Well I might soon be ordering a P&H Sirius and I was wondering if anyone had a Sirius with a deckpump installed and if i really got in the awy at all. Anyone with a P&H installed deck pump would probally be off help (im assuming they would put all of them in the same place?)
Ya, I was thinking bahiya to replace the orion, but I’ve paddled a Sirius hf a bunch of times and do really like it so Sirius is lookin the way to go
My wife
Just ordered a Sirius and will be getting the boat this spring…
She ordered the boat with a custom fitted bulkhead and a foot pump.
I’m waiting on new boat as well.
I really do love the Sirius and I can’t wait for it to come in and outfit the cockpit for her.
might reconsider and not get one
I have used foot bilge pumps for years, but in truth, discovered that even in a boat with roomy area to pump the pedal that I would begin to get calf cramps half way through pumping, that a full cockpit of water is allot of pumping, and that although it has some advantage over hand pumping, mainly being keeping the hands on the paddle and the skirt on, bit pluses, but still I decided that the
Electric pump was the better way to go, IMO, and for me. As instructor, guide, leader, solo paddler, I thought out in what conditions would I need this and what was it going to do and not do. As part of an entire package of Seamanship, skills, judgment, planning, rescue skills, etc. I wanted a system that would repeatedly and with NO effort get the water out. That way I had not only more safety, but more energy, to handle me, and to help others.
If you have only calmer water or less adverturous ambitions, a foot pump might be helpful and order one, but for larger purposes consider the Rapid Runner Bilge System as an example of a finely crafted system. (NO I get nothing nothing!)
Evan
boat
Hi Razor What boat did you decide on? Curious as to what to look for next year…
Best wishes
Roy
Question Evans
I have been reading the various threads re pumps and have been reading some online lit. The foot pumps that I have looked up don’t have a very high flow rate and I am curious as to how long it takes to empty a cockpit full of water with a foot pump.
Since you have experience with just that, (from your post above), you know the answer to my question.
thanks,
Mark
Roy
How are you?
We’re already planning on being up there next year…
Sarah’s boat will be a solid light green I believe.
I decided to go with the Nordkapp (SUV) after all of the looking last year. It will have a battleship gray deck and a light gray/cream colored hull. Remember the conversation we had about sports cars and SUV’s up in Grand Marais?
I think this new boat will serve me well and I’ll save a little more $$ for a playboat this summer.
Damon…
Evans
Thanks for the input, it helps to have some different insight/experience.
I’m kind of getting the idea that it goes about half and half for the pros/cons of a footpump with those paddlers using them.
Roy,didn’t you say you have footpumps on your valley’s? What do you think about them?
foot pump
should be thoought of as a piece of simple equipment. You can overcomplicate it and buy all sorts of electric crap, but nothing beats a piece of self-powered gear. Electrics are fine if you want to carry a hand pump as a back-up. The only pump I think is totally useless is the deck pump with the handle. The hose is in the way, the deck is cluttered with the plate and the handle.
If I had a choice between deck/foot/electric I would take a foot pump every time.
footpumps
Hi Damon
Doing as fine as can be expected (-2 degrees F this morning, no paddling)typing instead of paddling, poor substitute.....
I like the footpump...But I roll and don't have to pump out a boat all the time like some...
My pump use is more in the vein of puttin in when the waves are washing over the deck as I am putting on my skirt or paddling out thru breaking waves where they go over your head as you try to get out into the rolling stuff or where you can just ride up the wave. So I really need a pump that I can kick a few times to just empty a little wash-over and still keep paddling. That is why I don't care for a C50 deck mount pump too. For the C50 you have to take and put the handle on and then pump(and stop paddling)(C50 is also in the way for a knee tube), The electricts work fine, but If a person is out for a week or two in cold, I'm not sure how dependable the battery (wires/connections) would be, especially if you are constantly using it. I don't know if I would want it as my only pump...Like a GPS , I have one , use it lots , but still have all my boats equipt with compasses, non battery dependant. Batteries are a weak link (in my opinion) unless you only do day paddles or weekenders. When doing roll practice, I rarely pump, sometimes just a couple squirts so to run a electric would be a waste for me. if I'm practicing swimming by my boat and around my boat and on my boat, I'm always close to shore on a area I choose to play, so I find it easier to just take the boat into shore and empty it, rather than pump....You have a very dependable roll so are probably in the same paddling/pumping needs as I am....hope some of this helps....guess it's just my mindset, I don't come out of my boat unless I've planned it....But then I've never done dedicated surfing, Just the normal surfing, up to about 5 or 6 foot stuff where I'm either surfing between islands or riding them in to get off the lake, then a fast exit is way more important than what pump I have
Best Wishes in all things (Nordkapp is an excelent choice)(if you like , you can try my Pintail and Anas Acuta at Grand Marais next year as a thing to look at as a play boat, (Sarah too, she might want a spinny play boat too) Everyone needs a couple of boats
Roy
What I was thinking
Roy…and Keith…
Thanks. I was actually thinking along the same line.
I think that I will still carry a hand pump as backup on my trips (which will also give me the option of helping another paddler pump their boat if I’m in rescue scenario/rafted up). I also like carrying an extra pump for situations like Fiona spoke of up at Grand Marais…that is, if your in a situation where your hatch (or hatches) have become flooded.
She put us in a scenario where all three hatches where flooded (Don’t know if I’d ever be in trouble like that) and I had to use a pump to start releasing some of the weight from the boat before it could be completely drained/brought back from almost sinking completely.
It was helpful to train for every possible scenario…seems like it gives your more of a base to work from for other rescues.
I’ve always been taught throughout my career to have a backup for vital equipment, or know how to repair it quickly…not to be overly redundant, but at least I’m more comfortable knowing I tried to cover as many “what ifs” as possible.
Also, I don’t plan on coming out of my boat either, but, I know I’m covered if I do take a swim and flood the damn thing.
Take care!
Damon
I am usually against complexity also!
I in many ways agree and had to be really convinced to go electric. We are kayakers and like the hand connection and self generated power aspects.
However, there are systems like RR that are completely sea worthy and reliable, that vastly out perform the foot pumps and that imo only have many more advantages than the foot pump.
The time it took me in an explorer to empty the full cockpit was between 3 and 4 minutes. My calf would start to cramp and my worrry was that would lead to problems and that another capsize would mean I could not pump out easily.
I also personally as leader, guide, solo person want a system that I DON"T use energy to make it happen. This gives me an additional safety edge of having more energy and attention to give to others.
The RR system empties the cockpit in less than 30 seconds. It can run continuously for hours, doing a huge number of cockpits.
If one has less needs than me, I can easily see the view of going with a foot pump for all the other reasons stated. So it is just up to you to look it all over, be clear with your goals etc.
Just know, things have changed and there is a real system out there that is total quality and although expensive genuinely works.
just seconding the vote for Rapid Runner
but even with a rapid runne installed i still carry the old fashioned hand pumps…on the nordkapp with foot pump i still carry a handpump even if to help someone else
yep
yep I carry a short Wildwasser stainless steel shaft hand pump.