If your airbed has ever let you down, I bet it was when you had forgotten the repair kit, and/or the middle of the night anyway! It's part of 'Sod's Law of Dinghy Cruising'. Some while ago I discovered CALIPAK, which is merely a foam mattress in a tough, plastic skin. It arrives rolled-up and all you have to do is open a valve at one end. The foam does the rest by sucking in air faster than you could possibly blow it up. You then close the valve and 'Bob's your Uncle' you have a comfortable bed! Packing is simply the reverse, open valve, roll up slowly to expel air, and close valve again. The great advantage is that even when holed it retains its springiness to see you through the night, due to the foam interior.

It comes in two sizes, full, and back-packer's 4' length, and costs a little more than an airbed. The last price I had was about £15 for the full length and £11 for the shorter one. Again, coming direct from the manufacturers it is about 40% cheaper than from retail shops, but you can confirm the latest price by writing or phoning them direct:

CALIGEN FOAM LTD, Broad Oak, Accrington, Lancs, BB5 2BS Tel: (0254) 37 411

SELF-INFLATING MATTRESSES

Stuart Jones from Lymington (no relation) tells me he contacted Calipak and sent them a copy of our Bulletin. As a result he has negotiated a discount for DCA members. So if you want to order the ‘regular’ size, you’ll save yourself almost £1. To us they cost £15; buy two and they come for £26.85, three at £39 and four (if anyone has a dinghy that big!) at £51.40. The Backpacker’s and children’s are 46” long and come at £11.95. He hasn’t offered a discount on that, but you could always ask. Thanks Stuart.

NOTE:

As at March 2002, I have no idea whether, or not, the above described mattress is still available or whether the company named still exists. The mattress described does however sound remarkably similar to one called “Therm-a-Rest” which, I believe, is made by an American company. The Therm-a-Rest mattresses appear to be widely available – worldwide – and there are numerous web sites featuring them; try HYPERLINK "http://www.cascadedesigns.com/" http://www.cascadedesigns.com/ for a start

M.W.