Am about to embark on my first indoor pool practice session; attempting to learn whitewater “canoe” roll. Don’t expect to perfect it in one class; thus the probability of multiple classes.
Question: Have you done multiple classes in an indoor pool? If you have; were there any problems you had with your equipment as a result of the chlorine in the pool? Specifically, negative affects the chlorine had on vinyl air bags,air bag lace kit, thigh straps, and the adhesive on knee pads, ankle pads, and the saddle?
BOB
Rinse it all off
Chlorine is damaging to many things. Rinse off your gear, especially any neoprene.
If the pool you are using does not have a readily accessible hose running tap water, then most stuff can be brought into the showers.
I’m doing weekly sessoins this winter. At the minimum, I rinse off my pfd and sprayskirt.
Can’t help with specifics, but …
– Last Updated: Feb-19-06 1:08 PM EST –
generally chlorine will cause earlier deterioration of some items. I have been going to several pool sessions this season and last and purchased a spray skirt specifically to use in the pool, so my good ones would last longer. I also just got a new PFD, so my old one will be used exclusively in the pool. I also wear the same synthetic T-shirt, bathing suit and beach shoes in every pool session, so that my good stuff will last longer. At the end of every pool session I take all of these items with me to the showers and rinse them off. I am assuming the shower has less concentration of chlorine than the pool does.
So far this year the pool has had reasonable chlorine levels, but a couple of times last year it was almost unbearable. I don't know what happened, but I could barely see to drive home afterwards. Maybe the pool was shocked, or double treated by mistake, but it was bad. I'm sure this was very hard on my stuff.
~wetzool
not that bad…
Overall, chlorine has less adverse effect on your neoprene than UV deterioration from standard use. Heck baking your wet sprayskirt in the trunk of your car in the middle of summer and then roasting it out in the sun all the day to dry probably causes more harm than years worth of chlorine use. With that said, I’d still rinse off your gear in the shower to help lengthen it’s life although I personally don’t worry about chlorine deterioration aside from the rinse.
As for air bags, a friend of mine brings his canoe into the pool but does not bring his air bags. I guess it makes some sense as you would not want to take any chances with airbag seams which could give out on the river.
Rinsing off may not be enough.
When we get home from the pool we put all our stuff (clothing, skirts, booties, etc.) through the rinse cycle of the washing machine. Been doing this for several years and have not noticed any unusual deterioration.
Hell, I Never Even Thought About It.
Maybe I’m slow. My skirt, pfd, seat, etc. all look fine. I’ve been to the pool every week for the last several months and never rinsed anything off.
It’s not chlorine
that’s the prlolem . . . It’s all that clean water. Your equipment has never been in really clean water before. The shock may distroy it.
Stitching
The wear on gear from chlorine, UV salt etc often acts out on stitching before it shows up in an obvious problem on the surface of the material. It’s not always easy to spot that. (One of the things you learn from working with horse tack.) I have found that my stuff can take a lot of abuse as long as I rinse it out, but rinsing seems prudent.
hey, bob-- have fun learning new tricks!
We didn’t see any adverse affects on our bags, but we rinsed everything. We use old pfds and dedicated pool shoes. The adhesives didn’t seem to be affected. Our boats went from the pool to the cartop in freezing weather and that didn’t seem to hurt them either.
Have fun in class! We’re looking forward to spring.
It was informative Pam
The canoe roll class was informative, and a fun way to pass a very cold day.
I had some early success, but do not have the correct technique mastered by any means. I have formed the opinion that it is about 75% technique & 25% muscle power.
The class was my first, serious effort at canoe rolling. I did not expect to become an expert after 2 hours of training, and was not surprised when I didn’t. It did inspire me to continue my efforts; I seriously believe it is a skill I can master with lots of practice. Hopefully, by late Spring, I will have the technique down, and can start practicing on some moving water. For now the pool practice will have to suffice.
BOB
depends on the pool
The pool I spend most of my time at uses reverse-ion filtration (I think that’s the term), so the water is very ‘gentle’. I don’t bother to rinse my bags after being there.
The other pool I sometimes go to is an old fashioned, chemically treated pool. One session in there had a noticable effect on my swimsuit and skirt, not to mention my eyes.
In my experience, outfitting foam, vinyl, and adhesive don’t seem affected by pool chemicals much. Nylon and neoprene are much more susceptible.
equipment prob–me
my problem with pool rolling was the chlorine up my nose, my eyes watering for days. I had to wear goggles. My latest solution to this is not rolling anymore, eg sit on top.
Yes I know, I am trying to convert everyone.
Liam
glad you had a good time!
We know a couple of guys who can roll tandem canoes, one guy can do it without bags. I think you have the percentage about right.
I think i’ll like a roll sesion.
I think I’ll like the roll sesion I want to go to because I allways enjoyed swimming at that pool.
if you can smell chlorine,
chances are good the pool is overtreated. a properly balanced pool shouldn’t need a large amount. if the smell is acrid or stings your nose , exposure should be limited or the pool not used with your gear. as said before ,stitching takes the hardest toll. so always rinse well with fresh water. suprizingly enough , acid is poured in one end and chlorine in the opposite end. poured in together they can form “mustard gas” which can cause serious respitory problems,even kill you. so be careful should you decide to “dose” you own pool.