Why You Should Never Use WD-40 on a Kayak

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Alex Russo

Myth “BUSTED”

The internet is a great resource when searching for information on canoeing, kayaking, and other various watersports. It is on the internet where you can seek the advice of kayaking experts from all over the globe in a matter of a couple clicks. While the internet can be the most effective resource when seeking quick kayaking advice, please search with a wary eye… the internet is filled with as much false, misunderstood, and delusional information as there is credible and trustworthy information. This article seeks to debunk one of the most commonly misconceived bits of information floating around the web: You can use WD-40 when cleaning your kayak.

It is easily understood why people have picked up the notion that using WD-40 is a safe and effective method for cleaning and protecting your kayak. WD-40 has been used for a variety of household and commercial purposes for over sixty years for everything from loosening rusty bolts to lubricating squeaky door hinges. For those of us who are familiar with WD-40, it is known to leave behind a shiny, glossy finish to virtually anything you apply it to. It is for this reason why I can easily see how hearsayers picked up the idea of “Hey, let’s spray WD-40 on our hatch covers… it’s shiny and protects it!”

I’ll first start out by explaining why you should keep WD-40 away from your boat. First, the primary purpose of WD-40 from a compound perspective is to essentially remove water and moisture from whatever you apply it to. In fact, the “WD” in WD-40 is actually an acronym for “water displacement.” Its goal is to drive out moisture from sticky mechanisms such as door locks, hinges, struts, while adding a kerosene-based lubricant to reduce friction.

Now let’s think about your rubber hatch covers and rubber fittings throughout your kayak. Rubber, which retains most of its structural integrity from essential oils and moisture, must be protected from the elements such as the sun, salt water, and changing temperatures. To spray WD-40 on your rubber hatch covers is essentially driving out the essential moisture which keeps it flexible, strong, and resilient. While it may seem logical to apply a lubricant to rubber to protect it, WD-40 contains zero ultra-violet (UV) stabilizers, absorbers, or protective properties. The short-term fix of spraying your hatches and fittings with an oil-based lubricant can actually accelerate the drying out and brittleness of your rubber and plastic components. What seemed like a short-term solution will actually pan into a long-term problem.

 

So what’s the real solution?

If you are seeking a real solution to protecting your plastic kayak and rubber hatches, keep your WD-40 on your garage shelf and pick up a bottle of 303 Aerospace Protectant. 303 Protectant is formulated with UV-inhibitors to safely and effectively protect your plastic and rubber parts from the sun. Not only can your 303 Protectant be safely used on your plastics, but it will keep your leather, vinyl, and fiberglass looking like new for years to come.

 

-Alex

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Most Epic Sea Kayaking Adventures of All Time

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Kayak Dave

I’ve recently found myself immersed in a pile of kayaking adventure stories that have been burning a hole in my bookshelf for quite some time. The titles include “Fearless: One Woman, One Kayak, One Continent” by Joe Glickman which chronicles Freya Hoffmeister’s 2009 circumnavigation of Australia and “Crossing the Ditch” by James Castrission which takes you along for the first successful crossing of the Tasman Sea in a kayak. Most would agree that circling a continent or crossing one of the most perilous stretches of ocean in the world via kayak are certainly deserving of “Epic Adventure” status.

Inspired by the magnitude of these recent pinnacles of sea kayaking achievement I asked myself the obvious question: “What are the most epic sea kayaking adventures of all time?” My research uncovered dozens of worthy examples from pioneering firsts to audacious odysseys of Homeric proportions that may never be repeated. With so many trips to choose from it would take the next five years to cover them all! Therefore I narrowed the list down to 10 by imposing the rather arbitrary (and “armchair”) requirement that the adventure be at least 2000miles in length in order to qualify. If that’s not intrepid enough for you just wait until you read the stories of…

The Most Epic Sea Kayaking Adventures of All Time:

  1. From Germany to Australia by Kayak
  2. Circumnavigation of South America**
  3. Circumnavigation of Australia
  4. Tasman Sea Crossing
  5. Atlantic Ocean Crossing
  6. California to Hawaii Crossing
  7. Bering Sea Crossing
  8. Circumnavigation of New Zealand
  9. Circumnavigation of Great Britain
  10. North American Odyssey**

**Expedition currently underway.

This list is composed such that the level of peril, sheer magnitude, and impact may be considered higher as you climb up the list to #1 (what I consider to be the most epic sea kayaking adventure ever). I thought that it might be fun to tackle these stories one by one over the course of the winter. I’ll start with #10 and work my way up the list to #1. Be sure to check back here as I plan to update this post with links to reflect my progress.

