Home hard ware doesn't sell rated carabiners proper climbing biners or rescue biners are fall rated or rated to a mimimum work load Your life or someoneelses may depend on the biners buy proper biners or you may not get a second chance. I work with rope rescue and biners are a very important part you do not want them to be your weaklink in the safety chain. Buy woven webbing if you can stronger than chain webbing which has a sewn seam. I like auto locking biners or screwgates if funds are tight. Take a basic swift water rescue course and buy the swift water rescue field guidefits in youn kit easily and is water proof. * mm prussik cordn for bulding prusik loops as safety brakes (PCDs) A good kiy dosent take up to much room and s well worth it Cheers greg

125mm is a typo 25 mm is correct

Got the Black Diamond Rock Lock Screwgate today. Also, here is a video on Z-Drags, if anyone is interested: Z-Drag . It is NOT meant to replace swiftwater training, but is still a useful video. All I need is more webbing, 2 Prussic cords, and 1 more carabiner (Have throw rope, 1 carabiner, and one 15' length of webbing). Also, on the packet that came with the carabiner, it said that it was for climbing only, with no mention of kayaking.

P.S. Jajauma, since climbing stuff isn't on sale much, you can always "make" your own sales. Currently, REI has a 20% off offer on their site, and it is always worth taking a look at their online outlet. You might also want to go to the scratch-and-dent sale. I got a saw for over 60% off because one piece of plastic that doesn't affect operation broke off and a Camelbak 24 oz. bottle for I think $0.83 because there was a slight chip in the rubber on the cap, once again not affecting operation. Great chance to get some great deals!

You'll see that above and below the thumb screw on that carabiner is a split pin type thing. If you have the effort just blow off any water afterwards and don't store it damp (ie. in the pocket of your PFD). You'll eventually get some corrosion there but it's not too serious. Hope you come right with your dry top choice! Seems this thread veered a little..

Are you referring to this: www.rei.com/product/722353 click on the alternate image to see the notch. As for the split pin, I think that I can see what you are referring to. Is it a thin piece of metal near the attachment point on the carabiner?

cjcc wrote:

Are you referring to this: www.rei.com/product/722353 click on the alternate image to see the notch. As for the split pin, I think that I can see what you are referring to. Is it a thin piece of metal near the attachment point on the carabiner?

The forums have some glitch where you can't upload an image/file after one or 2 failed attempts, so here is an attempt to upload a pic from an SD card:

Yep, that's the notch, or lack thereof...

And that would be the circlip type thing I was referring to. I love these carabiners, I reckon they're the business

P.S. Jajauma, since climbing stuff isn't on sale much, you can always "make" your own sales. Currently, REI has a 20% off offer on their site, and it is always worth taking a look at their online outlet. You might also want to go to the scratch-and-dent sale. I got a saw for over 60% off because one piece of plastic that doesn't affect operation broke off and a Camelbak 24 oz. bottle for I think $0.83 because there was a slight chip in the rubber on the cap, once again not affecting operation. Great chance to get some great deals!

Yes--REI certainly has some good sales--they are one of the few places to get climbing gear on sale. The scratch-and-dent sale is a great place to find things like used skis or boots, etc.--never climbing gear, though--you don't want to buy used gear. No way to know how it was used/abused. Steer clear of used climbing gear. This thread has run all over the place, hasn't it?

cjcc wrote:

I am planning on going kayaking on the Nantahala this May, but will probably be paddling more similar rivers in the North Carolina mountains soon. I am looking for a good drytop or semi-drytop, and my current choice is the IR Zephyr. I have a budget of ~$150, which isn't a lot, considering how much some tops cost. I think that I will go with the neoprene gaskets instead of latex, because I don't paddle too often and don't want to have to spend time and money making sure the top works right. Any other suggestions? The only thing that I can find bad about the Zephyr is the drawstring waist, which won't be as watertight as a neoprene waistband. I have an NRS Mystery short sleeve shirt, and would that be enough for 50 degree (F) rivers?

