2 Acrobats For Sale

[PAC]

Will do on the boats Mike and I have to agree on the Acrobat. I'd get worked but David would look way cool!

As for the photo offer - please do send them on. I just can't get it right - on version 4! Check out this older version of the set up (the back brace has been removed it helped a bit for squirting but was too much of a pain getting in and out - - http://www.geocities.com/paulcline2002/viper.jpg .

My biggest issue is that the boat is cut as a Med (125 lbs / size 8.5 dogs) which is a bit under my 185 weight. The cockpit and deck is therefore set up a bit tight for me.

I have the hip pads in and a pleasure pod but the seat is 6" high at its lowest point so I HAVE to raise it!!!! Bit it keeps rejecting each attempt base on the seats orginal design!

The foam used in the seat is really comfortable but I don't have anything like it. Its Green and White - has quite a look (just ask Adam). Its like the old pfd vest material.

You might have an idea on the block but I am already a tighter fit in the Viper than in the Acrobat.

Anyway please send on the photos please. Thanks!

[David Good]

Yeh, I would look way cool getting worked drop after drop.

I have very little experience in the boat, so maybe the WB is a better idea....


Take It Easy,

David

[Mike W.]

7 pieces laminated to make the seat!?! It looks way cool, but somebody likes the fumes I do like the hip pads. I'm guessing that took some time to cut. How do those knee pads feel? That wrap around looks uncomfortable. I noticed that you don't have ankle blocks in the photos that you sent me. I can't last long without them.

You say the seat rejects attempts to raise it. Is it the curve that's hard to duplicate or is the foam not accepting the contact cement?

Here's a link to photos of my Viper outfitting:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/wh20crazy ... /my_photos
I know the seat looks thrown together...it is I lopped off the top & made it taller. Then I added some more height. I intended to re-do it once it was comfortable, but it's too comfortable to mess with now I like having the space under the seat for my feet. I think the better your upper & lower legs are alligned the more comfortable it is. I'm not super happy with the knee pads. With that type they have to be possitioned just right or they're irritating, plus they don't really hold your knee in place when pulling to the side. A bulk-head would be better. The bungee between the lower thigh-strap anchors is for a water jug.

Let me know what you do & do not like about mine

[PAC]

Thanks for the pictures....

The knee pads actually look like older versions of the ones you are using (aligned properly) and are actually are quite comfortable with good cushioning for my old wheels. Besides I always block out / in my knees for more leverage - so they work well. The hip pads works well and due to foam used look like they were easy to shape (soft). Oh and there are ankle blocks – grey mini cell almost under the deck – they just keep getting reworked while I try to cut the pain and provide better access (in and out).

The seat raising issue seems to a bit of both shape and glue - but more on the curved shape. I’m now just going to pull it and replace it (I’ll save the seat for the boy when he gets to the point of being interested in the Viper). And yep I think the fumes would have been a bit much but the concept is nice.

You might have noticed I added a second anchor point for the straps. The original ones were too far forward for my taste so I added new ones in to be much tighter with a better applied angle. I keep the originals based on lessons learn on the LG at your expense . I add back up to my Acrobat as well based on that thought process and keep a beach ball in each boat just in case!

I hear you on the comfort – once you get in the zone – “no mas”! Even if its butt ugly, if it works – go with it. Besides it looks like Frank Lloyd Wright was at work in your boat! Thanks for the feedback and photos once I redo it I’ll provide an update. Right now I’m working on a Foreplay (Big Als boat) but I think I need to move the V up in line so as to be ready for the LG. Otherwise folks will be able to hang out and watch me get worked over and over again!

[Mike W.]

Since you mentioned Big Al's Forplay here are photos of mine.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/wh20crazy ... /my_photos
I also wanted to show that I am capable of making my outfitting look decent too

I have learned from you, Master. I now put 2 beach balls in my baot before getting on the river

[sbroam]

Big Al in a Forplay? That ought to be fun to watch. That'l be a low cut squirt boat for him, I suspect.

[PAC]

Mike - you can never have too many balls in a boat!

Thanks for the Foreskin shots! So NOW I have to ask...
o Did you use cutting board material as the connector for the seat and hip pads? Right now I'm using a bastardized Team etc set up with thinner than normal plastic sheet and I have concerns Big Al will destroy it at the first sign of a cartwheel or roll!
o Did you glue the bottom of the pedestal in place or is it connected to the back pillar, etc.?
o How far it the back of the seat / pedestal from the back of the cockpit (this will help me on getting the trim proper first time).
o Does the thigh block move on you or do you use the front pillar as an anchor point?
More questions to follow I'm sure as I go forward!

Sorry everyone else that Mike and I hi-jacked this thread into outfitting!

And Yes Scott it will be “interesting” for Al... and fun for us. But he has been crank’n it up in that purple Zoom of his, winning the OC1 Over the Falls race last week, so it might be the time! Oh by the way he was the only one in his class but he styling during each of his runs! But he did do better then Dale B. and I since your training run was the run in the C2! Swam more in that @#$@ ¼ mile then over the entire year! Oh well – it was worth the giggles! Scroll on the link – the angle speak volumes… http://www.seeyouontheriver.com/gallery ... temId=8611… as to river god’s beat down that took place a second later!

[Mike W.]

When I did my Big EZ, I used the Team ETC method. This set up is way lighter. I also used the 1/8" polyethelene for hip pads. It eventually broke where I bent it. I replaced it in that boat with 7/16" cutting board. I used the same thing in the Forplay. It's much stiffer, but takes a bit longer to heat enough to bend. I clamped the cutting board between two pieces of alluminum where I wanted the bend & heated it with a torch. It's hard to get the bend precisly where you want it with this thick material, so cut it a little large prior to bending. You'll have to taper the edge of the cutting board that fits into the cockpit rim recess behind the pedestal.

The pedestal was tricky. I put the cutting board in the boat 1st. Then I applied contact cement to the bottom & back of the pedestal & the cutting board. I then alligned the forward edge of the bottom of the pedestal to the hull & rolled it backwards into place. Take your time here, it's easy to mess up

The front of the backrest is 8" from the back, outside edge of the cockpit rim.

The bulkhead is a force fit. I actually just snatched it out of the Big EZ. It fits the Forplay better so that's where it stayed. There is a block of foam between the front of the bulkhead & the bow pillar to keep the bulkhead from moving forward. I need to add some foam to the sides of the hull to keep my knees in. The bungee for the water jug runs through plastic tubing & has big stainless steel washers on the front side so it won't pull through.

I used the front set of seat bolt holes to attach the lap-belt.

I can't wait to see Big Al paddle a Forplay on the LG

Nice shot going over the falls