Happy Adventure Reading!

-Kayak Dave

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Harmony High Volume Kayak Pump Review

Posted on October 22, 2012 by Kayak Dave

The Deets:

  • Total Length: 18in
  • Outside Diameter: 2.5in
  • Weight: 11.0 oz
  • Performance: 9 strokes/ gallon (tested)
  • Materials: Plastic body, plastic shaft
  • MSRP: $26.95

The Review:

The Harmony High Volume Sea Kayak pump, at 18inches long, is more compact than most other kayak pumps on the market. This compact design makes it highly stowable even in the tighter recesses of your cockpit. Don’t let its short relative length fool you though; this pump will match up against the best in the business in terms of performance! It has a super smooth up-stroke and a full-length, orange foam sleeve which provides a slip-free grip on the pump barrel. At $26.95 MSRP, the Harmony is one of the more reasonably priced models on the market and a great value for its performance!

There are a few small nuances with this pump that are worthy of note. I found that there was a bit more resistance in the down-stroke which may prove tiring for some. The pump handle is also a bit small in comparison to the other pumps in this review which makes it more challenging to grip when wearing thicker neoprene gloves. I’ll reserve final comment on long-term durability until I’ve had this pump around for a while longer. However, there are a few things that are working for it in this arena including the plastic pump shaft (no corrosion) and the ability to pass sand without issue.

My biggest problem with this pump has less to do with its performance and more to do with how it’s marketed. Harmony markets this pump as a “high volume” pump and claims that it is: “More compact and powerful than conventional kayak pumps. It’s shorter [pump barrel] length (16”) makes for less fatiguing strokes and its innovated design pumps 30% more water per stroke.” I’m not sure exactly how Harmony arrived at the “30% more water per stroke” claim but I feel as though it’s a bit misleading. I found that this pump was comparable to many other “conventional kayak pumps” based on volume per stroke. Here’s my analysis:

The Harmony pump barrel is 16 inches long which is indeed 2-3 inches shorter than most other conventional kayak pumps. However, the inside diameter of the Harmony pump barrel is almost a 1/4in wider than that of the conventional pumps. When you do the math to calculate the volume of each stroke you will find that it’s the same for the Harmony “high volume” pump as the others (about 8-9 strokes to move 1 gallon of water).

Overall, the Harmony “High Volume” Sea Kayak Pump offers a compact and affordable option to meet the kayaker’s bilge pumping needs.

Pros: Smooth up action. Integrated float. Low cost. Handles sand well.

Cons: Lots of resistance in down stroke. Relatively small handle.

Rating:

Categories: Gear Reviews | 2 Comments

Kayak Dave’s is now on Facebook

Posted on October 20, 2012 by Kayak Dave

Check out the KayakDave.com Fan Page on Facebook for updates on our latest posts including kayak reviews, gear reviews, trip reports and virtual instruction. Be one of the first 100 people to “Like” us and you’ll be automatically entered into a drawing to win a KayakDave.com T-shirt!

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The Early History of Plastic Kayaks

Posted on October 19, 2012 by Kayak Dave

The introduction of plastics to kayak design and manufacturing was a catalyst that helped take our sport from a quiet niche to the buzzing main stream. The roots of plastic’s inception in the kayaking world can be traced back to the surge in the popularity of whitewater kayaking in the early 1970s. Designers (often paddlers themselves) recognized that the high impact resistance and durability of plastic would make it well suited for the whitewater environment. At the same time, manufactures appreciated the fact that plastic allowed for more cost-effective production when compared to the more traditional materials such as composites and wood. These factors combined to usher in a wave of new and affordable kayaks to the market. Here’s a brief history of some of the earliest plastic kayaks:

Plastic kayaks first appeared in whitewater kayaking circles in the mid-1970s when two established plastic-forming manufacturers, Uniroyal and Hollowform, entered the kayaking market.  The Hollowform River Chaser represents one of the first plastic whitewater kayaks to hit the river (Taft 2001).

