Welcome to a new feature which we will be running monthly in our newsletter. Hopefully this section will serve as a source of helpful tips and advice.
Spring has finally arrived. With the weather warming up thoughts turn to paddling and camping adventures to come. Now is a good time to go through your gear and make sure it is ready for the season to come. Here are some suggestions for simple maintenance checks that will help get your kayaking gear performing perfectly all summer long and also help to prolong the life of your gear.
Kayaks.
Time to go through your kayak and check it over for wear and tear. Check the decklines and carrying toggles for any damage or wear that needs replacing. If deck lines have stretched they can be tightened up by undoing the knot and retying it to tighten the lines. Make sure that they aren’t too tight, you need to be able to get your fingers through them easily to grab hold of your boat in an emergency. Check the deck bungies for stretch, again these can be tightened by retying the knots. Check all the metal deck fittings for corrosion, if you need to replace any make sure you buy stainless steel fittings. Rudders take a lot of strain over time and it is important to check the rudder mountings to make sure that they are tight and working well. Rudder cables need to be checked on a regular basis, replacing them is a relatively simple job and will save you from losing your rudder out on the ocean. If you have any fraying on the cables they need to be replaced. Check the seat and fittings to make sure everything is working properly and in good order so you can be comfy on the water. Check your boats hatches to make sure they are sealing well, if you have neoprene hatch covers take them off and inspect them closely to make sure that the neoprene hasn’t cracked or perished, if it has then they will let in water so it is time to replace them. Lastly take time to inspect the deck and hull of your boat. Plastic boats are hard to damage but the hull may have scratches with peels of plastic at the end of them, some people like to remove these with a sharp craft knife as they can add some drag to the boat. If your boat is fibreglass look for any cracks that go through the gel coat, the outer coloured layer, or any wearing of the gelcoat to reveal the fibreglass beneath. Gelcoat repairs are simple to do yourself at home. If you suspect damage to the fibreglass you can check for leaks by supporting your kayak on racks or saw horses and putting some water into one of the hatches or the cockpit and see if any water drips out through the hull. Any fibreglass damage need to be repaired either by yourself or a local boat repairer.
Safety equipment.
Check your pfd for any damage to straps, zippers, pockets etc. It may need a wash with a mild detergent and a gentle scrub to remove stains. Don’t wash it in a machine, dry it in a drier or dry clean it.
We all have a throwline, well hopefully we do as it is a mandatory piece of safety equipment. When was the last time the line came out of the bag? If you had to use it in an emergency would you open the bag to find a tangle of rope? The beginning of the season is a good time to loosen the cord grab one end and throw the bag and see what happen, if it lands 5 feet away from you then it’s time to pull all that rope out and repack it by gently folding the rope back into the bag a loop at a time so that it will slide easily out when we need it to.
Check your pump to make sure that it is working smoothly and efficiently, use some freshwater to clean it out.
You spent a lot of money on your boat and paddling gear so you want to look after it. One of the simplest ways to prolong the life of your gear is to apply a UV inhibitor to prevent damage from the sunlight we love to paddle in, just like putting sunscreen on us. Spray your pfd, safety kit and rub it into the hull and deck of your boat. Not only will it add protection but it will bring back the shine of your boat. You can also use it on your hiking gear and tents as well.
Alberni Outpost: Go Play Outside 