweight in
case the paddler overbalances. That has been pretty useful, especially when
less experienced, or spooked paddlers have ended up with their CG on the
wrong side of the boat during re-entry.

Even when executing a very flat stroke I have experienced no problems with
interference from the Pod -- I am not aware of anyone so far that has not
found a good compromise between positioning the Pod far enough forward to
have sufficient clear space for paddling or certain assisted rescue
techniques, and far enough aft to reach the forward buckles for re-fastening
after re-entry.

I would not want to engage in arguments pro or con paddlefloats and/or
deckbags in general. However, there are people that choose to use either or
both, mostly for good and valid reasons. For those people checking out the
dual-function PakPod might be useful.

Kristen Greenaway (amongst other things a successful Everglades Challenge
competitor) recently wrote a fairly exhaustive review of her testing of the
PakPod for the October 2007 issue "Sea Kayaker".

Best regards,
Ralph Hoehn
FoldingBoats_at_aol.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Kasper Osterbye

... I tend to agree with Craig on this one. Do not put things on top of the
kayak unless absolutely necessary.

A deck pack for the front has to be sufficiently far removed from your body
that it does not interfere with your paddling, not even if you need to make
rescue strokes, help an other kayaker etc. So you need to keep your
"workspace" clean.

The specific solution seems like it is big enough to serve as a paddle
float, even when you add camera, phone, some water and snaks, and the extra
warm jacket, or what ever your want to put there.

But you should imagine where you put the back once you are in the kayak
again. It seems as if the front straps are so far removed from your body
that once in the kayak, you might only be able to fasten the two straps
closest to you.

As Craig points out this one is somewhat barrel shaped, which means that one
can wonder how well it lies on the front deck. The front deck of my kayak is
somewhat round, so it could not be there.

-- Kasper
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