Kayaking -returning after 14 or 15 years - kit safety implications?

[Paul_B]

I have all the kit from when I last paddled but it is of course well used from when I did paddle and of course a good number of years old. So I am curious as to what could still be used and what is perhaps best left to my past.

Kayak - plastic white water / play boat from a shortlived brand. It is like a Dagger ROM and TBH I think I got it from before the RPM came out. It was actually a very good boat for the cheap price in its day and a match for the RPM if not better when playing in a wave. Probably 20 plus years old.
Paddle - not one of the big paddle brands. I bought it from a show where the NZ brand was trying to gain a footprint here via a brand importer company. I got it cheap for what it was. That is a glass reinforced Nylon blades (at least nylon 6 but a vaguely remember nylons 12 being mentioned if that is something). The shaft was glass / carbon and is immaculate condition. The blades are tough as they come. They have been used to push off in gravel, like you do, a lot and there is no wear unlike the older Ainsworths I had which I wore away the aluminium edge protection rather too quickly for the price I paid for them. I would say about 20 years old.
Long john wetsuit - This is likely to be over35 years old!!
Drycag - Peak UK I think and upper mid range at the time but over 25 years old. Still looks sound
Neoprene deck - good one and looks good and fkexible still
Helmet - Ancient AP200 full coverage I think but whilst it looks like that it could have been another make from back in the day. It was the most popular helmet back when I started out seriously. Back then there were none of these fancy ones like strutter brand or WRSI. It is possibly 30 plus years old and in good nick AFAIK.
Bouyancy aid - no idea but it was I think my third one. I would say it has not been used for 12 ir 15 years and was up to 10 years of use before that. This I worry about but it had 70N when I got it. A good whitewater / freestyle one. Neatly cut flotation and shape for full movement. A good one but not top price back then, it was a bargain price for the spec and still upper mid range I would say. Peak UK I think. I could be wrong.

All stored out of sunlight apart from when on tour or away with it. All in good nick, washed and dried out each time (except when on tour or away with them such as IIRC that annual tour out of Hexham - big BCU event back in the day). There are not tears or damage on the fabric items apart from a hole in the wetsuit knees. All good nick in appearance, but I realise that plastic can lose stregth with UV and time so I do worry about the helmet and boat. I think the wetsuit and drycag is ok. The bouyancy aid is good in terms of state of the fabrics but will it meet the 50N minimum flotation?? That is possibly a no but could be a yes it is still ok considering it was at the higher flotation rating of 70N.

I am worried my first trip after years will involve a leaking boat, unsafe helmet and bouyancy aid, etc. So I am interested if any regular kayakers have any opinionrs, advice or knowledge on this matter.

 

[Chris]

To be honest with the boat, my biggest concern would be it being a play boat with a flatter bottom, thus rolling rather than a wet exit might not be as easy as you remember it.

That said, I have not sat in a kayak for maybe 17 years, so maybe others will have more relevant experience than me.

 

[Broch]

I don't kayak often these days - mostly canoeing so I will only comment on the two common items - get a new helmet and buoyancy jacket. The helmet for obvious reasons (the recommended time used to be five years, not sure what it is now). The jacket may well still float but how safe are the straps? I have webbing that has deteriorated in far less than 20 years especially if it has ever been stored when still damp.

 

[Falstaff]

Besides UV it's the body oils that destroy foam and plastics. I would not expect the long johns to be viable. I think Broch is right about the straps, they seem to go quite quckly. I think a still water jump-in-the-water test day, (with a friend to help) prior to any serious paddling is in order.
How flexible are you now, 20 years or so later? You might find exiting a canoe a lot harder now - I'd try an onshore sideways exit test first.

 

[Paul_B]

Oh I am nowhere near as flexible as back then but not many are! I had a form of hyper extension of joints such that things could bend and stretch in ways people got shocked about. My son has it too at his elbows, indeed more than me. I can't do it all now but I am more flexible than I should be for someone who doesn't stretch much. I also indoor row in spells of getting into it then losing interest.

I think getting out is going to be ok. well the neoprene spraydeck might be a bit of an issue for awhile. IIRC they used to dry out a bit too much and become extra stiff to pull off until they got fully wet through a few times. Still I intend to join in with the local group that has coaching sessions on the lake and in the local pool. Perhaps I could test my BA in that course (with a borrowed club one as back up.

I actually got the wetsuit out a few years ago for a touch of cold, open water swimming. It was amazing how well it has lasted!!! The only thing is, I do not look at all good wearing it without a cag and and spraydeck on to hide a few excess midrift luggage shall we say. I am more worried about the neoprene spraydeck tube being too tight now!!

I am worried about the plastic of the kayak. It had been repaired by a professiona; plastic welder so that is probably stronger than the rest but the weakness is outside the weld perhap and in the booat material anyway. The worry for me is the plastic holding up everywhere on it. If I have to replace that then I am not sure I will get back into it. Kayaks are not cheap.

So the bouyancy aid and helmet are out. I can understand the helmet I reckon and that is only £48 for the same one these days. The decent BAs are a lot more these days but I guess they are important so worth making sure.