C-Forum

slalom boaters, i recently had a mental scare about using velcro thigh straps under my skirt, and i was wondering what you gus use? as of now i am going to continue using the straps, and put wiffle balls on the ends of the straps so that i have something to grab for sure instead of just a thin piece of webbing. i was debating just doing a bulkhead and adding more foam in the middle to spread my legs apart and using that pressure to stay in. or else a lap belt.
cheers
-isaac

I use velcro for all my boats. I also use a bulkhead made out of foam to keep the knees down and apart. I can get out if I need to in a swim.

Lap belts are a very bad idea in my opinion. If you decide to use one use a quick release buckle like those that come with a rescue vest.

Chuck

The velcro straps that came with my boat had a large "grab loop" that connected both straps. This way, there is one solid, stationary piece to grab for that gets both legs, instead of searching for separate "wiffle balls".

That's the set-up. My only use of it has been in the pool with very loose straps, I could get out without undoing the Velcro. (Man, do I need hip-grabbers.)

I think I'm eventually going to connect the Velcro straps to a loop on a quick-release buckle, and put the quick-release out with my skirt's grab loop.

P.

I have a question that kinda falls under this discussion.

What kind of placement on the thigh straps do you slalom boaters use?

I recently bought a slalom boat and the top anchor of the staps seemed to be to far forward, at least for my likeing. All my staps (allthough in nonslalom boats) have had the top part anchored about paralel to my hip bones and possibly further back. This gives me a better "attachment" of my butt to the seat yet still pushes the top portion of my legs to the sides of the boat and giving me a better feel of being connected to the boat.

I guess I'm asking is there a propper place for thigh straps in a slalom boat?

Marshall

I prefer the middle anchors to be just in front of my torso and the side anhors to behind my torso.

Hip pads are great and I have them in most of my boats. I use minicell blocks as hip pads and attach with duct tape.

Chuck

Outfitting for slalom boats, like for any C-1, tends to be very personal and idiosyncratic.

In the slalom boats that I have built, I typically have used foam bulkheads without any thigh straps. However, the rest of my standard outfitting helps me to get away with not having thigh straps. I also use a hanging seat (either a composite layup, "bicycle-style" seat or a shaped aluminum thwart that is hung from underneath the deck and bent to drop down to the proper height. In addition to giving good hip support, this style of seat allows me to put my feet under my seat when paddling, where I use the front edge of the stern pillar as a toe block to help hold my knees and thighs in the bulkhead.

However, I have used thigh straps and pedestal seats in used boats that I've purchased, either for my own use or that of other family members. Particularly lacking bulkheads and toe blocks, thigh straps anchored as far back as feasible tend to lock-in the thighs (& butt) better than anchors located further forward. Foam knee cups or a small partial bulkhead in combination with straps can help to further lock your knees into position. Some of my straps have buckles and some have velcro. They are both more adjustable than a foam bulkhead, which isn't very forgiving about changes in paddling wear or fluctuating body weight, although velcro is definitely easier to adjust than buckles.

I have never worried much about which strap closure is easier to undue as I never undue my straps when I bail. Even in my current boat (bought used) with straps anchored very high up the thighs, I am able to get out of my straps easily without unbuckling. This is also true for all of my family members who paddle slalom C-boats, although admittedly some of them are small relative to a full-size adult boat. If you're in a position where you can't get out quickly without fumbling for a buckle, velcro strap, etc., then, IMO, you need to rethink your outfitting.

John

i think part of it is that i have never had to try to get out of the boat, ive never had to roll on the river, i have tried a few in the pool, and when i didnt make one i had a friend to help. i am going to try to swim out of the setup, and see how it goes to just push out of the straps. which in my opinion are very high up, and do a very good job keeping me locked in the boat. but i think after this weekend, which involves a slalom race im going to go to a full bulkhead. or just a block of foam to spread my legs apart and apply pressure to the sides.
thanks for the advice
cheers
-isaac

Issac:

Try bailing out in a pool at your next opportunity. I find that, when underwater, I can easily back my legs out of the straps and then float forward under the deck, pulling them out of the boat. Sometimes I might get a foot caught between the coaming and a loose strap, particularly if I come to the surface before coming out fully, but typically even that doesn't necessitate unbuckling anything to get loose.

John