Hollowform River Chaser

Further advances in plastic kayak manufacturing came in 1976 when Perception Kayaks introduced rotational molding techniques for the production of polyethylene kayaks. In rotational molding, a hollow mold is filled with plastic pellets and then heated while being slowly rotated. This process melts and disperses the plastic so that it evenly covers the walls of the mold. The mold is then cooled and the result is a one-piece, plastic kayak! One of their first roto-molded (RM) models was the Perception Quest; a 13ft-long whitewater kayak. The successes (and failures) of the Quest led Perception to expand their RM whitewater kayak line to include the Mirage and Dancer.

Perception Quest

The advent of RM sea kayaks is less clear-cut. Valley Canoe Products introduced the 17 foot long Skerray RM in the mid-1980s (1984?) and boasts that they are responsible for the RM revolution in sea kayaking. It will take some detective work to verify things but my research shows that the Prijon Seayak seems to have appeared on the scene around the same time.

Valley Skerray

Not surprisingly, Perception was quick to claim a piece of the RM sea kayak pie with the (then Aquaterra) Chinook which was introduced in 1986 or earlier. Hydra also introduced their acclaimed Sea Runner at about the same time.

Perception (Aquaterra) Chinook

From there, the RM sea kayak market exploded! Improvements in RM manufacturing techniques allowed for companies to churn out plastic kayaks en mass and at a relatively low cost. There’s no doubt that this increase in availability and affordability to the consumer is what took the sport from a quiet niche to the buzzing main stream!

Check back for updates as I learn more about these vintage plastic kayaks!

Happy Paddling

-KayakDave

 

References:

1) Taft, “The River Chasers: A history of American whitewater paddling.” Alpine Books Press. (2001)

2) Billington Sea Kayak Archives maintained by Douglass Gray. Includes product catalogs and dealer information dating back to 1986.

Categories: Kayaking History | 9 Comments

Photo of the Week: River Otter Takes a Nap

Posted on October 18, 2012 by Kayak Dave

I stopped by the Blue Hills Trailside Museum in Milton, MA on my way home from work the other day. I was hoping to climb to the top of “Big Blue” to get some shots of the fall foliage for the digital photography club that Alex and I belong to.  As the image above would suggest, I became a little distracted by the museum’s resident river otter and never quite made it to the top of The Hill! I’ve been to the Trailside Museum dozens of times in the past but I’ve rarely ever seen the otter as active as he was this time. When I arrived he was swimming laps back and forth across his pool with perfect turns at each end. After about 20 minutes of swimming (an probably near 100 “river otter miles”) the little bugger climbed up onto one of his floating logs and curled up for a nap. The best part was that he started sucking on his tail in his sleep!

It was difficult to choose the “best” picture from this shoot so don’t be surprised if you see some more shots of the Blue Hills River Otter in the weeks ahead!

-Kayak Dave

Notes: This picture was taken with a Canon Rebel T2i DSLR camera equipped with a 55-250mm EF-S telephoto lens. The focal length was 125mm taken on aperture priority at f/8 and ISO 200.

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The Slocum Challenge Chapter #3

Posted on October 18, 2012 by Kayak Dave

Chapter 3:  “To Plop or not to Plop…that is the question”

The 7th Annual Slocum Regatta Challenge was held on Saturday October 6, 2012. The sunny morning became an increasingly windy day as it progressed towards its noontime finish. After expending a great deal of energy in my late morning race, my cohort of paddlers and I were inhospitably greeted by gusting winds and a quartering one foot short chop as we navigated the sandbar a hundred yards before the beach launch site. The total distance from launch site to the start/finish line is about a 1/3 of a mile. The only saving grace was the refreshing spray off of your bow as you pounded over that set of waves.

In Chapter Two, I wrote about the elusive “Plop” as a way to increase the experience of “mindfulness” while at the same time decreasing those demons of self-doubt that challenging conditions evoke for me. The question posed was essentially this. ”Will my time be slower or faster than in past years and will the overall experience be more or less enjoyable”.

At the age of 62, my time for 2012 was 22:10, in 2011 it was 22:52 and in 2010 my time was 22:23. 2010 was a windy year, 2011 was fairly quiet and 2012 provided windy conditions once again. I paddled a rotomolded (plastic) Boreal Design Baffin in 2010 and a kevlar Boreal Design Alvik in 2011 and 2012. The Baffin and Alvik are both sea kayaks and the Baffin is a somewhat faster kayak. So, there are the statistical facts, the empirical evidence and the physical experience that it takes my body a little longer to recover each year.

