OK everything has been done and I am ready at last to pump up the kayak, the pump has been charged for the regulation minimum 10 hours. Having read once again the pump up procedures I am ready to start and all goes well and the kayak is ready for the dam. It is not heavy and I can easily carry it down to the dam from Wuruma Heights, there was a welcoming committee ready to give advice to the novice kayaker.
Into the water and it is very wide so probably difficult to fall out from, one of the campers said that it needed more air and I said that it only needs .5 psi and all would be well. My maiden voyage lasted around 30 minutes, forget the opera nets, it was enough to get to know the kayak. Hopefully the exercise will do my shoulder good and if I point the paddle downwards it is less painful.
By the time I paddled back to shore and managed to get out and upright I noticed that it was not so firm as when I first pumped it up, in fact it was quite wrinkly and believe me I know what wrinkly looks like. So on the phone to BCF Tweed Heads after checking out the no.4 valve for a potential leak. The manager remembered the purchase and phoned the Manager of BCF Bundaberg and had him set one aside for me.
I was prepared to pack up and drive to Bundy on Monday morning but John suggested using his vehicle and I readily agreed to that. We would get there much faster and cost less in petrol. Have you ever tried to deflate a kayak and put it back in the box it came out of? On a scale of difficulty 1 to 100 it would hit around 150 and currently it is twice the original size sitting on the original box.
So much for kayaking but after unsuccessfully trying to find a leak in a blow up mattress at Greens I wasn't even trying to find one with all those seams on the kayak. I don't want a new kayak with patches on it anyway, so it looks like I will have to wait until Tuesday for a second voyage. Might be nearer to baiting and sinking the opera nets by then, looking forward to a meal of red claw. John
Hello John, not wrinkles they are smile lines maybe wrinkles in the kayak hahaha. All is good home now, all tucked in my soft bed at Tracies. The soreness stops me from putting things on the fridge & pulling the door closed in the car, other than that the drug's have kicked in, not in pain when I don't do anything that is the same kayak as skips, I can work it. You just enjoy John. I can get the gearbox fixed, as a near new gearbox, HAPPY about that, I know I have to recover and can't wait to get on the road again. You know the song. Have great support here with family and friends. Kerry & Graham, Sandra will come pick me up to go to greens, happy about that, man I am yakn tonight. Talk soon John.
Love the kayak, John - and, sorry to hijack you post - but just wanted to wish Patty all the best, she has a good girl looking after her, who won't let her do things before she should.
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
Be aware that if kayak inflated to rated psi on land than the air temp will decrease when kayak is in water and the air temp cools. I usually add an extra .2 PSI . My kayak is a sevylor K5.
Cheers Jeff
-- Edited by Sharke on Sunday 15th of March 2015 11:31:56 PM
Be aware that if kayak inflated to rated psi on land than the air temp will decrease when kayak is in water and the air temp cools. I usually add an extra .2 PSI . My kayak is a sevylor K5.
Cheers Jeff
-- Edited by Sharke on Sunday 15th of March 2015 11:31:56 PM
Thanks for that advice Jeff, my pump only is rated to .6psi so that will have to do.
Just arrived back from Bundaberg and will inflate the new one this afternoon, so here goes.
Great looking kayak john try not windsurfing in it or red clawing without protection ..are you now a mountain man or a buddy to the dr in the heights ? Stay well roy
Jeffs absolutely right and John, you can still pump to 0.6psi as the pressure will have dropped as the air cools and contracts. So after at least one top up (once the air cools) you should be able to maintain your initial pressure. Hey, just a thought, if your shoulder gets tired you could always open the valve in the stern and jet propel back to shore.
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Landrover Discovery 4 towing a New Age Manta Ray MR19E
Muddy the new kayak pumped up ok and remained full all night, will do an extra pump as suggested.
Roy having seen your efforts at wind surfing and knowing that with all the dancing you have to be fitter than me I will take your suggestion and not try. Also being on the spot when you came back after an unprotected session with one red claw I have to take notice, 3 bites from one red claw has to be a record
I am camping where you were last year and I know you would want to be kept up to date about Nitaya, she is in Thailand until early next month and than will be coming to Wuruma.
CYA John
-- Edited by yeoeleven on Tuesday 17th of March 2015 02:21:20 PM
Nice pics young john . Embarrassing but memorable.so your a mountain man now .i would like to be able to say I'll be there shortly but life always gives me challengers windsurfing is one of them my court case another I was hoping to make my exit in May when I go to broken hill for a workshop who knows I'm not in any hurry although t would be nice to be meeting you all again . Hope the juicer works for you cya roy
Was is you doug who was clapping loudly when I finally went with the wind .so disappointed in my ability.but I will prevail going to take lessons ..back to the begginers.cya
Yeo, we have two of the inflatables like yours, a two seater and a one seater. We used to take our dog on the water in the two seater (with a hat on).
Just a hint... We found they inflate better with a manual pump than any 12 volt pump. Have never had any issues with it deflating until needed. Definitely a two person job to get all the air out though.....,
-- Edited by Dunmowin on Tuesday 24th of March 2015 08:14:08 PM