P.S. What other gear do I need? I have a throw bag, PFD, skirt, boat, paddle, helmet, and shoes. I'm looking at hand paddles (read my previous post on breakdowns) and this top, as well as possibly a rescue knife. Anything else to consider?

In a sense, it is still on topic, although not about semi-dry tops anymore. The second paragraph says that I am looking for needed gear, so it hasn't technically "run all over the place". As an added thought, do you actually need pulleys for a Z-Drag? Also, if anyone has experience with hand paddles (post on it only got responses from 1 person - thanks Laddie!) please reply.

What should I get for brake lines for a Z-Drag? Also, will my 1/4" throw bag be sufficient as a rope (950 lb. tensile strength) or should I get like 60' of a stronger rope for $40.00?

prussik cord
stronger rope

i would say look at wwww.liquidblueclothing.co.uk

i personally use his cag

there brill

wee man wrote:

i would say look at wwww.liquidblueclothing.co.uk

i personally use his cag

there brill

My PeakUK jacket has already been ordered, so no help there, at least for me. Sarah might want to look at it, but I would rather go with a more reputable company like IR, PeakUK, Kokatat, Level Six, Palm, etc.

hey

he may not be know n in shops

but he makes the best cags around

my has just bourght a palm n we went to the nene

i had my dry top over a year now n i got off the water bone dry

his first use came of soaked n dint bale

liquid blue clothing is comfortable n rocks

wee man

Just got my PeakUK Semi-Long jacket today. A few observations are that the neck is VERY loose, where it doesn't even make contact with all of my neck. It has only an outer tunnel, and the drawstring that is used to tighten it is very weak; when I pulled on the end, it came off, leaving frayed elastic cord. The wrist gaskets fit great, and the material is lightweight as well as allowing a full range of motion forward and back, but that's about it. The jacket itself fits my body great, with the waist going about 2" or 5 cm above my hips.

cjcc wrote:

with the waist going about 2" or 5 cm above my hips.

The waist is 2" BELOW my hips, not ABOVE.

cjcc wrote:

A few observations are that the neck is VERY loose, where it doesn't even make contact with all of my neck.

Sounds like it will be a semi-wet-top. Unless you ordered the wrong size, I would contact PeakUK immediately... Doesn't sound right. Hope everything works out for you!

I've got 3 dry tops from 3 different manufacturers and one of them is a Yak top that I got for free for doing some work for a mate. It has latex seals on the wrist but not on the neck. I wasn't sure how dry it would be considering it was a Yak but it seals very well actually. I use it in the surf all the time (yesterday again) and my fleece underneath came out dry after a solid hour and a half of riding some solid waves and getting hammered every now and then.

The other two tops have latex necks which give my neck a bad rash in salt water if I kayak 3 or 4 days in a row... Both, however, are ultra dry.

I emailed PeakUK about the same time as my last post, and have not currently gotten a response. When I do, I will post what it says. What other tops should I look for now? I really want one with all neoprene gaskets, and might end up special ordering the IR Zephyr with a neoprene waist. I love the flexibility in the jacket, but it seems useless to wear a jacket that will just hold in water once it gets in. I will have another water-repelling layer (NRS Mystery S/S) under it, but it would be kind of weird to be swimming while you are in a kayak from all of the sloshing water. My parents insist that my neck will get bigger, but I am wondering what will expand faster, my neck or the neoprene. Would it be possible to put in a latex gasket under the neoprene neck?

hi

email liquid blue

he will be able to sort you out by putting the seal in it will be abou £25

but can have it back real quick gotta allow for postage due to christmas might be a bit longer

but usally buy the next weekend


wee man

IF your neck does get bigger, and you have a latex seal, then you just cut it bigger. The latex gaskets have thin rings which you can follow around with a pair of scissors. Latex seals will always be much drier. Good luck, sure you will get sorted out..

wee man wrote:

hi

email liquid blue

he will be able to sort you out by putting the seal in it will be abou £25

but can have it back real quick gotta allow for postage due to christmas might be a bit longer

but usally buy the next weekend


wee man

First, I have a feeling that you are just spamming, since you were recommending the Liquid Blue tops after I had already mentioned that I was getting a PeakUK top. Second, I would not want to have to send a top from the US to England, and since the exchange rate is not good ($37.24), I would be better off doing it locally.

