C-Forum

After worrying about how to get the weird plastic D-rings out of my Rival, one just fell off while the boat was sitting on the back deck overnight. Now I *have* to fix or replace the outfitting before I get on the water.

I'd like to install a Mike Yee double thigh strap system, but it looks as if the crotch anchor is meant to be installed before (and under) the saddle. Since this boat already has a well secured, comfortable saddle, I really don't want to tear it out just to install the center anchor. What do most folks do in this situation, just cut the center anchor pad in half and install the rings as close to center as possible? Or can I get the kit sans crotch anchor and just use two separate rings?

Thanks,

Phreon

Just take the pedestal out. It shouldn't be that hard if it was glued in with contact cement. If the position is good, mark the outline. Warm the base of the saddle a little with a heat gun or hair drier which helps loosen the cement a bit. Carefully work under the front edge with a putty knife/paint scraper. It's OK if you leave a little minicell behind since you will be glueing the saddle back in in the same placee.

You do want to get the glue and minicell residue off where the dogbone vinyl D-ring patch goes. You can try paint thinner. I have often found it necessary to use some acetone to get the vinyl cleaned off, but don't let it pool in the boat as it can eat into the ABS. You might have to use some 80 or 100 grit sandpaper or an abrasive pad like a ScotchBrite pad to get it clean.

I've found using 3M Citrus base adhesive remover to be quite effective in removing old contact cement from the Royalex- try this vendor
http://hdlusa.com/catalog.cfm?GroupID=G ... showprod=1

I don't know what the pedestal was glued in with. I'm a little reluctant to remove it because this is a R-lite boat and it's anyone's guess what adhesive was used. It seems to be working well though.

Phreon

I installed Mike Yee outfitting in a boat that already had a seat. There was a big D ring already there and it's mounting pad was positioned touching the seat, but not under it. I used that D ring for attaching both sides (left and right) of the knee and thigh straps. It worked fine. The thing to do is order the outfitting, sit in your boat, and without gluing anything, experiment and see where the straps cross your thighs and cross above your knees. If it doesn't work, and you need to go under the seat, you may be able to do a combination of trimming the new D-ring pad and working it just under the tip of the seat without having to remove the seat.

You should be able to figure something out if you don't want to remove the saddle. A couple of options.

NorthWater's 3-hole anchors for the side walls can also be used on the bottom, and they can get your anchor points a little closer to things.

You can install anchors to the sides of the saddle, and run a webbing loop that you can anchor too.

In many boats, I've like to use a quick-release webbing loop anyway. At first I did for the comfort of having the quick release, but I've never needed it and I'm not worried about that now, but I still like them because you can adjust the length of the loop to compensate for anchors points that you don't love.

Between different types of anchors, anchor placements, and cheater stuff like webbing, get creative.

Pat.

Installed Mike Yee double straps and Yakima foot pegs in Li'l D's Rival several years ago. It is a purple 'R' Llite boat. We carefully removed the saddle and used Stabond adhesive to mount the anchors and remount the saddle. The boat has seen much hard use (especially by me) and there has been NO problems. Follow Mikey's directions and use the Stabond as instructed and I believe you should have similar results.
LEW