C-Forum

I purchased a used Dagger Rival with Mohawk outfitting a year ago. I like the boat but find the outfitting it to be uncomfortable and cumbersome.

Couple questions:
1. Is the smaller, black front adjustable strap necessary? The steel hardware holding the strap to each side of the hull rubs the side of my leg.
2. Is there any way to modify this outfitting to make it more comfortable?

I took a look at alternate outfitting systems. It appears that I would have to remove all the existing outfitting and saddle and start from scratch with a clean hull. Not sure the boat I have is worth the added cost plus all the messing around I'd have to do and also possibly damaging the hull in the process.

Any thoughts or suggestions are welcomed.

Looking at Mohawk's website, I see that the system I have is their "Double Thigh Retainer": https://www.mohawkcanoes.com/whitewateroutfitting.htm

Pictures on their outfitting page illustrate my point about the front strap attachment rubbing on the outside of my leg.

I may have answered my inquiry by looking at this web page. They also have a single thigh retainer system that just uses the single red strap. With the kind of boating I do I should need only the single strap.

Looks like Mohawk needs to make some design improvements here.

except I found my attempts to roll were hopeless without the double thigh retainer system. (My experience)
Addition- I am very short, so the single strap didn't work as well for me.

I think most folks (myself included) who use the Mohawk system use the single adjusting strap. I don't have any trouble rolling with it. (Or maybe I should say no trouble that I can attribute to the outfitting. )

One thing I like about the Mohawk system is that it's easy to loosen and tighten; I often loosen it a little on the flat sections for more comfort, then tighten it up when I need it.

It's also quick to get into and out when I need to scout or dump water.

Adding/removing foam from the front of the saddle where it contacts your knees might also help you get a better fit.

I love Mohawks lapbelt- I can still slide out by just removing my feet from the pegs

I have the double thigh retainer system in my Shaman. It is much better than the single version. I have never had a problem with the metal parts rubbing my leg. The front strap may just need to be loosened up and repositioned. Also there is a metal guide ring imbeded in the foam on each side of the of the front lap (knee) belt. If these have dug through you may need to add a little foam under them or just move them a bit and reinstall. Also the Mohawk saddles are really block shaped especially in the crotch area. I took a shur-form rasp and really cut this area down and shaped it so it would not dig into my inner thighs and cut off circulation. HUGE comfort improvement. Just cut a little foam at a time until you get it just right, cause it's a lot easier to shave foam that to glue more back on. Jim

Thanks for all of your inputs! Yes, those little steel hangers that hold the small black strap had pulled up through the knee pads.