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Re: Why Hatches?
By:Shawn Baker
Date: 7/16/2001, 10:20 am
In Response To: Re: Why Hatches? (Paul G. Jacobson)

Agreed,

Mariner Kayaks don't have front bulkheads in most of their models, but they're the line overwhelmingly chosen to do Inside Passage trips.

Float bags become critical, sea socks become almost so.

It's a slightly different paradigm; not really better, not really worse, but different, and not what a lot of people are used to using. Some could call it fear of the unknown.

Know your own boat and how to keep yourself safe in all conditions.

Shawn

: I am certain you are not the only one. As a practical matter, very few skin
: on frame kayaks have hatches or bulkheads, either. It would be difficult
: to install them.

: Among that group would be Klepper kayaks. They have been around for well over
: 90 years I believe, and have a pretty impressive record for reliability.
: (When people want to go on trans-oceanic voyages, they seem to choose
: Klepper.) Their cockpit openings are not particularly suited to sea socks
: either, for that matter. You can get drybags and floats for them, but
: mostly people seem to jsut go with the standard inflatable sponsons.

: What does this mean? Well, the cliche about the may ways of skinning a cat
: comes to mind. Since there is not a unique set of problems, safety in
: boating cannot be boiled down to one single set of answers. It is a shame,
: but true.

: Consider your conditions. Kayaking in rapids is different from kayaking on a
: calm lake, and both are different from kayaking in the open ocean waves.
: Safety concerns in each of these conditions will be different. While I'm
: at this point, let me throw in the issue of open canoes, as well. They
: take on rapids and calm lakes about as often as kayaks -- maybe more often
: -- although there are not a lot that go into open oceans. A discussion of
: the use of bulkheads as a safety item would have to address the use of
: these boats in gentle and rough conditions.

: Anyone who wishes to argue for the necessity of bulkheads in a kayak used on
: lake or rapid stream must end up arguing against some canoeist who travels
: in similar waters, and doesn't even have a place to put a bulkhead.

: Drybags, airbags, floatbags, solid floatation -- among other options -- will
: keep a boat afloat if it should swamp. Despite the flotation option used,
: though,removing the unwanted water from the boat is a major problem, and I
: think time spent on considering this issue would be a good thing. In the
: long run, some of the safety options are merely ways to prevent or
: minimize the accumulation of water inside the boat. When it comes to
: water, if you can't keep it out, though, you have to eventually get it
: out. That usually means a bailer, bucket, sponge, or some form of pump --
: and now I think I've added even more confusion to the issue. sorry about
: that.

: PGJ

Messages In This Thread

Why Hatches?
Rene Braun -- 7/15/2001, 11:11 am
Re: Why Hatches?
Julie Kanarr -- 7/17/2001, 1:50 pm
maybe
mike allen -- 7/17/2001, 2:36 pm
Re: maybe
Julie Kanarr -- 7/18/2001, 5:24 pm
Re: maybe - another hatch and footbrace option
Dave S. -- 7/24/2001, 12:08 am
expanded a bit
mike allen -- 7/18/2001, 6:28 pm
Re: Why Hatches?
Geo. Cushing -- 7/16/2001, 4:35 pm
Re: Why Hatches?
West -- 7/16/2001, 9:19 pm
Re: Why Hatches?
West -- 7/16/2001, 10:23 pm
Re: Why Hatches?
Bob Kelim -- 7/15/2001, 9:52 pm
Re: Why Hatches?
LeeG -- 7/15/2001, 7:26 pm
Re: Why Hatches?
Roy Morford -- 7/15/2001, 12:10 pm
Re: Why Hatches?
Paul G. Jacobson -- 7/15/2001, 7:21 pm
Re: Why Hatches?
Shawn Baker -- 7/16/2001, 10:20 am
First in the Chorus
Mike Scarborough -- 7/15/2001, 4:16 pm
Re: First in the Chorus
Roy Morford -- 7/15/2001, 5:52 pm
Re: Why Hatches?
Mike -- 7/15/2001, 12:04 pm
Re: Why Hatches?
Roy Morford -- 7/15/2001, 12:16 pm
gee thanks
Mike -- 7/15/2001, 12:58 pm
Re: Internet discussion
Shawn Baker -- 7/16/2001, 10:13 am
Re: Sorry Mike - no offence intended *NM*
Roy Morford -- 7/15/2001, 2:49 pm