WTB: Clear canoe float bags

Mike W. · Post by **Mike W.** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 4:52 am

I want some clear float bags. I need one 7' bag & one 3'. If they're longer, that's ok.

kaz · Post by **kaz** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 11:45 pm

Hi Mike,
I know that shipping charges may kill you but there's a gentleman in Japan that makes clear bags, I have them in my Spark. Go to www.arahata.com. Click on Green Lake. You'll need a translator, like babelfish, google, or the one from firefox.
Good luck.
JKaz

cheajack · Post by **cheajack** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 3:50 pm

Help me out here! Why clear float bags?

Mike W. · Post by **Mike W.** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 3:59 pm

cheajack wrote:Help me out here! Why clear float bags?

'cause they look neat

cheajack · Post by **cheajack** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 5:04 pm

Hhhmmmmm, sounds like something that has to be cleaned and maintained to stay looking good.

Mike W. · Post by **Mike W.** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 6:23 pm

HMMMM

Now that you mention it, I guess you will see the crud that is bound to build up between the bags & boat. Oh well, they're going in a race boat & I need to keep the excess weight of crud down anyway. In that respect I'll know when I need to clean the boat

Kaz, thanks for the link but I can't open it. I get a 403 error "Internet Explorer was able to connect to the website, but it does not have permission to view the webpage."

Does anyone know where I can find clear bags in North America?

Post by **sbroam** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 11:37 pm

I had some clear ones for a C-1 and they were not that pretty at all after they spent a season in the boat - mildew!

Eric Nyre · Post by **Eric Nyre** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 1:13 am

The link Kaz posted absorbed a period at the end (probably a cboats forum software thing).

It should be:

http://www.arahata.com

Looks like a Bell dealer in Japan

jscottl67 · Post by **jscottl67** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 3:11 pm

cheajack wrote:Help me out here! Why clear float bags?

So he can watch the kevlar crack when he hits one of those just under the surface rocks....oooph

Mike, guessing this is the kevlar boat you picked up

Mike W. · Post by **Mike W.** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 4:29 pm

jscottl67 wrote:So he can watch the kevlar crack when he hits one of those just under the surface rocks....oooph

Mike, guessing this is the kevlar boat you picked up

HEY, I hadn't thought of this advantage

Paddled the boat on Saturday. It's not as squirrelly as I had expected. Soon as I can find some airbags I'll try it in whitewater.

Also, I remeasured & a couple of 3' bags will work.

jscottl67 · Post by **jscottl67** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 6:22 pm

Are you racing that boat this spring? I know you mentioned the tractor seat in an earlier post. I think they often used foot blocks with those for paddling while seated (believe it was a wenonah?). Are you planning on paddling kneeling or seated?

Mike W. · Post by **Mike W.** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 11:29 pm

Yeah, I plan to race it every chance I get this spring & do a bunch of downriver runs on the Roanoke all winter. I've gotta get used to sitting up. I put the tractor seat in & it already has the foot-brace. The seat slides so easily I had to swipe the seat clamp from my marathon boat so I won't get too far from the foot-brace & mess up the trim. While I had the Marathon down I swiped the paddle clips too.

The plan is to sit (it's faster that way). I may need to kneel in heavier water though, so I'm probably going to put in some knee cups. Once I do that & find air bags the boat will be ready for whitewater. I finally got on the Japanese site that Kaz recomended, but the link to the accessories doesn't work. I guess I'll try to find some roberts valves to fix my old bags till I can find clear ones...Gotta be able to see the Kevlar crack

I may run the Roanoke on Thursday or Friday if you're interested. I figure run it in the new boat, then swap to the Sith to surf at Weldon

jscottl67 · Post by **jscottl67** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 2:06 am

I'm off Th. and Friday, but probably painting if the weather permits

I'd much rather be paddling

I might try to convince Scott to try OC2 with me on that, if he is willing to throw bags in one of his boats. If not, I guess I could try to patch the glass on my old 16' boat and bang it down the river with him

Mike W. · Post by **Mike W.** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 2:39 am

I just found some old bags. They've been holding air for a couple of hours now. I'm definately running the Roanoke Thursday. The weather will not permit painting. Y'all should come on up & paddle.