I've been thinking about this a bit lately. I’m not sure if this is an oversight on my part, but it seems like a lot of people don’t have or are not using float bags (context = creeking or class 4/5 or swift class 3 ie; peshastin & tieton). Basically it is probably the most neglected piece of rescue/safety equipment. It is more of a proactive way to prevent some real hassles. I don’t know why they are unused, maybe because of the cost, maybe because it’s a pain to fill them up.

Does someone want to put up a poll on creekers or class 4/5 boaters using float bags and those who are not? It might be a good way to figure out if this is even a topic.

 

Pros:

-Prevents boat damage after swim

-Easier to find boat after swim

-Easier for others to get boat to bank after swim

-Makes self-rescue easier or even possible

-Helps prevents boat from pinning

-Adds structural integrity to boat in event of a pin

-If you get your boat back, you don’t have to hike out

 

Cons:

-Cost

-Takes time to fill up

-Takes up room for throw bag, etc

-Pop easily, wear out

 

Basically a $20-50 investment can save your boat, boat damage, a hike out, and your buddies a hassle chasing your boat. I’m not to inclined to chase a boat without float bags on a creek, let alone ever clip into one. It can become a danger to the chaser, ultimately judgment dictates the situation.  If the fellow kayaker is unwilling to spend a few bucks on float bags, I’m less likely to risk much to save their boat.

 

Lets be safe out there.

 

Darren

On Sunday i had to chase a kayak down that did not have properly inflated boat bags.  Its hard enough to get a kayak to shore with cat boat.  When that thing is filled with water its damn near impossible.  Never ever clip onto a run away boat that has no float bags....

It sucks to chase and try to coral a boat without them.  Most nightmare situation I had was chasing an overflow x with no float bags and missing two attatchment points on Peshastin creek.  In ended up chasing it off of Ingalls all the way below fresh squeezed, truthfully I almost gave up and thought it would be a lesson for the owner but finally I beached it in the flats below the bridge below the Squeeze.

Great point raised in this thread here... thanks Darren for the attention to an oft overlooked safety element.

If you value your plastic and hope to hang on to it when swimming - PUT FLOAT BAGS IN YOUR BOAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I put a beach ball in each side of the stern on my Jackson Super Star and blew those babies up. They float great, hold air, and only cost 89 cents each. Even had some change to get a couple spares, they're where its at!

I have had 0 problems with float bags. They hold air and the ones I have had lasted for years now. Always a standard saftey Item. Rescue a boat without them and you will see how valuable they are.

Totally relevant topic Darin, I'm sure we are all guilty of not using float bags sometimes but they should be considered a standard piece of gear while kayaking, particularly on the higher volume creeks and rivers that you tend to find in this area. I put two of the small playboating bags in front of my bulkhead, hoping this might reduce the nose caving in when the boat is full of water.

My main issue with float bags is they don't seem to fit modern creekers very well. I use the bags DRINW sells, which I think are pretty good for the price, but I wish a manufacturer would design bags that actually fill the majority of dead space in the back of my creekboat.

While we're talking about creeking safety gear I think that a spare paddle and pin kit should also be considered standard gear that you take with you on every run. I've convinced myself that the extra weight gets me through holes better and makes my boat easier to turn.

I bought 2 of Tony's bags and they are bomber.  I had them for over 1 year.  Pernick's got my boat now... ask him if they're still holding up.  (I assume they are) 

Have you guys considered having someone like Jim Sheflo make you some serious raft like custom float bags? Jim could probably glue you up something. Think about how bomber a Stiletto thwart is! It may be heavy though. Could a semi inflated thwart work? Highside even makes thwarts that are also dry bags!

How to bust the float bag:   keep the valve screwed up tight when you leave Leavenworth on a sunny and seventies afternoon and take it up to Steven's Pass full of hot air.   :) 

I don't know about the custom bags franz. The material and methods would end up creating a pretty heavy float bag. Dave your right, I have those nylon NRS ones with a plastic interior lining and they just suck. I bought them a few years back and even a month or two after I got them they started leaking. I just figured I would keep blowing them up before boating until they don't hold air through the whole run. I am right about at that point.

Fiona my inflatable girlfriend goes in my left stern, just in case I end up finding some privacy on the river.  It is uncomfortable for everyone when a leg or arm pops out from behind my backband but most don't mention it.  Oh yeah, that watershed Futa carried a first aid kit, space blanket, and spare paddle real well.  Old Fiona and my pin kit and throw bag balance out the equations.

Nothing like having a shuttle bunny that doesn't talk back....

Seriously, Float bags are pretty helpful when trying to clean up and sort of swim and recover gear quickly and stop damage.

Didn't mean to bring humor to a serious matter.