: Hi everyone. I am a product manager at Rule Industries. We are currently
: looking at new products for the kayak market. We are looking at portable
: hand pumps, permanently mounted hand pumps, battery operated portable
: pumps, and compasses. Now's your chance to talk to the manufacturer BEFORE
: we design a product. Please give me your thoughts -we are listening!!

You may regret having asked before we're all done with you, but I'll give it a go. The compass should be removable, and/or protected from damage when kayaks are handled upside down (The lexan housing shouldn't be what comes in contact with the ground first!). People on this list have built recesses for compasses in an effort to protect them, but that adds weight up high in the hull, complicates construction a bit and provides a nice little moat for seawater.

Pumps: Kent's switch idea is great. Any system needs to operate well in the worst of conditions -- exactly the time it's most likely to be used. I'd like to see a self-contained pump-battery unit.