[Rhodes22-list] Memorial Day Plans

Fri May 28 17:51:22 EDT 2004

Steve,

We use two different types of dry bags.  In the bow & the stern, we have
WATERSHED (tm) dry bags. (www.drybags.com)  These bags have a tapered
V-shape to fit in the ends of a kayak.  At the large end of the bag, they
have a HD "zipper" closure, which is sort of like an industrial strength
version of a ZIPLOC bag closure.  This HD zipper enables one to open up the
bag, stuff it full of light weight, compressible gear like clothing or a
sleeping bag, & close up the zipper to seal the bag.  Then, to further seal
the zippered end, it is designed with a Dry Seal roll down closure like most
dry bags have.  After sealing the big end of the dry bag, there is an
inflation tube with a built-in twist close inflation valve.  You shove the
tapered bag up into the end of the kayak & use the inflation tube to inflate
it such that it is locked in place.  There are also reinforced tie-down
points available to further secure the bag in place.

The other type of dry bag we use is a SEAL LINE (tm) Baja Bag.
(www.casadedesigns.com)  The sides of these bags are made from bright yellow
20 oz PVC and the bottom is made from black 32 oz PVC.  They are available
in various sizes; but, we find the 40 liter HD size to be most convienient
to fit in the mid section of our kayaks right behind the seat.  Filled with
gear or inflated, this dry bag looks like a cylinder about 12 inches OD X
about 24 inches long & has the same Dry Seal roll down closure.  When the
Dry Seal roll down closure is rolled several turns, it is quite air tight,
thus enabling the Baja Bag to be used for floatation.

Some gear, like the tent, & sleeping pad simply go into the kayak without
any further protection since they will not be damaged if they get wet.

Note, kayaks are very sensitive to fore/aft weight distribution & center of
gravity considerations.  Therefore, heavy gear is packed low & near the
middle of the kayak.  The V-bags are only used for lightweight gear like
sleeping bags and clothing.  To a certain extent, the fore/aft trim can be
adjusted by sliding the seat fore & aft on its built-in rails to shift the
position of the paddler.  The position of the foot braces is also adjustable
once the seat is positioned.  Usually, once you get a certain loading scheme
worked out; then, you stick to it & the vessel's trim does not change from
day-to-day.

Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium

----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Alm" <salm at mn.rr.com>
To: "Rhodes" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 3:16 PM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Memorial Day Plans

> Hi Roger,
>
> Sounds like a fun trip.  Question:  what are you using for your "inflated
> dry bags?"
>
> Slim
>
> On 5/28/04 8:21 AM, "Roger Pihlaja" <cen09402 at centurytel.net> wrote:
>
> > Hi Everybody,
> >
> > Well, my two sons & I have a long 4 day weekend.  We're invited to a
wedding
> > on Saturday, so we couldn't go away for the entire time.  Originally, we
were
> > going to take Dynamic Equilibrium & explore a section of Michigan's
Inland
> > Waterway from the Lake Huron coast at Cheboygan, MI traveling inland
west to
> > about Indian River, MI.  This section of the Inland Waterway includes
the
> > Cheboygan Lock, the Cheyboygan River, Mullett Lake, Burt Lake, & the
Indian
> > River.  A lot of this trip would be motoring with the only sailing being
on
> > Burt Lake & Mullett Lake.  GBI's single-handed mast raising system would
have
> > gotten a workout, raising & lowering the mast to get under the various
low
> > bridges & other low clearance obstacles.
> >
> > Then, we got all this rain in the last couple of weeks.  In fact, May,
2004 is
> > turning out to be setting a new record for rainfall here in Michigan.
There
> > is a 28.5 mile stretch of the Pigeon River that empties into Mullett
Lake that
> > provides some of the best whitewater in the lower penninsula at any time
of
> > the year.  With all the heavy rain we've had this month - well surfs up
baby!
> > With the high water in the Pigeon River, this is a totally unique
opportunity
> > & we decided to leave Dynamic Equilibrium at home in order to do an
overnight
> > kayak trip.
> >
> > Our float plan calls for launching the 3 kayaks at the Sturgeon River
Valley
> > Rd. Bridge about 10 miles east of I-75 & Vanderbilt, MI on Sunday.  We
will
> > have all our camping gear on board the 3 kayaks in dry bags.  Since this
is a
> > one way river trip, we will have 2 vehicles.  Prior to launch, we will
> > position one of the vehicles at the 1st night's stop at a primative
campground
> > in the Pigeon River State Forest near the Red Bridge @ Webb Rd.  Having
a
> > vehicle available at the midpoint of the trip gives us more options.  If
one
> > of us gets hurt, one of the kayaks gets damaged, the weather is lousy,
the
> > river is just impassible due to high water, fallen trees, floating
debris,
> > etc; then, we have the option of bailing out after the 1st day.
Assuming we
> > stay Sunday night, we will load the camping gear into the vehicle &
carry just
> > the inflated dry bags in the kayaks for floatation on the 2nd day.  We
will
> > have to shuttle vehicles around so one of the vehicles is spotted at the
> > take-out point at the Clement Rd. Bridge about 16.5 river miles
downstream
> > from our camp site.  The Clement Rd. Bridge is just south of where the
Pigeon
> > River empties into Mullett Lake.  The "best" whitewater occurs on the
section
> > of river we will encounter on the 2nd day.  This is why we don't want
the
> > extra weight of the camping gear in the kayaks & why we do want the
extra
> > floatation from the inflated dry bags.  Nearly all of this trip will be
within
> > the boundaries of the Pigeon River State Forest.  Normally, the Pigeon
River
> > State Forest is pretty popular with morel mushroom hunters at this time
of
> > year.  But, it's been so wet that most of the mushroom beds will be
> > underwater.  This is a pretty isolated, wilderness region & we don't
expect to
> > see anyone else all weekend.  We do hope to see some wild elk.
> >
> > Roger Pihlaja
> > S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> >
> >
> > __________________________________________________
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>
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