C-Forum

why is that?
the only lap belt i have seen is the mohawk one, and it seemed like a more exaggerated connected thigh strap. i have gone with a bulkhead and a bulkhead with a strap, and a strap set up,. but never with the lap belt. what are the pros cons etc.? is it a safety concern about being unable to get out in time? or why is there a rash feeling towards the whole lap belt idea?
just curious.
cheers
-isaac

It's just one more process when exiting the boat. It could also be a problem in a vertical pin situation. I think most people don't like that lap belt in a c1 because the ones I've seen are so high up on the thighs. I don't think the mohawk thigh retainers apply to this at all. They are easy to get out of, even when locked in good.

Adam

The Mohawk strap is definitely a thigh restraint. When I was outfitting my Delirious, I played around with a lap belt. I mounted it much farther back than a thigh strap would be. I used an aircraft style belt and it held my butt planted to the saddle, but it's too disconcerting to have to release it after the skirt. I did try a cord out to the pull cord on the skirt, but not sure I'd trust it. For me, just an extra thing to have to undo in order to exit...making it harder mentally to go for that extra roll attempt.
So, I do have a really nice aircraft style belt if anyone is interested.
Mike

depending on different uses it might be ok. For example, if a person were squirting at a seam or playing a hole with lots of folks around and no real danger it might be different than if one were running an unknown creek.

Having swum out of strainers and sieves I don't think I could ever like it .

I used one in my Delirious and I currently have one in Prelude, both with VW Beetle style buckles (same as aircraft style, only a bit heavier. In all my C1-s (FM, Sith, Wheelboy) I currently use thigh straps, but I am thinkling of changing to a lap belt in some of them, particularly since I have to open the thigh straps as well to be able to get out, due to my very long legs..
Yes, there are safety issues (one more step before being able to exit the boat), but I think the lap belt set-up with the aircraft or Beetle style setup is quite safe.
One crucial thing is, IMHO, no matter what your setup is, to practice wet exits in amy kind of condition, particularly ones that can be disorienting, like being in a thrashy hole. I did lots of those, and I don;t have to think about what to do any more when I am wet exiting.
The lap belt actually helped me rolling, knowing that whatever the condition, and how many rolling attempts I have to do, I will not slide out of my boat. To make opening the belt easier, I attached a big wooden dowel with a piece of electical cable (didn't trust a cord) to the latch, so that its really easy to find, even when wearing thick gloves in mid-Winter.

martin a.k.a. the great gonzo!

Martin -

Are you thinking of putting a lap belt in your Finkenmeister or staying with the thigh straps. I recently purchased Oreganmatt's FM and am working on the outfitting. Any help is appreciated.

Marc

After a heinous pin 2 weeks ago,I'd have to say no way on lapbelts in hairy situations.

Mark,

Right now I have thighstraps in there, but I am thinking of trying out the lap belt.
I know there are safety issues, but I have a few ideas that might adress that... I will have to try them out in easier rapids in the spring once the water and air up here are a bit warmer.
Right now fiddling around with outfitting and practicing wet exits don't really apeal to me too much ...

Skueakyknee,

I hear you about the pin, I do actually at times decide not to use the belt when I feel that the risk of a pin or such is bigger than me missing my roll. I use the belt mainly in big water.

martin a.k.a. the great gonzo!

Lapbelts also get more and more dangerous the older you get when the dunlop disease sets in making the release buckles harder to get to.

Dunlop disease ... I am starting to suffer from a mild case as well ... I am just under 195 lbs right now, that will make paddling my Wheelboy and Sith (cut for ~180-185 lbs) rather interesting this spring...

martin a.k.a. the great gonzo!

My belly done lop ever my belt?

aye

Martin,

Where did you get your lap belt buckle again? I don't like the buckle I have, I find that even when it's released it's still difficult to get the reamining loose strap out... I'd like to switch to the VW beetle/Airplain buckle sooner rather than later.

Just curious - what is the setup that you are thinking of? What about a saftey pin that you can pull out with a little bit of effort?

Mike.

Mike,

I got my VW Beetle style lap belts from those guys:

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp ... 11%2D704RD

Although the prices are in USD, they are actually located in BC, so no duty will be added, only GST & shipping.

I have a few ideas of how to be able to pull the skirt and release the lap belt at the same time when doing a wet exit, without the setup compromising the dryness of the skirt and while assuring a safe release between belt and skirt. Got a few ideas, but they need some work and refinement.

martin a.k.a. the great gonzo!

Crap- I can't order ONE buckle only - they only accept orders $25 or more... and the belt is $20...

Anyone in Toronto or Ottawa interested in the lap belt buckle above?