Flotation bags

[Yeadon]

I'd like to buy a pair of float bags for my peapod. I've looked online and seen these from Holt (via West Marine) ... but am wondering if there are other options by different brands. So far, this is all I've seen. (They need to be long pillows like the one below ... about three feet long.)
http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/yhst-19214198968122_1997_16155623

[JBreeze]

Kayakers sometimes use float bags....here is one source:

http://nrsweb.resultspage.com/boating/Kayak%20Float%20Bags

http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product_list.asp?deptid=1760

http://nrsweb.resultspage.com/boating/Flotation%20Bags

[Yeadon]

Thanks jbreeze ... NRS seems like a quality brand. I've stared at their stuff before. But the kayak products are mostly triangular, and I'm looking for a long tubular item. I plan to put the bags end to end between my main rowing thwarts.

I bet I'll end up buying the Holt, but am curious if there's a second brand out there to compare against.

[Steve Lansdowne]

You can make your own similar bags out of a durable material and cut pieces of blue building foam from Lowe's to fit into them, side by side, thus making your flotation exactly the size and fit you want.

[J P]

NRS is good stuff with good service. How about using the inflatable thwarts/seats designed for inflatable rafts? I have an NRS raft and the thwarts are removeable via a simple batten system. The thwart tubes are stout, well made, and have excellent valves. I wouldn't think it too hard to adapt or modify to fit your boat if you could find the right size. You can get all kinds of loops or D-ring accessories that can be glued to the hypalon.

Size info. Chart shows thwart diameters but not lengths. Subtract tube diameter (x 2) from width to get thwart length.
http://www.nrsweb.com/inflatables/specchart.asp

Thwart guide.
http://www.nrsweb.com/inflatables/thwartspecs.asp?tn=113

Accessories. Scroll down towards bottom.
http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product_list.asp?deptid=1090

[Yeadon]

JP, they sell just the thwarts from a raft? That's a really interesting idea.

I'm looking, but don't see where they show that on the website. (I'll keep looking, but if you see a direct link, let me know.)

[J P]

Yes, I'm sure you can buy thwarts from them. Look at the link I added for the thwart compatability chart. If you see something that might work contact them.

Example of some sizes:
Otter 120 - 32" x 10" (item# 11551)
Otter 130 - 38" x 13" (item# 11561)

[J P]

I went home for lunch and took a look at our thwarts. Our raft is a 13'-6" Otter which I don't see on NRS's current list. Here's what we have.

The ends are angled - 32" short (bottom), 38" long (top).
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y279/picsonline/m_IMGP1886.jpg


End view with the batten. 10" - 11" diameter moderately inflated.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y279/picsonline/m_IMGP1889.jpg


Where it attaches to raft.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y279/picsonline/m_IMGP1890.jpg


Valve.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y279/picsonline/m_IMGP1887.jpg

[elad]

You might try http://www.praktek.com/ I have a couple of inflatable rollers I bought from them for rolling my swampscott on the beach out to the surf and back to my trailer.

Dale

[Hwyl]

APS has the HA bags as well as Crewsaver. They also have the bags for Optimists.

I've used them many times, great company. Www.apsltd.com (http://Www.apsltd.com)

enter "bouyancy" in the search.

[mike hanyi]

the designer D bombenger had a great concept, buy oversize fenders, maybe even used ugly ones, and use them as flotation, then when you get to the rocky beach they double as rollers and also proper fenders when alongside

mike