C-Forum

I have done a lot of diving. Being from Ontario I have done a number of pool sessions/courses during the winter (cold water diving isn't my thing). A very common practice is to always rinse your gear in fresh water after being in a pool (usually a shower or bath tub) to avoid the chlorine damaging/causing excessive wear on gear.

Does chlorine have the same effect on paddling gear? I would be nervous of outfitting deterioration (saddle, float bags, knee pads, glue between pieces of foam, etc...)

Any thoughts? Or am I just over-thinking this?

I paddle most of my boats in the pool quite often, never had a problem with outfitting being effected by the chlorine. Although my stuff normally gets a riverwater rinse soon thereafter.

By their chemical nature plastics should be OK. Boat, polypro/vinyl straps, foam etc.
Fabric (if not synthetic particularly) is what gets the most hurts. PFD etc and metal things also. Even the stainless steel gets corroded by chlorine.

wash it, there is a reason bleach and chlorine are commonly used together.

I don't know whether it's necessary or not, but I've always rinsed my spray skirt & PFD in the shower afterwards as I was advised to do so many years ago to avoid chlorine degradation.

At the very least it gives you an excuse to stand in a hot shower a little longer after pool sessions!

John

I use my old PFD at the pool, and save my new PFD for the river. But rinsing out is still a very good idea.

Shep

I can't see a half-dozen pool sessions a year causing too many problem.

this just reminded me of something ive been meaning to ask here for a while- what about pumps? i am using the attwood tsunami 1200 and am concerned that pool water could damage it, and have been debating taking it out this winter when all of my paddling is pool sessions.

I know a guy at my pool session wouldn't run his pump. He didn't know if it did damage or not but he didn't want to chance it. There's no reason for a pump at a roll session anyhow.

I'd bet cash money that those pumps are identical to pool pumps. Shouldn't be an issue.

the switch will corrode faster if its not sealed perfectly

It can mess with your battery, I left one in its case with some chlorinated waterin it. messed it up