Agreed - pumping out with the hand pump can be a real challenge (I was testing it last year when I intentionally went and played in a incoming tide at the mouth of a river - quite rough - but I was able to re-enter with a paddle float after several tries, and pump the boat by hand). (I seem to remember my hand pump rated at 25 or 30 GPM with would match your observations)

So this brings up a new question - Has anyone thought of making some form of bracket inside thier cockpit that would lock a hand pump in place and make it easy to use one handed? Clearly the bracket would need to be very simple so you could quickly lock the pump in and then support the pump on both up and down strokes. While at the same time being small enough to not interfere with re-entry or paddling.

Maybe a velcro strap attached to the cockpit rim? Or some form of ring bracket on the hull between your legs? Maybe we should suggest the idea to a pump manufacturer as they could make the pump and a mating bracket?

I like the idea because the hand pump is more versitile (especially in a group)and less risk of being blocked (one of the Sea Kayaker near death stories had a fellow who's seat pad slid down infront of his foot pump and stopped him from being able to empty his kayak).

Mark

> The consensus --- highly non-scientific --- from those of us who use the
> Henderson foot pump is that a nominal portable hand pump will empty a
> flooded boat faster than a foot pump. Maybe twice as fast. Again, not
> scientific, but, if you are in a position to a handpump --- relatively
> flat water or assistance in place --- the hand pump is faster. However, in
> an environmental situation where you've been dumped out of your boat by
> clapotis or rising winds and bigger seas than planned, a hand pump is
> going to be proportionately harder to use. Takes two hands and sometimes
> knees to hang on to those things, where, with a foot pump, you get back
> into the boat, put on the skirt, and pump the boat out while you use both
> hands to brace and to start to maneuver or propel yourself out of danger.
> Can't do that when using a hand pump. Hence the value. I've always found
> it's best to use worst case scenarios when evaluating gear choices ---
> "pool" criteria don't hack it!

> (Sorry about dropping out Guzzler's web site on my last post. It was when
> I wrote it, honest! Slightly better boat operator than computer operator!)

> Jack Martin