Camera, action, roll the tape
Photo from www.indestructables.com |
In the case of kayaking, the worst problem of all could be
punching a hole in your hull during a trip. I know what you’re thinking – can duct tape
really keep a boat watertight?
Those fearless guys at “MythBusters” on the Discovery Channel asked the same question – watch their amazing experiment with positive results. Also check out this do-it-yourself project that cost about $20 in materials and a couple of days of work (photo at right).
Those fearless guys at “MythBusters” on the Discovery Channel asked the same question – watch their amazing experiment with positive results. Also check out this do-it-yourself project that cost about $20 in materials and a couple of days of work (photo at right).
A shine that’s fine
Polish without the fuss |
Now that you’ve
washed the dust and grime off that yak, how about adding a little shine? Polishing
composite shell boats can be a real pain, for sure, but here’s one product that works better
than most – Turtle Wax Ice. It’s a bluish liquid available at big box stores. It
goes on and rubs off easily. And it doesn’t leave a white film on the deck
lines so you don’t have to remove all the rigging before polishing. Saves a bunch
of time. And thanks to Cap’n Bob Moon for the tip.
Put out the welcome mat
After
a couple of hours on chilly water, cold can transfer from the hull to your legs – brrrrrrrrr. Try an old, rubber-coated bath mat between the seat
and foot pegs. Assuming you keep the yak upright, you’ll definitely notice a difference in warmth. Plus, if you’re camping, it makes an excellent tent entry mat, keeping dirt out.And thanks to Terri Arbuckle of Headwaters Adventure Company for the tip.
It’s Hefty, but does it make me look fat?
A large,
heavy-duty garbage bag is a multi-purpose yak accessory. It wads up small
and light, but consider the possibilities: It can fix a leaky hatch. In a true emergency, it can be a poncho windbreaker
or even a mini-shelter. Or provide an extra dry bag. And
of course, it’s always handy to hold those wet paddling clothes and shoes back
in the car. Thanks to kayak
instructor Thomas Schuebel (FaceBook or thomasschuebel@sbcglobal.net) for the tip.
A PFD for your waterproof camera |
And don’t gamble all your chips on one day….
Speaking of
cameras and kayaking, always take at least one extra, empty memory chip on a
multi-day paddle. That way, you can switch out the chips overnight, and should
the unthinkable happen to your camera (glub, glub, glub), at least you’ll have
some photos from part of the trip.
© Glenn Brank 2013