Raft Hand Pumps

Website · Post by **MStanley** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 8:52 am

I'm finally going to get a heavy duty hand pump for my raft.

It will probably be the NRS 5" Barrel Pump (item 1709 on NRS web page). I have lots of experience with this pump and know it will do the job but it is big and cumbersome.

I have been looking at the K-Pump 400 (item 1713 on NRS web page). It seems able to do the job and uses no hoses plus has a storage bag and extra o-rings. Anyone have any experience with the K-Pumps before I make the decision to buy?

Thanks

Post by **Crane** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 9:28 am

Dave Smallwood and Bob Willey have them and use them as "top off pumps"... They are not as convenient as full-sized pumps & if you were to need to pump up a full chamber, they might be painful!!

Website · Post by **MStanley** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 9:36 am

Thanks

Sort of what I figured. They look easy but I was a little concerned how well they would work on the big jobs. Going for the ole reliable NRS!!

Post by **okieboater** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 11:34 am

I have the big carlson pump for big jobs and it used to be my top off pump as well.

got the K pump when they came out.

I have not used the big pump since I got the K pump.

Reason being, I air up with the car battery unit at the put in and just do top off work with the K pump.

What I like about the K Pump for top offs on a cat boat is I can do the deal by myself as the K Pump inserts directly into the air valve and is pretty easy to operate by one person as compared to the regular big pumps.

Never did a full tube inflation manually, but my guess is the K Pump model I have would take a long time to do that job.

for top off in the morning, ease of storage and ease of use - my opinion is the K Pump 400 is hard to beat.

Website · Post by **MStanley** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 11:39 am

You have a strong case and that was the main purpose I expected for this pump. For those multi-day trips, I'll trust that one of you ole' timers will bring the big pump.

I am glad to hear that the K-400 is of good quality because I've never used one.

Now I'm back to having to make a decision!!

Website · Post by **MStanley** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 11:41 am

Dave

This did make me thank.

How do you get that K-400 in the valve and still pump when your boat is on the water like at Yampa Put-in.

I would think that the hose would come in handy then. Can you still use a hose so you can pump while on the raft??

Post by **okieboater** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 11:48 am

It is a bit awkward, but just straddle the tube and insert the K pump. It does not take much arm pressure to pump the K-Pump.

Having two people, one to pump and one to hold the air tube of the big tubular units, is by far the most convenient way.

sometimes tho, you gotta do the deal alone.

by the way, I have not used mine yet, but I think NRS used to sell a rubber insert for the big pumps that should hold the air tube in the air valve. I purchased one but have not used it yet. I think I picked it up from NRS from one of their sale flyers.

Post by **Crane** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 1:42 pm

Hijacking the thread... Dave & Mike, I was looking at flip lines & the cheapest I found were $24.95 plus shipping for a pair. I went to Academy Sports & found 5"X7" nylon/mesh zipper pouches for $2.49 each... paird them with $4.95 1/2" X 15' poly-rope for tying up boats to docks & for about $15 I have a nice pair of flip lines... should be strong enough for the load I expect...

Post by **okieboater** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 2:21 pm

yup, we have an academy sports retail here in Tulsa - decent prices on a lot of camping, grilling and boating stuff.

by the way, sometimes the Lodge DO and skillets are cheaper at Academy than the Lodge Outlet.

Also coolers are cheaper there for the Gott style (not sure they are first quality but they work pretty good)

I already paid the hi price at NRS for their flip lines, but I bet the setup you have is just as good as the NRS

while you are there at academy, look at the bumper floats used to tie up boats at docks, I picked up one of the flat styles to try out if you have a tube setting on a rocky shore line like Tumble Crik or that rocky shelf on San Juan where I used a water jug for a bumper.

Post by **Crane** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 4:15 pm

Good suggestion... I've needed something like that several times & have even offered up my spare PFD on occassion... ugh... I hate doing that!!

Post by **Michele Jackson** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 7:08 pm

We just bought a raft, and we bought the Carlson 4" floor pump. A friend said they don't require lubing, like the NRS models do.

Randy thought a K pump would be a good idea for taking on the river just for topping off. But, we were thinking the K-200 would be adequate - about half the price of the K-400.

Does anyone have any experience or opinion on the K-200?

Post by **Crane** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:21 am

What raft did y'all buy?

Post by **Michele Jackson** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 7:54 pm

We bought a used 14' Maravia Williwa I, then an NRS Bighorn II frame. Now we've been shopping for accessories, dry boxes, etc and trying to come up with the best configuration. Lots of things to think about!! But, it's fun....

Then of course, we'll have to learn to row it.

Post by **robkanraft** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:02 pm

Congrats Michelle... probably more rafts per capita in the Lavaca area than anywhere in Arkansas! Bet you can find a tutor. Rob & Carol from up in Kansas

Post by **okieboater** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:06 pm

Well Michele, I went thru the same process when I started rafting.

Everything you buy for a raft is very expensive. And, you keep on seeing things you keep adding to the list. It is easy to spend thousands of dollars buying and outfitting a raft package.

Rowing a raft for me is a real hoot.

I love to kayak and canoe. No doubt about it.

But, I have gotten more satisfaction out of getting a loaded raft down a hard rapid than I ever got out of a kayak.

In a raft, you can see more of the rapid but you have to make up your mind where to go and do your moves exactly right else you get into a big problem. There is a big time price to pay if you pin a raft.

I know in a kayak, for the most part, you can pick and choose a route and make a lot of adjustments on the fly. Very hard to do that in a raft.

For me, it took several years and a couple of guide schools for things to come together for me. Hard part is around here, we do not get many chances to row rafts - or at least I have not found them yet except for the Piney. This year at Destination Wilderness Guide School on the Umpqua River - It finally all came together for me. Not saying I know what I am doing in a raft, but I'm begining to understand what I need to do and that really makes it fun.

Welcome to the rowing world and my bet is you and Randy will have a really good time rowing rafts. Plus, camping out of a raft is luxury where as camping out of a kayak is pretty spartan on gear other than freeze dry and a light sleeping bag.

Yippee, lets go rafting on big rivers, kayaking any where when we can and canoes on the Buffalo is hard to beat!

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