C-Forum

I'm thinking about adding thigh straps to my Spanish Fly. Those of you that have them, where do you have your top anchors? I'm thinking about drilling through the hull about even with my hips and just under that lip that runs about 6" below the "gunwale". I've never liked thigh staps that anchor to the seat thwart. Thoughts?

Hi Scott,
Mine were off the thwart and worked a treat, getting the position of the bottom through the seat right is important. The straps worked great both holding me both down on the seat and against the seat back.

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb53 ... CF1921.jpg

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb53 ... CF1923.jpg

Worth a try before drilling the hull...?

Chris

Hi Scott:

You can take a look at my arrangement -

http://picasaweb.google.com/53kimbo/SpanishFlySetUp#

Although I don't show of the hull attachment, I simply chose the location that I wanted. I used a couple of loops of webbing placed just below the lip of the gunwale (about 1.25 inches down from the lip and in the bend). I bent a washer for the outside and inside and then bolted through the webbing. Seems very strong. As I recall both wetnobby and philcanoe had photos in a fairly recent posting on flys/skeeeters. Check out the thread -

http://cboats.net/cforum/viewtopic.php? ... highlight=

You can see Phil's arrangement on his Skeeter.

I used VW seatbelt as straps for my fly. I feel much safer being able to pull the center cord and have the whole thin free me. However, I am able to push my legs back and get out even if I don't release the straps.

As I think you are aware, I don't like foot pegs, since I like my feet flat. The arrangement with the belts seems to work well for me. I have not been on moving water in quite some time. Too cold, or too busy. Tried the arrangement for the first time last week. Seemed good, but the only thing I had to fight was a 25 mph wind. The boat rolls well with the straps, but until I get thrashed around in a rapid, I won't know how good they work.

If you would like any other photos of the arrangement, please let me know.

Marc

Thanks guys - forgotten about that old thread. I may start with straps attached to the thwart first.

Per Chris' (wetknobby) observation that my boat had been set up a couple of inches too far to the stern (knee hooks, saddle cut back), and his suggestion that it would handle better set up more neutrally, I knocked the thigh hooks loose and put a block on the seat back to get me centered in the boat. He also indicated that he left his thigh hooks loose - not loose completely, they are still wedged tightly from the sides and the air bags help hold them in as well, but not glued. That's how I'm set up currently - I'm much more comfortable with varying layers and am surprisingly secure in the boat (considering the only thing holding me in are loosish thigh hooks!), but not quite secure enough to roll...

I may glue the thigh hooks at some point, closer to the points of my knees. That plus thigh straps will be very similar to how I set up one of my conversions with an "adjustable" bulkhead and straps - the bulkhead is enough to paddle(even rolling), but the straps are available for playing hard.

I would get the straps in and get used to them before glueing the knee blocks.
The straps will stop you from pushing them forwards. Mine were pretty tight but with my feet up on the pegs they gave me control but still allowed me to exit the boat OK...
To a look at my CU last night and that is the same, once you release the straps coming up of the seat causes your legs to push the blocks forwards a little so you can slide out of the boat....in a hurry if need be...

I subscribe to incremental modification in both software and canoes!

I am not sure about not glueing the thigh hooks in. Whether or not it works may also be a matter of how big the water is you usually paddle.
I know that if one paddles Ottawa style big water, you want them glued. Otherwise it will be a yardsale after every ride in a major hole. I know a guy who had his only fitted with double sided carpet tape and he and his outfitting go ripped out everytime he dropped into a significant feature.

TGG!

Not really, mine were wedged in pretty tight and did not slide about easily.
The standard blocks fit up tight under the thwart and the top end will not move. If you are fully strapped in that should be enough.
They were great and I never had a problem with them moving even while cartwheeling....not to mention numerous failed loop attempts!!
However without decent straps you would have a problem...

I have to hammer on mine to move them. To take them out I had to remove the thwart and push the cockpit open.

I fully endorse all boat mods, just make sure you can exit with impunity - read my earlier posting on foot entrapment and near drowning, and I wasn't all that tight in my boat.

I fully agree keez.

The pullout loop on the release buckle has to be as obvious as possible.

My hip pads on my prelude are not even that thight and each and every times I get out on a swim I can feel them retaining my feet a little. It is just a little and I pull gently to release with ease, I can imagine that in more extreme cases the foam block would always let go if I pull hard enough; it is just foam. But I find the velcro and retaining loop idea also great.

I had to completely redo the pedestal/thigh hook system in my fly and chose to increase the pedestal width from 6 inches to 9 inches. In doing, I had to cut away the side-wall foam where my feet sit so I could more easily extract myself from the boat. I no longer have the foot pegs in the boat, but if I did, I would likely have much greater difficulty extracting myself and my size twelve feet from the boat. That said, I am very cautious about using thigh straps in my fly, but if you read what I said above, I do have thigh straps. However, the VW/Airplane style seatbelt straps are really nice. One pull and they are both released. I have used this set-up in my Fink C1 where I had to pull the skirt first, then the seat belt pull cord. Never had a problem. Realize, I have always practiced wet exits whenever I change the outfitting on my boats, or the gear I am wearing (think river shoes here). At this time of year I am happy to take my boat down to the local lake, put on the dry suit and practice paddling, rolling and getting out of the boat - even when the water is 35 degrees F.

I can imagine that adding hip would create another entrapment possibility. So, just make sure that you can get out - easily.

Marc