Jeff Allen t(hr)owbag - alterations # 2

This is # 2, as you might know there sits a # 1 here as well.

As I do consider my towing-system as being the most important safety equipment, only (hopefully) surpassed by common sense, seamanship and skills, it is very important to me that my system works as efficient as possible - in my hands.

That I have seen, and experienced (in surf, moving water, rock-gardens, gulleys, etc, etc...), the importance of a fast and simple system, I do my best to pinpoint the flaws, and fix them. This is the reason why my system looks like this - other people might have other preferences, and therefore their system will look different from mine.

This is how I have had the system for quite a while.


As you can see, I am not too happy about it :-) Besides I feel it hinders me, doing forward rolls.

The bag and carabina hangs in a split D-ring. This is not too bad, but in surf and big water it ends up like this.


Which is not the best position to have it, dangling around. It is quite OK for swimming and cowboy-rescue though - that it is out of the way.

I have tried having the system at my waist - felt quite good, only I needed a quick release option of some kind. I like the simplicity of the split D-ring, only the one that came with the system was too weak for job. Had to find a stronger one.

Where do I find the D-ring..?? Any drybag has two or four of them. I already knew that the ones from Ortlieb are too soft, for this use.


Whereas the ones from Pacific Outdoor are much stiffer, though the dimensions are pretty much the same.


Having found, and replaced the D-ring on the belt with, one from the Pacific Outdoor drybag, the system now looks like this.


On the water it sits nicely under my buoyancy. The carabina is ready at hand, and the D-ring on the vest has no problem keeping it in place. Still got to test it, during a swim, and while doing a cowboy-rescue.

Close-up of the replaced D-ring on the belt.


In case it for some reason does not work to my satisfaction, I will replace the D-ring with a quick release buckle.


The D-ring on the vest is mounted with tie-bands. Not pretty - but who cares.


Thank you for listening - as you see, this seems to be a Never Ending Story :-)

Electrical bilge pump - fittet into a Rockpool Alaw Back

A friend of mine has mounted this system into his boat. Have you any questions, please consult himself: Jørgen Jepsen.  (remove SPAM)
 
Installation af el-pumpe i en Rockpool Alaw Bach

Pumpen er en Rule 500, 12V (forhandles bl.a. af www.Marinelageret.dk) som er placeret lige bag sædet. Den er holdt fast med elastiksnor.
For ikke at bore for mange huller i skotvæggen har jeg limet et par nylon/plastik kroge på væggen. Jeg har brugt ophængningskroge til betonvægge (stålstifterne er fjernet :-). På modsatte side (inde i daglugen) har jeg limet et par nylonøjer (dem der sidder på siden af campingvognen til at holde stængerne til forteltet). Det var hvad jeg lige havde ved hånden, andet kan sikkert bruges.

På siden af pumpen er monteret en Automatic Bilge Pump Switch (model 101) http://www.WaterWitchinc.com.
Holdt fast med kabelstrips. Hvordan el-ledningerne skal forbindes, fremgår af bagsiden af indpakningen.

Jeg har ført vandslangen (19 mm) gennem skotvæggen via en Skroggennemføring med et hul der lige passer (når studsen er savet af) til den udvendige diameter på slangen. Dette gør at, selvom der bliver revet i slangen, så opstår der ikke utætheder som der ville gøre hvis slangen blot var ført direkte gennem skotvæggen. 
I stedet for en Skroggennemføring kunne man bruge en "Forskruning" med den rette diameter (kan sikkert købes ved den lokale elinstallatør).

Til afgangshullet er igen brugt en Skroggennemføring i plastik. Jeg har brugt en 16 mm hvor studsen er savet af og noget af gevin-stykket er slebet så slangen kan sættes på. Yderligere har jeg slebet den udvendige krans så den udvendige diameter er ca. halveret. Der er stadig nok gods at skrue den fast med og den ser lige knap så voldsom ud. Endelig har jeg givet kransen lidt sort spraymaling. (Skroggennemføringerne der kun fås i hvid, er købt i Biltema).



Til batterikasse har jeg (foreløbig) brugt en plastbeholder med "vinger" og pakning (købt i Bilka). Den er vandtæt med nok ikke så god som Pelicase. Jeg har foret kassen så batteriet ligger fast og boret et hul til ledningerne. 
Da jeg vil fjerne batteriet efter hver tur, har jeg monteret det via et 12 voltstik (cigartænder). Tæt på +polen er monteret en 2,5A sikring.
Batterikassen er også holdt fast med elastiksnor og de før omtalte øjer.

Batteri (og lader) er købt i www.Batteribyen.dk
Yuasa NP2.3-12 - 12V - 2.3Ah (F187 4.8mm)33391
CTEK MULTI XS-3600 lader til blybatterier 1,2 til 120 Ah - 12V14661