Hatin' on airbags

[Walsh]

Georgia Tech still has a Sunburst II outfitted with a kneeling thwart and huge pieces of open cell foam.

Anyone here live through the days of tractor inner tubes? Seems like the outfitting could have outweighed the craft...

[Bob P]

SBroam's not that far from reality. In the '70s, some of us (cheapskates...) stuffed our open boats with one-gallon milk jugs.

Never used Styrofoam, but I did use Ethafoam slabs on the inside at one point. At least they didn't soak up quite so much water, and didn't turn to dust.

[dixie_boater]

Anyone here live through the days of tractor inner tubes? Seems like the outfitting could have outweighed the craft...

I used truck tire inner tubes in the early 80's in a Mohawk Whitewater 16 for paddling it solo. I made a ethafoam full length saddle for the center position. I thought that was so cool And yes, it was heavy but I was young and could have cared less.

I remember seeing that sunburst II with sytrafoam blocks on the Ocoee Must have been around 1986. A ORGT group was hanging out around Diamond Splitter watching us side surf witches hole.

[KNeal]

Yep. Done the tractor inner tube thing with my 17 foot Coleman canoe. This is back in the day when "horse collar", or yoke, life preservers were state-of-the-art.

[jroneil]

I have seen shipping peanuts stuff in a home made nylon bag problem was the bag was leaking them all over the place

[kaz]

I used the "packing peanuts in plastic garbage bags" technique in my first canoe, and the giant inner tubes. NOT recommended.

[acc]

I was told to contact Bob P re kneeling thwarts, but saw the tractor inner tube comment & had to chime in. My first real whitewater trip was on Wolf R, Wisc years ago. I used my Mad River Guide & for floatation crammed two truck inner tubes in bow & stern. They definitely weighed more than the canoe & fortunately I did not get to see how well they would work.
I have a Dagger Caption I recently bought that has kneeling thwarts. I understand Bob has done some modifying in past to allow thwarts to be quickly detached in event of a pin. I would appreciate any ideas & pictures if you have them Bob.
Thank-you.
Allen aka acc
thecloses@yahoo.com

[obdave]

ended up in my first downriver race last weekend. pulled out my old coldcracked explorer and my buddy and i stuffed pool toys under the thwarts. was extremely classy-kept it dry so didnt really test em out but sure have plans for next year-blow up dolls anyone?

[solo_konoe]

Ditto: Hatin' on airbags

At the top of Dragon's Tooth rapid on the Dryway, the nozzle on my brand new GAIA airbags popped off and disappeared down the rapid. Advice on getting a local replacement from a brick and mortar?

[hazardharry]

i use shipping bags. they are called "dunnage bags" i pay $4 each for a 36"x36" bag on e-bay. i use 6 in my big boat. she is unsinkable. i never remove them. nice to nap on too. http://youtu.be/4G2ZsXNjEHk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[OC One Blade]

i use shipping bags. they are called "dunnage bags"

What kind of valves do these bags have? Are special inflator attachments needed?

[hazardharry]

any type inflater will work. just make an adaptor. i use a cheapo walmart battery powered one. or you can just put your lips together and blow...

[OC One Blade]

Cool. Thanks.