what the hell, ideas are cheap, eh? but i haven't tried it so who knows?

my favourite foam float idea uses foam one already can use elsewhere.

Have you seen those zig zag folding thermarest Z-rest sleeping pads? they fold up ziglike stacked to a totally compact about 5 or 6in wide by 6in hi by 20in long rectangular compact volume. folds like a map and tight. 2 sizes but might as well get the big one. prob get 20 - 25#floatation, better'n most others

then take 3 or 4ft of that netting tubing that christmas trees come stored in or you put them in when you buy the tree, put the folde up pad in the tube towards one end and invert the long end back thru the pad in the centre. yu end up with both ends touching - one inside the other. pull real tight so it all sucks down and tie off w/ an eight knot or something easy to untie for bedtime.

(or just use some wraps of webbing, could even use a long bag(invert it down)wouldn't be hard to come up with a real quick releas and hold.

then just push the paddle in the other end, it has to go in the centre because of the tube , the water'll drain, it cant go too far b/c of the knot.

you can play w/ the layering, say one side thin so can use the paddle a bit. maybe can play w/ width also (say 5 in or 10in)

-mick