During the four weeks leading up to the regatta I was able to get out on the water about 1.5 times per week. I never paddled for more than one hour and tried to complete at least one training interval of at least 15 minutes during each outing. My plan was to gradually increase not only my ability to focus but also my cadence. In the last two weeks, I could comfortably push myself for twenty minute intervals where my only focus was to increase my cadence while still making nearly every stoke a “plop” rather than a “splash”. It actually proved to be not that difficult a personal challenge once I was able to get in that mental groove of the “Plop” being my silent mantra.

This year’s goal of being more mindful about the moment I was presently in without imposing any judgments upon that experience and of seeing what happened was met. My time was faster, the experience seemed to be of a much shorter duration and the experience was more enjoyable. It became one of those life experiences that mark how you approach kayaking as your life moves forward. In many ways, being on the water can be a wonderful metaphor for experiencing life and the challenging conditions we all encounter. That is clearly beyond the scope of this mini-series, but perhaps the most important take away of all.

-Boreal Alvik

 

 

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Duct Tape Kayak Surpasses 2012 Fundraising Goal!

Posted on October 16, 2012 by Kayak Dave

The Duct Tape Kayak team is proud to announce that we have surpassed our fundraising goal for the 2012 season! We were able to raise a grand total of $1025.00 thanks to the very generous donations made by our many supporters! All of these proceeds have been donated to Stand Up 2 Cancer, a grassroots organization that promotes cancer awareness through community action and funds state-of-the-art research that promises to end the fight against cancer once and for all!

Now what you’ve all been waiting for…the winner of the “Guess how much duct tape it took to build this kayak” raffle!!!

I’ll start by saying that it took A LOT of duct tape to build this year’s kayak. The raffle produced many solid guesses ranging from 305ft to over 1 mile of tape. We estimate that the actual amount of tape used in this version of the kayak to be very close to 1/2 mile (~2600ft)!

The winner of this year’s raffle was Frank Campbell who guessed 3,000ft. We have a KayakDave.com T-shirt with your name on it!

Taking the duct tape kayak from a sketch in the sand to the finish line of the Great River Race has been an adventure that we won’t soon forget! The entire project was a great team effort from the design to the build to race day. It turns out that a robotics engineer, a communication major, and a chemistry student have all of the skills needed to make a duct tape kayak float! Having Alex and Brett as partners in this project has made the experience all the more memorable and worthwhile for me! Thanks, guys, for your hard work, creativity, and (most of all) your friendship!

Image Courtesy of Emily Files, Boston Globe

Our mission would have never made it off the ground without the support of our sponsors. We’d like to start by thanking Doug Gray, the owner of Billington Sea Kayak, for everything that he did to ensure the success of this project. Doug’s support extended well beyond providing the work space and donating most of the building materials. He was always there, as our friend and mentor, offering solutions and encouragement rather than doubts. Thanks, Doug for believing in us and helping to see us through! We’d also like to thank Teva footwear for their generous donation of much of the duct tape that went into the hull. Finally, we’d like to thank Ross MacVicar for his help in the machine shop and Nick DelPrete for the carbon seat.

This is just the beginning of the journey for the Duct Tape Kayak. We have a lot of plans for the winter which include: modifying the hull for DT190 version 2.0, expanding our list of sponsors, and identifying a new charity for next year. We’re open to suggestions so please feel free to comment if you have any ideas. Otherwise, stay tuned for the next chapter in the Amazing Adventures of the Duct Tape Kayak!

Happy Paddling!

-Kayak Dave

 

 

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Wilderness Systems Aspire 100 Review

Posted on October 16, 2012 by Alex Russo

 

Image Courtesy of REI

The Deets

 Material: Polyethylene

Class: Recreational

Length: 10’

Width: 27.5”

Weight: 44 lbs

Cockpit Size: 49  x 22.25 inches

Capacity: 300 lbs

Hatches/Bulkheads: Stern Only

Rudder/Skeg: Skeg (rope operated)

MSRP: $699

 

Review

Finally! A company has released a recreational kayak that is designed for… get this… smaller people! Traditionally, recreational kayaks are built with exceptional volume and beam width to create a stable platform. The issue with this design method is that smaller paddlers, i.e. folks weighing between 90-140lbs, often feel swamped in these high volume recreational kayaks. Wilderness Systems has done an exceptional job closing the gap between high-volume stability and a comfortable fit for smaller paddlers.

