C-Forum

Have all the kayak outfitting out of the J-allstar and am ready to start the c1 conversion. I'm using a Dagger pedestal. My question is...with these new playboats that have so little stern, how forward or rearward do you set the pedestal? Should my weight be dead on center? With my Forplay I believe I had center tight against my belly button. New territory for me. Any help?

The rule of thumb I've developed is to place the saddle position 4-6 inches forwards of where the kayak seat was in its middle position, measuring the disance from where your hip would be.

As the jackson doesn't have too extreme a volume profile at the front, I'd err towards 4 rather than 6.

People always discuss saddle position as "8 inches forward from the back of the cockpit rim" or "4 inches forward from where the kayak seat would be"... what part of the saddle is this measuring to? Some saddles have pretty bulky foam back support behind where the person is actually sitting... is that measurement to the furthest back part of the paddler's body, which is where the back rest starts? Or is it to the center of the paddler's body, further forward on the saddle?

This is what I have done. Take all the old out fitting out and take the hull to some body of water. Kneel in the boat and trim it out to were you need it. Use a sharpie and mark all key points of contact. Play boats are so short each boat should be set up on an individual basis. Just my $0.02

Dave's right on! A float test is essential. Have a friend shoot some photos so you can see for youself in several positions.
Mick

i usually start with my anus (didn't know how else to say it on our 'family friendly' board) lined up in between the seat bolt holes. since the jackson doesn't have any seat bolt holes....float test it. good news is you can probably do it in the tub since the boat is so small

what's wrong with "butt"?

anus is much more ..pinpoint specific

Anus.....Hmmmm......You know even though I've been working as a biologist for the last 4 years, I still don't think I've heard that word since 10th grade biology...."Hey, did you see that? That dude just fell and busted his anus!".....Yep, I'm definitely adding that to my vocabulary. Rolls off the tongue nicely.

Anyway. Boat is 75" long. Set the saddle where dead center was almost at the center of my torso. Took it to some water and gave a test run. Trim ok, but any lean forward and the bow went under. Kinda to be expected I figured. Came home and moved saddle back to where center is tight at my belly button(where my canoes are). Lo and behold...rain! Went on a classII+ stream with lots of surfing. Definitely better. Sitting upright and paddling... very tip of stern under, but bow not diving. Wave wheels good, holes not deep enough for anything but very low angle moves, but balance seems good. Pod boating(K1) buddy's trim seems the same. Definitely have other outfitting issues to address, but leaving the saddle where it is. Must add that I'm certainly not a rodeo quality boater and never will be. I feel like a stud if I pull off a few cartwheels and maybe something else that looks like a move (but probably isn't) on one ride. So if anyone has some other tips, I'd love to here them.

Look...thanks to all for the help. From here I'm going to start another thread about c-boat death outfitting....but right now I'm going to go pour me a glass of bourbon and sit on my anus and watch the game.

I just wonder what is the best way to temp. mount the saddle, so you can check it out on a short trip. If you glue it in, and it is in the wrong place, it is a headache to move it.

dwd58 wrote:I just wonder what is the best way to temp. mount the saddle, so you can check it out on a short trip. If you glue it in, and it is in the wrong place, it is a headache to move it.

He's using a dagger pedestal, so nothing to glue. Just slide the whole unit back and forth and mark it, then drill 3 holes and mount permanently.

Randy you have been workin as a bilogist, I thought you were a wood butcher? Wait a minute you haven't been like hand stimulation male fish to collect there seamen or sumthin have you?

You're close Louie, I've been hand stimulatin' female birds. I prefer feathers over scales. Spent this last summer in AZ playing peeping tom on the southwestern willow flycatcher. Yeah for the last 4 years we've been doing contract biology stuff for several enviro firms. Since there are no biology jobs right now I'm going back to butchering wood. Have several jobs lined up that should keep me busy for most of the coming year.

Took the J.allstar out today. Fun boat! Like where the saddle is, but still need to tighten up the hip padding and have ordered some foam from Sweet to make a new bulkhead.