Outdoors

Paddle Pump combines two canoeing safety essentials

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The Paddle Pump – seen here being used as a bilge pump
Paddle Pump
The Paddle Pump in paddling mode
Paddle Pump
The length of the Paddle Pump's shaft can be adjusted from 36 to 60 inches
Paddle Pump
The Paddle Pump – seen here being used as a bilge pump
Paddle Pump
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Among other items, serious canoeists are advised to carry an extra paddle (in case they lose one) and a bilge pump (in case their boat gets swamped). The Paddle Pump is designed to make things simpler, by combining both tools in one device.

Reportedly tipping the scales at 1.4 lb (635 g), the Paddle Pump features a telescoping aluminum shaft that can be extended from 36 up to 60 inches (914 to 1,524 mm), a tee-type handle, and an injection-molded plastic "beaver tail" blade.

Using the device as a paddle is pretty straightforward. To use it as a pump, you just loosen off the collar on the shaft, stick the bottom end of the blade in the water that needs to be removed, then use the handle to move the upper section of the shaft up and down. Doing so draws water into the shaft on the upstroke, then ejects it out one end of the handle on the downstroke.

The length of the Paddle Pump's shaft can be adjusted from 36 to 60 inches
Paddle Pump

"The inspiration was actually born from seaplanes," says John Hartz, who co-created the Paddle Pump along with its main inventor, Dan Dufault. "Seaplane floats are typically made of riveted aluminum and over time will leak, so part of the pre-flight is to pump out each float compartment. Paddles are also necessary equipment, because you can't motor all the way into the dock and there is no reverse. So this idea was an easy blend of both of those needs."

The Paddle Pump is available now via the product website, and is priced at US$98.

Source: Paddle Pump

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2 comments
Oirinth
I cant see using it as a primary paddle but as a backup instead of a split paddle it might be a good choice
Marlen
The paddle looks like its lost a lot of the fluid dynamics of a regular paddle, its kind of important to have a very slim profile. As such it seems like a bit of a gimmick to me. Also I've found using a cut off laundry detergent bottle to be completely effective and obviously very cheap.

This kind of device might make more sense for a small motorboat instead of for a canoe. With a motorboat you don't really expect to paddle very much and the pump would be more useful.