C-Forum

I am looking at changing the outfitting of my wheelboy.

I don't want straps yet so I am planning some kind of mini cell bulkhead to hold me in.

My legs are short and don't come anywhere near where the previous owner used to have his knees.

should I pack the seat a little to move me forward? Or leave the seat as it is and construct knee cups where my knees land. this is about 6 inches behind where the old knee cups are.

Sandie

HI


Better to keep the boat in balance. I think you should not move forward on WB. Keep the balance right. For it is just 50 mm between my but and back of rim. I 'm quite short too.

Keep the bow up and waterlevel to lower edge of tail and you are just perfect.

Agreed,

Best not to move your weight forward too much, ultimatly straps are the only true way to be secured in your boat, although i understand your issues with them, I use aeroplane seatbelt buckles, they (i feel) are the best buckles to use, they dont slip and are easy to release if you need too.

Once your tight in the boat your control, edging and rolling will become easier, consoles do work well to hold the knees but wont help your bum falling off the saddle.

Sandie, I will mail you the pics i have tonight, sorry for the delay.

Colin

I have no problem using quite firm fitting straps in my occoe. My concern in a C1 is having to look for the release under the deck.

I have been experimenting a little today and I think staps may be needed afterall. foam is too mushy and I can lift off the seat.

I will try a different foam configuration this evening.

sandie

Hey Sandie,

I'm getting ready to do the same thing- I just got the new wheelboys in so I have the saddle and pillars out right now on my new boat- Personally I dont like the knee blocks- I also removed the black foam- there is more glue on the saddle this time but I'm not too fond of the factory foam-it doesnt sand well, and it can curl with high heat- anyway If you've seen pics of Craig Smerda spanish fly outfitting- it looks like he rotates the bulkead- I'm going to make a bulkhead and have it hold the front of my knees down- I also made some blocks that pushed my knees to the side which I will use again - I'll try to just use that with thigh straps, But I think you will have to at least use thigh straps.- Adam has pics of his wheelboy which has a bulkhead-

Has anyone used the wheelboy without the pillars? I was thinking about leaving them out but thought they help prevent oilcanning by distributing weight to both the top and bottom of the boat instead of just pulling down on the hull when flipped (plus I thought it might strain the saddle)??? any thoughts

Bill

not sure why you would want to remove the pillars... but don't!

HI


Keep the pillars they weight almost 0 and help with boyancy and safety too.

I would recomend straps too. Straps can keep you tightly in a boat and help you relax, because you do not have to worry about sliding out of boat.

Maybe you could try straps wich run slightly too far forward so yuo coulöd sneek out from underneath without opening them. PLease keep the opening option in there too for serious trouple.


Marko

Got a question?
what's the weight on the wheel boy?
is there a larger size avaible?
i'm 5'11" and 215lb, not all fat but firmed up
also can you get just the shell without the outfitting?
let me know
john

GJ
Let me know next time you are in the area (lower yough) and I'll try to hook up with you so you can take my WB out. You shouldn't have an issue getting in it since Big Al can get in it with out issue and he is a big FIT paddling machine!
You might also want to look at the Big Boy even though it is glass (pros and cons) since its for bigger folk / water! I had a hoot of a time in it!
Just let me know!
Also ifyou head to the Armada there I'm sure there will be a couple WBs there and I would think a BB could make it too (Bill R.?)!
Paul C.

Hi Ghetto John,

The Wheelboy old with skirt (shipping quote) weighs 43lbs- the new Wheelboy weighs 41 lbs- Scott Broam is about your weight and wrote a nice description of the wheelboy pros and cons- I would guess a WB would be solely park and play for you- I know they were designed for park and play use, but I've got 90 minutes driving to any whitewater, so I'm always going to do a river trip- Anyway, if you aren't going to the Armada- we'll see if we can work out a demo. In the near future-
Bill

HI

WB:

I think new one is 15% lighter, maybe even little more. It also has slightly different (better stiffness and wear
res.) plastic.

BB:

The Carbon Kevlar BB is 1.04 larger than WB at all directions inc rim dimensions too. That makes about 20-25 % of real volume. It is simply huge.