The latex gaskets are either $30 just for the gasket or $38 with the sandpaper, glue, etc. Since I wouldn't even know if it would fit properly, I don't think I will get it yet. Also, PeakUK's Combi, as well as a few others, have a tightening strap on the neck, which if I could find a way to install one, it would probably be better. Combi .

im sorry that you feel like im spamming

i dint realise that you lived in the usa as only read the comments

i mentioned them as he is able to replace any neck or wrist seal on all makes of tops and bottoms

sorry

wee man

As an update, I got another Rock Lock in a dark grey color, as well as 30 ft. of 5mm accessory cord. I cut it into 3 4-foot sections and 3 6-foot sections. I put all of my rescue gear/Z-Drag gear in a Seattle Sports deck bag, and I currently have my throw bag, 2 carabiners, 15' of military-spec webbing, and the accessory cord rated to 1300 lbs. I have my knife and whistle in my PFD, but is there anything else to get? I have a first aid kit for camping, which I will toss into the deck bag, but do I really need pulleys for a Z-Drag, or are they just extra equipment?

Pulleys certainly increase the mechanical advantage of a Z-drag, but it can be created with just biners and some prusik loops. There's quite a bit more friction in the pulley-less system, but it certainly works. Doubling the biners decreases some of the friction and makes for slightly easier pulling. Pulleys certainly make the whole thing a lot easier, though.

Any recommendations on an inexpensive pulley? There are 2 pulleys at REI for about the same price: Camp U.S.A. and Petzl . The only thing that concerns me about the Petzl is that the same wheel/sheave is also made as an emergency pulley, and some people have had them break under a person's body weight (seen here ). The Camp USA pulley weighs 2x more the Petzl at 110 grams, which I would think would be an indication of being stronger, as well as it has a strength capacity of 20 kN compared to the Petzl's 16 kN.

I'm a big fan of Petzl products--C.A.M.P. products tend to be crap. I wouldn't suggest that Petzl pulley (that you provided the link for), though. This one would be a better choice: www.rei.com/product/635119

NRS has a swiftwater pulley, similar to the Petzl Fixe: us-parks.altrec.com/shop/detail/40561/

These pulleys won't break. They're both awesome--more expensive, but again, it's safety gear. Price shouldn't always dictate the gear you purchase.

How about this one? pulley

I guess if it's made to CE 0197 approved standards then it's fine. I usually paddle with two of these in my boat:



But Noël seems to not agree. Oh well. That other one looks like the bomb though. But heavier. Petzl make some great products!

How often have you actually used them? Since the pulley is plastic, it would be weaker, which I mentioned in a previous post. I'm liking the SMC pulley on my last post though, and I have $9.00 in Boater Bucks for NRS from when I got my Sherpa and throw bag.

The SMC should be fine. I, personally would go with the 2" swiftwater pulley that SMC makes if I were going with products on the NRS website. A larger pulley makes for easier pulling, plus the SMC you showed has a nylon sheave--something I would not use. If it's just for pulling pinned boats, then okay, it's easier to condone using it. But, if you have to set up some sort of pulley system to save a person, I'd go with the aluminum sheave and the larger pulley. I'd stay away from the ultralight Petzl one, especially for use in cold waters. The cold will definitely weaken the material. Adrian has definitely been boating way longer than I have and has much more experience on the water, though. My experience/background has been in climbing. I think I will have to disagree with Adrian on this one, though. Consider your uses/needs/rope diameter when choosing your pulley. Sheesh--I hope this made sense. My head is foggy today from a cold--not the best time to be explaining technical matters.

The SMC that I posted has a strength of 27 kN, which should be enough. The one that you were looking at has a strength of 34 kN, but my carabiners are only 24 kN, so once it is over that, it shouldn't make a difference. I have 2 local outdoor stores (Jesse Browns, Great Outdoor Provision) that have some good climbing gear, so I will probably check it out there.