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CarlS · Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 9:37 pm Post subject: Weight wanted for pool session

Having checked my 'equipment log' I have noted that my BA is now over 4-years old and is in perhaps in need of an immersion test. This involves attaching a 4.5 Kg weight to it and seeing if it still floats, I would like to do this at the pool.

So does anyone have a 4.5 kg weight that could be put into the swimming pool this Weds?

Of course anyone wishing to test their BAs should bring them down.

Thanks
Carl

Mel Stoddart · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 207

Hi Carl,
I have 2Kg and 1Kg diving weights I can bring to the pool.

Your BA should float tho, that's what it's designed to do

Steve T · Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:58 am Post subject:

Sad, but I once actually worked this out (I wanted to test the old club BAs; I’m not so sad as to do it for fun) and from memory you need something over 5.1kg if the weight is made from steel, a bit less if it’s lead (skoolboy fizziks). Probably 5.5kg to give some margin to make sure. If I get a minute I’ll work it out again just to prove what a geek I am.

I do have a lump of steel at home but it’s about 6kg and when I used it to test the club BAs most sank like the Titanic (I’m not explaining the Celine Dion reference again). I meant to drill out the middle to bring it down but in the end just couldn't be ....... forgot about it.

If anyone has a weight then I’ll bring along all the old club BAs so we can test them – anyone who has been using one all summer probably shouldn’t look.

The 5.1kg applies for 50N BAs which is the requirement to meet the CE standard. Some more technical white water BAs are made with 70N buoyancy – if you have one of these then to see if it’s still that buoyant you’ll need about 7.5kg, although so long as it’s over 50N it’s still deemed adequate for general paddling.

You're right Mel, they shouldn't need testing as they are in fact an aid to buoyancy - not only are they designed to do this, the clue is in the name. You'd have to be doing something seriously wrong to sink while wearing one; in fact I can't see how this could happen.

Bring all your scuba gear, we might need you to fetch lead weights off the bottom of the pool.

Steve
_________________
Steve Thomas
Secretary & Website Editor

www.westhoughtoncanoeclub.org.uk
website@westhoughtoncanoeclub.org.uk

Mike · Joined: 04 Jun 2009 Posts: 50 Location: Tyldesley

Think i will concentrate on rolling....

Steve T · Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 9:23 am Post subject:

Steel: 5.8kg
Lead: 5.6kg
Uranium: 5.4kg

I'm off now to find myself a life.
At least I don't keep an "equipment log".

_________________
Steve Thomas
Secretary & Website Editor

www.westhoughtoncanoeclub.org.uk
website@westhoughtoncanoeclub.org.uk

BobM · Joined: 18 Nov 2008 Posts: 16

If you squished them up into a really dense lump how many Kg of feathers would you need?
If I start to keep an equipment log do I automatically get to go up a level on the "Carl Scale" of paddler grades?

Steve T · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 8:24 am Post subject:

Good to see that I'm not the only one out there:
http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.u...d1f733dc8b5c2ce31b6eb915d#p267798
Although in my day

it was O level stuff not degree material (kids today/dumbing down/what's the world coming to?/grumble grumble/etc. etc.)
Further down someone also asks Bob's question!

Last night's trials showed that it is definitely worth checking your old gear, and secondhand BAs should be viewed with caution. Carl's passed with flying colours, as did my old spare (5+ years?). However we have decided to retire three club BAs as a result so this shows that they do deteriorate with time (no they won't be going on eBay).

Steve
_________________
Steve Thomas
Secretary & Website Editor

www.westhoughtoncanoeclub.org.uk
website@westhoughtoncanoeclub.org.uk

CarlS · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 7:52 pm Post subject:

Checked out the link that Steve suggested and noted with interest that the author took density of water into account. However, the water at the pool would have a slightly different density due to the added chemicals. Therefore the calculations would be slightly out.

I also agree with Steve about the general lowering of standards, when I was at school we would have done calculations like this for fun whilst standing in the milk queue. With this in mind I will set a mathematical problem for members to solve:

If I buy a bottle of pink guiness for £10 and the beer costs £9 more than the bottle, how much does the bottle cost?

Carl

ps a big thank you to Mel for brinking her weights down.

Steve T · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 9:23 pm Post subject:

You were robbed, unless it's a very big bottle.

PG + B = 10
PG = 10 - B

PG - B = 9
B = PG - 9
B = (10 - B) - 9
2B = 10 - 9 = 1
B = 0.5 = 50p

Do I get marks for showing my working?

Good point about the density. Does that make it easier or harder to roll (or cartwheel)?
_________________
Steve Thomas
Secretary & Website Editor

www.westhoughtoncanoeclub.org.uk
website@westhoughtoncanoeclub.org.uk

CarlS · Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 7:03 pm Post subject:

Well done Steve, with standards as they are these days that's got to be worth a Phd.

Googled kayak maths and found this:

) Pick the number of times a week that you would like to kayak. It needs to be more than once but less than 10. Sorry, I know 12-15 would be many people's choice but humor me.

2)Multiply tht number by 2. See, you can get up to 18 times a week anyhow!

3)Add 5 to the number just for the hell of it.

4) Multiply by 50. I'll hang out while you get the calculator to do your cipherin'.

5)If you already had your birthday this year, add 1759. If not, add 1758.

6)Now subtract the four digit year you were born in.

You should now have a three digit number. The first digit should be the original number of times you want to kayak a week from question #1. The next two numbers are your age.