C-Forum

OK, OK, so, still not able to roll my Probe in the pool, and thinking this would be easier, and also wanting to try a decked boat, I went out and bought a Finkenmeister (sight unseen). Not a lot of C-boat dealers where I live.

You have got to be kidding! How does anyone over forty get in one of these? I am 5'11" tall, 215 lbs., and have sixty- three year old joints. (I know, I know... I realy should have tried the boat out first, nag, nag, nag.) Still, I do not accept defeat gracefully.

I ride a higher than normal saddle in my open boats - 11 inches, but could probably get down to 10.

Is there anyone out there of my size and age who has tried to reoutfit one of these boats? Any ideas at all?

Should I just sell it and see if someone will build me a boat? Is there anyone who can build a boat for an unbendable geezer?

Most thankful for any good advice. (Or any advice at all.)

c1's are less stable than oc (especially a probe) and require a lower saddle height, i think most are like 6 to 7 inches.
with an 11 inch saddle, a finkenmewhatever or any c1 would be nearly impossible to keep upright... i think.. could be wrong cuz i've never tried it...

Im 6' -205 lb. guy. So, I took my OC-1 Superfly ( same sa a Spanish fly) ,custom fit a 1/8th inch kydex deck under neath the rim , built a cockpit the same size as a cascade cockpit and PRESTO! OC-1 conversion boat!Super rooomy, very high volume , boofing machine. I was instantly comfortable in it with none of the " feeling like Im following over" all the time as with the k1 conversion boats I've paddled. I fitted thigh straps instead of using the bulkhead. It is by far the best creek boat I've ever paddled. And Ive paddled a bunch of them.

I manage 9" saddles in a variety of C-1s, including conversions.. 10-11" would be pushing it. I'm 5'10 220# or so.

I'd try a 8 or 9 inch saddle- at first its miserable but you get to where you can stay in your boat for quite a long time. Hang in there 15 min in to start and then try to stay in a little longer- also check the width of the seat- by adding some width for my rear and rounding out where my thighs are (I'm short and squaty like costanza) and adding ankle rest- it really helped extend my boat time.

Bill

ClassFive,

WHY AM I NOT LOOKING AT PICTURES OF YOUR OC-1 TO C-1 CONVERSION RIGHT NOW?

LEMME SEE, LEMME SEE! (bounces exitedly)

Man, my joints just went numb after one year of C- boating, whats the big deal?
j/k

So far my solution has been to spend no more than 15 or 20 minutes in a C-1.

I'm looking for better options, including: stretching (my legs, I already stretched the boat); playing with the placement of my ankle blocks; and possibly raising my (6.5") saddle, at least for a while.

Good luck.

Pat.

Do the basketball trick - search here on "basketball" - when watching TV. Or, if your pedestal is easily removed, use it instead. I never liked the factory pedestal in my Slasher, so I overhauled it (now it looks like a conversion - is that irony?) and now have a minicell pedestal that is easily removed. I'm trying to come out of a "dry spell" and need to reacquaint my knees and ankles with the proper position. I'm using the pedestal when I watch TV...

I had to carve my pedestal down to 3" just to get my thighs under the deck. I offer to let friends try the boat, a carved down Batmax, and they just look at and tell me there's no way they could even get into it. It was customized for a woman under 5' and under a 100 lbs., two stats that don't apply to me...fortunately I'm conditioned by years of sitting in zazen...I agree if you want to transcend your present threshold of pain you have to practice the kneeling at gradually lower increments and a regime of stretching is very helpful.

The phone book method. Get enough big city phone books to equal your present saddle height when stacked up. kneel/sit on the phone books as if they were your saddle every day for at least 15 minutes up to 30 minutes if you can stand it. Each day when you are through remove three pages from the top book and you are ready to go for tomorrow. Reducing the height in very tiny amounts takes a long time, but the results are worth it. Hey, let your fingers do the walking!

Bests
Jack

Ulysses,
Several things might have to happen for you to get reasonably comfortable in der Finkenmeister:
1) Find the pressure points. They can be subtle. Modify the outfitting to alleviate the pressure points as much as possible. (Try and keep the seat to 7 or 8 inches. Eleven inches will cause the boat to be very unstable.)
2) Sssssstttttretttttchhhhh out those old joints of yours.
3) If you can, lose some weight in your legs . I know you are not liking this much, but it would be a huge help.
4) Try ankle blocks.
5) Spend alot of time in the boat.
This is asking alot of a boater . But most C1ers have been through this process. About the weight loss thing.....I had to 'bulk down' my legs to remain comfortable in my low volume C1's.
Don't give up the ship.
SYOTR,
Bruce

I posted a pic on another thread. here yo go..let me know If you want details about the conversion,,,,,http://www.opencanoe.com/oc1c.gif

My dad has a similar thing, where ie injured his knee, and thusly can't bend it very much for a long time. I i had an esquif vertige outfitted with a 9 inch saddle, and then i added 2 inches of foam for him, and what he would do, is just take a little bit off every other time, until he got to 9 inches or so, and then, unfortunately i sold the boat.

Heidi,
what boat were you paddling that you needed a 3 inch saddle to get your legs under the cockpit rim? I have a zealot with a saddle at 4.5, and my legs are just below the rim, i don't think i could stay any lower for an extended period of time.
cheers
-isaac

Issac

I'm paddling a carved down Batmax. Haven't had it on the river since taking the saddle down in Feb. but once I did take the saddle down I found my roll. The first wet exit was pretty freaky, I have to grab the combing to pull it off as the quick release cam on the straps is rendered useless by me being in there so snug, I've got to do something with velcro before I take it to moving water. I figure if I loose 10lbs. my boat will fit better, ah...incentive. ~Heidi