: I have been looking into the airline regulations on baggage for an upcoming
: trip. usually the pieces have to be 60 inches length + width + hight. and
: under 70 lbs each. They will allow up to 80 inches but it costs more. Any
: where fom $35 on up for each piece. And if you are over your baggage limit
: 2/3 bags it will cost more. It would be tight trying to get a yak to
: conform to these numbers but i am sure people have done it. The cockpit is
: the problem area i would think. You would need a 46" long cockpit
: section with a 22" beam and 12 fore deck height. To squeek by the
: 80" regs.

: I am trying to find a way to get my greenland paddle on the plane but it
: might be impossible. It is 86" already. haven't paddled w/ a
: eurostick in a while so i would rather use my greenland but unless I use a
: storm which I don't really want to do for a 8 day trip i am not going to
: be able. Has any body tried to fly with a non break down paddle? the
: outfitters reccomended not to mail it. I am at a loss.

: Tom

I think You could very easily mail or Yeuck!, UPS it. If you mail it, make avery light foam and doorskin packaging. The length alone would keep anything else from being stacked on top of it. It would have to be set aside or stood up to carry. "Oh people of little faith." Check with Postal and UPS regs. for size and weight. I know you won't have any problem with weight and I have personally hauled longer items around in my LLV. ( That's Postalese for Long Life Vehicle ) One of the packaging outfits could show you or do a long box with bubble-wrap and thin ply, but you could do it yourself easily enough. Even if you got some cardboard and doubled it, and wrapped the paddle in bubble-wrap or foam you would be alright. I'd be more afraid of the airlined losing it that the Post office or UPS breaking it.
Call the Post office of your destination and give them the situation and if you don't have an address to mail to ask if they will take it General Delivery to that office. You can use Priority or Express, but, if Priority, don't expect 2 days, but ask how long to between the two cities. It's on their computers. Since both Priority and Express go by weight, you won't have such a big bill there. Just depends on your packaging costs. Check it out and don't always take someone elses "opinion." Their Aunt Matilda probably lost a letter in 1945 and has never let it go... They need closure.

If you are afraid they still might break it, add Insurance. Give it a reallistic value, for materials and LABOR and a fair wage. If it gets broken or damaged in any way, they will reimburse you. Make sure you use NUMBERED INSURED which is the little blue stickered one that means over $50. They have to be signed for and it adds accountability for the item. Or, you can Register it, which will cost you a couple of extra bucks and it will be kept away from the other mail and sent seperately and signed for at every stop, by whomever is handling it until it gets to you at your destination.

I'm sure that UPS offers similar deals. Just check us out yourself with a phonecall or go in and talk to someone at the window, or their supervisor and get the whole skinnie before you wash your hands of us. Tsk! Tsk!.... Non-Believers...... What are we to do???

Rehd