The Aspire 100 provides a very stable and enjoyable paddle in a variety of conditions. Unlike many recreational kayaks out there the Aspire 100 is outfitted with a drop-skeg. This feature is ideal for times when the wind picks up and the water becomes a little dicey. Feeling daring? The Aspire 100 is not designed for big water, but its ultra-stable hull and effortless maneuverability will make even beginner paddlers feel more confident on the water.

The Aspire isn’t shy on features either, sporting a comfortable and adjustable Phase 3 AirPro Seating System, cup holder, rear hatch and bulkhead, and a nifty dashboard for your keys, cell phone, camera, etc. The Aspire 100 weighs in at a light 44lbs which makes this boat an easy car topper or carry down to the beach. Unlike its big brother, the Aspire 105, the 100 is actually easy to shoulder carry as the seat position does not get in the way.

 

Overview

 The Aspire 100 is highly recommended for any smaller paddler, beginner through intermediate, looking for a fun, maneuverable, stable, and lightweight recreational kayak.

 

Pros:  Outstanding primary stability, comfortable seat, built-in drop skeg, great fit for smaller folks

Cons: About $100 more than its predecessor (the Pamlico 100)

_________________________________

See Also: Wilderness Systems Aspire 105 Review

-Alex

Categories: Kayak Reviews | 13 Comments

Seattle Sports Super Deluxe Bilge Pump Review

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Kayak Dave

For the most part, a kayak bilge pump is a simple sort of thing: just pull on the handle and water comes out! We bring it along for that “just in case” scenario: an untimely, missed roll that lands us in the drink and the drink is in our cockpit. It’s times like these when we expect our trusty pump to get the job done. Most pumps are content to spend the rest of their time garnering little or no attention as they wait to be called on. This is not the case for the Seattle Sports Super Deluxe bilge pump. It has the performance and flashy looks to catch your eye and steal the show!

The Deets:

    • Total Length: 21.5in
    • Outside Diameter: 1.75in
    • Weight: 13.2 oz
    • Performance: 9 strokes/ gallon (tested)
    • Materials: Plastic body, aluminum shaft
    • MSRP: $29.95

 

The Review 

The Seattle Sports Super Deluxe bilge pump, with its neon float and see-through body, is definitely one of the coolest-looking kayak pumps on the market! After trying it out I’m happy to report that it performs quite well too! This pump has a super smooth pumping action and I really like the feel and grip provided by the over-molded rubber handle. The pump sports an over-sized aluminum shaft that seems sturdy enough to take the abuse associated with fervent bailing and an impromptu water fight. Furthermore, the clear pump body is unique to this model and allows you to watch the internals of the pump in action. This will be a great show and tell piece for my kayaking classes next season!

See-through body allows you to view the pump in action!

My biggest issue with this pump is that it doesn’t clear out sand and other debris that gets sucked up into the pump body very well. The aluminum shaft has some sort of lubricant that helps to make the action smooth but it also attracts sand that gets into the pump. Some of this grit gets caught up in the pump shaft seal which leads to visible scratching of the pump shaft. I’d imagine the grit would affect the integrity of the shaft seal over time. As for the overall durability I feel obligated to withhold comment until I’ve used this pump for a while longer. Seattle Sports warranties the materials and workmanship of their products for a period of 1 year.

Scratches on shaft from sand

Overall, the Seattle Sports Super Deluxe bilge pump is an excellent pump with butter-smooth action and looks to steal the show. Just try not to suck up too much sand!

Happy Bilge Pumping!

-Kayak Dave

Pros: Super smooth action. Sturdy, aluminum shaft. Comfortable grip. See-through body

Cons: This pump does not like sand at all.

Rating:

 

Note: Seattle Sports also offers an economy ($19.95) version of this pump called the Paddlers Bilge Pump. It’s substantially equivalent in many ways aside from its color (neon yellow) and the substitution of a plastic pump shaft. This may be a case where less is more. I’d imagine that the plastic shaft would probably not collect sand like the lubed up aluminum shaft does on the Super Deluxe Pump. If that’s the case then the Paddlers Bilge Pump could be the best buy out there!

 

 

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