New Conversion Pedestal

Mike W. · Post by **Mike W.** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 11:40 pm

Larry, This looks real nice. Looks like a pain to lay-up too.

Larry Horne · Post by **Larry Horne** » Fri Jul 16, 2010 3:30 pm

Josh,
A flat plate would be nice and easy. But in my opinion, it wouldn't be strong enough to replace the strength that the kayak seat provides the hull.
IMO, the kayak seat (not the seat rail. it has virtually no strength) is more important for strength and safety than the front and rear pillars. Still a lot of people take out the seat and just replace it with foam without a care. That leaves the center 1/3 of the boat unsupported.
I know everyone get's away with it. I just think it's not ideal.
I think boats will last longer with a good support between the front and rear pillars.
We'll see how these work. It may end up being the biggest waste of time and money ever.
My "high tech" testing so far consisted of setting the ends of the saddle on supports and standing on the middle. And turning the completed boat upside down and jumping up and down on it. This has shown that this one has the desired small amount of flex to it. It may work. It may break. Who knows...That's what I intend to find out this weekend.. R & D doesn't pay well, but it sure is fun!

TheKrikkitWars · Post by **TheKrikkitWars** » Fri Jul 16, 2010 9:30 pm

Larry Horne wrote:Josh,
A flat plate would be nice and easy. But in my opinion, it wouldn't be strong enough to replace the strength that the kayak seat provides the hull.
IMO, the kayak seat (not the seat rail. it has virtually no strength) is more important for strength and safety than the front and rear pillars. Still a lot of people take out the seat and just replace it with foam without a care. That leaves the center 1/3 of the boat unsupported.

I wasn't meaning just flat plate, I meant in the sense that I'd love to have the support to the sides of the boat that your idea offers (as i've broken several boats in big side impacts), but I'd just want a flat surface (rather than the moulded in saddle and spreader) with a central attachment point for straps and build my saddle and bulkhead round that. Currently I have an acceptable bodge job going on with strips of my friends late Jefe-Grande bolted to my center rail and seat bolts.

Mike W. · Post by **Mike W.** » Fri Jul 16, 2010 10:54 pm

TheKrikkitWars wrote:I'd just want a flat surface (rather than the moulded in saddle and spreader) with a central attachment point for straps and build my saddle and bulkhead round that. Currently I have an acceptable bodge job going on with strips of my friends late Jefe-Grande bolted to my center rail and seat bolts.

Sorry for the thread-jack

You've just described the Team ETC system. Ping Jay, not Elvis for info.

marclamenace · Post by **marclamenace** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 5:53 pm

Looks sweet Larry, congrats!

Strap systems like this are great, but myself I found out in many boats that adding a bulkhead to the straps helps for both comfort and control. And I don't do overnights in my C1s; big boats are the way to go for me. (although from my folding chair or hammock I do cheers and drink my cold canned beverage to all the minimalist!

)

So all that to say even though you could add a bulkhead yourself, any additional anchor point would be good for it? Just a suggestion obviously but I am thinking of a slot in the knee spacer to hold it in place and make bulkhead shaping less complicated... Anything that would help in that matter and maybe even makes it so one doesn't have to glue the kneeholes dashboard in place to the foam pillars to hold it in place... So then you could even remove it to stuff the bow as well...

Again just ideas: the work you've done so far looks great and it was just about time the old daggers are such a rare grab today.

Keep on the good work!

Larry Horne · Post by **Larry Horne** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 6:31 pm

after a fun weekend of testing.. helmet testing as well

it's back to the design team for minor revisions.

xmas0c1c1k1 · Post by **xmas0c1c1k1** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 6:55 pm

Ouch
this thing looks awesome being composite it would be nice cause you could glass in any additions you may want to add.

how exactly does it connect in the rear?

Larry Horne · Post by **Larry Horne** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 2:35 am

you just plug the rear pillar into it

xmas0c1c1k1 · Post by **xmas0c1c1k1** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 2:51 am

does that prevent it from flopping upwards? That was always one of the issues I had with the dagger seats

Larry Horne · Post by **Larry Horne** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 5:11 am

yeah, it's a tube so it goes under the pillar as well as into the top of the pillar. you need to cut a slot in the pillar for the top edge.

xmas0c1c1k1 · Post by **xmas0c1c1k1** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 5:47 am

okay i see it now good thinking on the design of that part. simple but effective