About the perimeter lines okay yeah. I guess the knot IS the solid point? Like I get what you mean, the bungee stretches but the knot physically provided a stopper. So that’s good to go then?
Here is a pic of the perimeter line stretched, see how the knot acts as a stopper? Just want to make sure here. So good to use that as bown/stern?
The perimeter lines are something you hold onto when you are in the water to keep hold of your boat. They should have just enough slack that you can get your fingers under them. They should not stretch or be connected to anything that stretches, like bungee cord. As the name suggests, they go around the perimeter of the boat.
Bungee cords can look similar, but are elastic and used for holding down things like a spare paddle, water bottle, a map case, paddle float, a small gear bag, etc. They are typically just in front and behind the cockpit. There can be a single on at the ends of some boats to hold down a spare paddle.
Omg okay, I think I just realised, my yak just doesn’t have perimeter lines, it isn’t advertised on the product page… I only spotted something on store description saying reflective lines. I thought it would for sure considering it’s in their higher end and longer models compared to the perception carolina. But I mean, the lines passed the X bungee, are definitely not bugee, they feel like rope, like perimeter line.
Great, I was getting a yak based on doing self recues alone. This is a bummer. I guess there’s still a technique to doing it?
More expensive perimeter lines often have reflective strands interwoven with the non-stretch polyester line. If your boat was outfitted with bungee al the way around, it is an assembly error. Take it back to the dealer and have them restring it. If that is not possible, have them send you the proper perimeter line and do it yourself. It’s not hard.
You can add static perimeter lines to any boat (5 mm perlon kermantle cord, which you can get by the yard at stores that sell rock climbing gear, like EMS and REI). If you don’t have fittings to which to attach them you can get stainless steel or heavy plastic pad eyes and drill holes to mount them, using rubber washers or Aquaseal to make the penetrations water tight.
I’ve used retired rock climbing webbing loops (soft 1" tubular nylon about 3’ or 4 ’ long either tied with a water knot or overlapped and stitched on the sewing machine) to loop and snug around the stern and bow of kayaks that lacked a sturdy attachment point. I tied the safety lines to the snugged loop.
It’s not bungee all around, it’s just the kayak doesn’t have a dedicated perimeter second line set.
Look here’s a pic of what I mean, this is the stern (rear) side on the deck behind the cockpit. See how the from the left, the “perimeter” line ends and connects/knots to the bungee of the rest.
Again, an assembly error. The perimeter line should not be tied to the bungee cord. It should go through the cleat , snugged up all the way around with enough slack to just allow you to get your fingers around the line to hold onto the boat, and then knotted off after going through the cleat. The bungee cord should be knotted off separately in the same fashion. You may have to do some rearranging if there are too many lines to all fit under the one cleat.
With my boat, when the bungees needed replacing, I restrung them in a different way because I was unhappy with the original way they were done. I also redid the front perimeter lines because they didn’t extend all the way to the bow.
Sorry, forgot to note what model you have. With as many deck fittings as you already have on that Delta you could restring whatever lines you wanted on it. Have you tested to see if that length of static line actually stays in place? Could be locked in place by the bungee snugged in the fitting and not actually transfer the stretch from the bungee it is tied off to. Delta makes nice kayaks and I find it hard to believe they would design static lines that would not function as such.
I don’t think it’s an error. The website shows it like that. It’s just that the boat don’t have true perimeter line from factory IMO.
Hey sorry. I’m still a noob to all of this so I’m nore sure how all these lines are set up. It is basically just a lenght of cord, wrapped around things and knotted off in most cases?
Have you tested to see if that length of static line actually stays in place? Could be locked in place by the bungee snugged in the fitting and not actually transfer the stretch from the bungee it is tied off to.
Do you mean like test it in it’s current state? If yes, then yeah, when I pull the perimeter line, it gives a bit of slack but then that knots makes the line solid. Isn’t that enough? Maybe I’m complete wrong here but I feel like they are doing a 2 in 1 type of thing maybe?
It’s possible that they did it that way to leave a little slack in the perimeter line. If so it looks like it will work.
It does look like a proper perimeter line. If it lacks reflective thread, they short changed you. Might be a supply problem.
I did shine a light on it to check but yeah no reflectiveness…
This yak isn’t new. bought it used. It’s 2-3 years old. But still, on the website it does not state reflective lines for that model specifically. All the 15.5 GTs since 2015 are the same generation.
Reflective line is a nice feature for night paddling, but hardly essential. Just something to keep in mind when it comes time to replace it. Deck line and bungees eventually wear out.
For sure, already noticed that with the smaller bungee cord for the front handle ha! Would definitely like to redo that one.
Difficult to find a source though for getting proper bungee. I’m in Canada to so doesn’t help.
Reading the owner manual online and found the description. of the lines!
- Perimeter Lines Our perimeter lines are shock corded and easy to grab with gloved
hands for safe retrieval of your kayak in case of capsize and aid in rescue situations.
I guess that’s it!
Marine supply stores and kayak shops generally have good quality bungee, both in store and online.
It appears this discussion has progressed. While I personally would not be a fan of my perimeter line being tied directly into any shock cord, it may be a thing with these boats.
My concern with that system is that it may hold the perimeter line too tight, like it would be challenging to get a gloved hand under it if you were swimming. I always leave a smidge of slack in my perimeter lines because of that. So the knot sits directly against a deck fitting. Then again I have never used the bungied carry handles so no appeal there, which appears to be part of the rational for tying the bungie directly into the perimeter line.
The reflective line can be nice, I have used it, depends on your paddling. It does help make you visible to boaters and night and in the fog.
Get some solas tape on eBay 1/2" wide for reflection. Buy 3M reflective cord when you are ready. Topkayker.com has it.
The manufacturer designed the perimeter line to have bungie cord section to hold the line to follow the deck and by doing this, not have excess/slack line hanging loose. They just have enough tension that it is easy to grab the perimeter line if needed. I find this to be acceptable. Still have use of the line and keeps the boat looking neat.
I stopped worrying about my boats looking neat a long time ago. They are tools, albeit pretty ones, to do what you want to do.
I can get to what I need. Making sure of that is not always a friend of neat.
