mjamja_at_earthlink.net wrote: > Thanks for all the feedback. > > I originally thought sweating was a major factor but some recent paddles > on cooler days with minimal clothing had me just as wet and prompted me > to start thinking more about the problem. Also it is not just me being > wet there is always several multiple sponge fulls of water in the kayak > even when enter/exit is dry from a dock. Mark, I agree you have a significant leak somewhere, and that some of it seems to be coming from/through the sprayskirt. However, the amount of leakage you describe seems excessive for that source, unless your paddle puts a lot of water onto the deck with every stroke. Is your boat equipped with a rudder? I've chased leaks on a couple boats, and another possible source is via the rudder cable channels, if you are paddling water rough enough to immerse the cable exits. It might seem that the tiny holes there would not admit much water, but typically the "pumping" action of your body motion on the spray skirt deck can actually work an enormous amount of water forward. An easy test of this is to securely seal the exits using electrician's tape (small slit for cable exit), and then paddle without the skirt for a while, using a paddle that does not throw water into the cockpit. Then switch to your GP and seal the deck. Compare water inside to what happens the way you usually paddle. If you do not have any exits for rudder cables, then I punt. Well, there is another possible source: a leak where the coaming attaches to the hull. This is an easy one to chase: stick your head inside the boat, with a headlamp on, and have a compliant helper spray gentle streams under the coaming edge, making sure the spray is not coming over the coaming edge. Move around the coaming and you should see water if you have any detachment. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** 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 Dec 12 2007 - 17:59:49 PST
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