sunday wrote:
Following up on my "why do you need it" post above...
So yesterday as I'm getting out of my kayak and for the first time I'm thinking about the need for a safety line on my drive. And it dawns on me, WHY NOT JUST REPLACE THE BUNGEED HOOK with a CARABINER?
Seems like a much simpler and cheaper solution, and don't need to put new holes in the boat. The existing bungee is already there, a big enough carabiner would still work on the drive shift to hold the fins flush in shallows/coming ashore, and I can think of several other things I could attached to the carabiner during a trip.
So I'm thinking to remove the hook, then make a loop out of the end of the bungee, fastening the loop with a stainless steel clip or wire, and sliding the carabiner onto it. Heck, I could even keep the hook on the loop WITH the carabiner so I could have both.
Feel free to poke holes in this theory before I run out and do it.
Coincidentally, I stopped by West Marine yesterday afternoon and bought about 30 feet of 1/4" shock cord (on sale) and a couple of packages of hog rings. I also stopped by Home Depot and bought a few more SS carabiners (cheaper at Home Depot vs. West Marine) as well as some Velcro straps.
I was playing around and making some leashes for paddles and my new YakAttack 8' ParkNpole. I have to say it was a pretty darn easy DIY and it is much more cost effective.
Therefore, I say "go for it". If you Google "shock cord connectors" you will find so many different ways to work with this product. My only question is where, on the kayak, are you going to attach the leash? I had once thought about attaching it to the bungee that holds down the bow hatch but I realized that, in a worst case scenario, I would save the mirage drive but my kayak would be filled with water from the loose front hatch.