Help end my floatation nightmare!

[boatbuster]

Air bags are the worst thing about open boating. I have had nothing but trouble with the ones I have bought, especially the ones made by a company called Headwaters. The seems bust or they spring leaks and they are cheap and worthless, but cost an arm and a leg. Any good sources for open canoe air bags that last?

[msims]

The voyageur (er?) bags are pretty good, IMO - you can sometimes get them online at www.sierratradingpost.com - I got kayak float bags (AHEM! for my C1) at 15 buck a pair...

I'd say they're the best on the market - and reasonably light...

[ChrisKelly]

have great luck. I like the nylon ones because they are lighter and more flexible. I am hard on gear. I almost always take the bags out for long drives but often go 100 miles with them in. I attach them with a fastex buckle in the bow and stern, with three ties down points, with a strap and your usual string cage.

Things that have caused problems for me are having the end of a bolt abrade the bag, driving with the bags empty (the flapping can tear them up), and abrasion from the string.

Although I have sucessfully repaired bags that have pulled away from the valves, usually a hole near the gasket is fatal. For holes in other places I have decided that duct tape is as good as anything. It is quick and lasts literally years.

Oh yes, I am subject to attacks of airbag anxiety, esp when driving over the Divide or on the Cherolloah. I am compelled to stop and check a lot which drives my wife crazy.

[Jim Michaud]

For holes in other places I have decided that duct tape is as good as anything. It is quick and lasts literally years.

Try Aquaseal for repairing air bags. It works great. I always thin out the Aquaseal with toluene first.

Jim

[ChrisKelly]

n/t

[Louie]

I worked for the company that was the parent company of those bag and Headwaters didn't hold up for me. But once I put a set in a boat then don't come out till some scaq on an old pine hooks um and pulls them out.

[sbroam]

I've had Perception/Harmony bags in my open boats since I bought my first in '91 - come to think of it, I think that is the only kind I have ever had. I've had really good luck with those, a couple of my original bags (second hand even then) are still serviceable. I've gotten some new ones in the last couple of years from SierraTradingPost.com.

I try not to travel far or fast with them in the boats. In one Mohawk I had the factory set up with the strap and buckles - I would deflate the bags and compress them into the ends. That saved the fabric from the wear and tear from flapping. I also make sure the inflation tubes are secured so they don't flap.

[boatbuster]

Now another question. What is the best source for Voyageur or Harmony air bags? I have a pair of Harmonys in my Superfly and they have held up OK except for some leakage around the hoses. I would be willing to spend a little more for some Voyageur nylon bags if they would last and since their stuff is gauranteed. The NRS bags seem good too. I wouldn't mind them for my C-1, but I can't go for that ugly gray color in an open boat.


The seams on the Headwaters bags are crappy. If that company was still around I would try to send them back.[/i]

[RodS]

I had good luck ordering from here:
http://www.riversports.com/index.php

[Tiggy]

Got some 60" from NOC, so far so good.