C-Forum

With every thing iced in, I am contemplating some pool time. Never done it before. I'm looking for advice on what you Pool regulars have found with respect to chlorine and all on skirts, drytops, float bags for an OC etc. What should I leave at home. I know that chlorine really cleans up the graying on my ash gunnels before I reoil them every year. I can imagine it has negative effects on many other things.
Pat

Pat,

I haven't noticed any negative effects of the chlorine on my floatbags (I have the Nylon bags) and, as I do not use a drytop or -suit in the pool, I can't comment on that, but I know for sure that it just eats up neoprene. Use the oldest skirts you have, and rinse them out thoroughly after each use. I know people who wash them with soap after each pool session and then let them sit in a bucket full of water until the next pool session.

martin

Thanks Martin,
If it (chlorine) eats up neoprene, what about the pedestal and knee pad foam? Do they get degraded also? Maybe its best to borrow someone else's boat. I've had that done to me before. (I'm only going to use it on an easy run and then they pound it running bad lines in class IV) Are you reading this RAY. Can I borrow your boat for a pool session?
Pat

Pat:

Forget the pool and come south for a visit. Connecticut has open water!

I spent (short) time on the water for the last 3 days. I am just starting paddling so that I can keep up with you when the NESS starts in a month (I have a C-1 to race this year and don't want to look too bad).

Saturday was balmy in the mid-30s and Sunday was chilly at 21 degrees. The disappointment is there is not too much water in the Farmington.

Jim

Jim
Since I will be entering only my third slalom in a C1 in the last decade, I need to tune up so I don't look like a fool also. Learning how to ignore my bail out reflex and roll it up is one issue I want to work on. Those talks with God really cemented that reflex in me and its hard to loose bad habits. I really need the pool time, me thinks. But I may take you up on a weekend paddle in the Nutmeg State if a couple of weekends if the weather looks good. Rain baby rain! My last paddle this fall was Tville at a high level in mid Nov. when I had traveled south to attend the NE Div ACA meeting with Dan Pelletier, Bob Allen and Earl Roberts. Now to borrow a boat for the pool.
Pat

Regarding: "Learning how to ignore my bail out reflex and roll it up is one issue I want to work on."

About a decade ago I was trying to make the conversion into a C-1. I was competent in an OC, so I figured 'no problem'. My first real challenge was the New Boston run at a spring level (about 2-3 times the release level) in a Slasher. I was leading a kayaking buddy down and flipped on some rocks. What I did not realize was that part of my paddle blade had broken off (lesson #1- get decent paddles). After a number of failed attempts to roll I decided to bail so I ejected (lesson #2- when wearing a skirt it helps to remove it from the cockpit rim).

I was now floating downstream with my skirt around my knees. The only way I could breath was to grab the boat, pull up, and grab a breath of air (hades on the knees). By going under and wrestling with the skirt I eventually got out of the boat.

It was a long swim. Very long.

I got to shore right below corkscrew. I was fortunate not to break anything in that rapid.

I was on river left and my boat eddied out on river right. My buddy rolls the boat over and looks at me, then at the skirt on the boat, then at me. This went on for a while.

I never again forgot there was a skirt on my boat. I also never got the hang of a C-1 until a couple of years ago.

FYI- I live on the river and dogs are welcome in my fenced back yard.

See you soon.

Jim

Hiya

I not only use any and all of my boats in the pool, I sometimes make the mistake of storing them in there (not in the water, but up on racks in the pool room) in between pool sessions. Doesn't seem to have harmed the minicell, etc. at all, but it did cause the grommets on the floatbags to start rusting really quickly. I now generally avoid doing that, although it is easier than lugging the boat there every time (and admittedly I have a couple of boats there right now, one with float bags).

As to other soft gear, I use my sprayskirt, and rinse it off at the end of each session (I should probably do more than that, truth to tell), my beaten old paddling shorts and my helmet (because it has my nose plugs attached to it). Any other gear I use is old pool specific stuff and belongs to the instructional program I work with.

One recommendation - even if you don't use them on the river, get a pair of nose plugs for use in the pool. You sinuses will thank you for it.



have fun in there!

Holy Cow Jim , I don't think I could get out of any one of my C1 without pulling the skirt first!

Pat, I have not noticed or ever heard of any adverse effect of chlorine on minicell foam and float bags, but I take my gear to the next coin car wash after each pool session anyway to hose it down with the pressure washer. I figure it's a buck well spent if it helps prolong the life of my gear .

martin

Hey Jim,
Looky what I found:
http://www.nodotkidding.com/images/cove ... x01712.jpg


http://www.nodotkidding.com/images/cove ... x01719.jpg
(Who is that guy, and why's he all twisted up . . . ?)

http://www.nodotkidding.com/images/farm ... x00170.jpg
(Pat, is that boat supposed to be lucky or something???)

http://www.nodotkidding.com/images/fidd ... C00364.jpg
(Now that's what slalom racing is all about)

Alden

actually, these two are what hte sport is all about. go ilya!

http://www.nodotkidding.com/images/farm ... 118_18.jpg

http://www.nodotkidding.com/images/farm ... 20_20y.jpg

You forgot 1: http://www.nodotkidding.com/images/cove ... x01724.jpg

These are great. The first 1 is the best picture I have seen of Patrick paddling.

Thanks,

Jim

That c-boater AB almost looked in control in that twitchy Reactor. I seem to remember some heroic saves of extreme twitching in those two runs as I looked on judging that day.
Pat

...so the NRS ("nothing really special") catalog came in the mail today.... they have nylon sprayshirts with a adjustable shockcord for the boat and your waist.... nothing fancy but they look like they might work in the confines of a 70+ degree pool. No round C1 race cockpits... but would fit conversion boats... anyone tried these style of skirts yet???

Craig

PS> Pat always paddles hard... doesn't he? I'm glad he's going to be back in a boat... instead of the announer's stand. (He was like Andrew "Dice" Clay up there!)

I just came across these GREAT shots from last June-

http://www.underwater.org/mermaid/New%2 ... 17-800.jpg

http://www.underwater.org/mermaid/New%2 ... 15-800.jpg


Jim

Jim
Don't forget this one. http://www.underwater.org/mermaid/New%2 ... 31-800.jpg