C-Forum

Hi. I just got a Prelude and have been messing around with different outfitting options. It came with d-ring patches for a Mohawk double lap belt glued in around the hips (they feel very solid, wish I knew what they used to glue them in) . I took the lap belt out (just wasn't for me) and put in thigh straps. That feels great, and I'd be happy stopping there but when I roll up this boat feels too sloshy. Not sure why, but my Viper feels less...sorry...sloshy swamped than the Prelude. ???

So, I'm giving in finally and have decided that I want to put a bulkhead in there. I have lots of foam scraps that i can glue together to form whatever starting shape I need, but I just don't know where to start. I looked at the outfitting section here but no one covers this. Surely not everyone buys these ready made. Can anyone give me a mini (or full ) tutorial on doing one from scratch?

Actually, I think the previous owner just simply cut the top off of the front of the saddle so I basically have everything but the thigh hooks now.

Thanks!

-Ray

Here's what I'm working with...

Get a good pair of scissors and some good sized scraps of cardboard (pizza box maybe?). Knee in the boat, and start cutting the cardboard into a template until it fits. Should sit on the top of the saddle and run up under the thwart, and be snug to your thighs. It might be a good idea to make two templates- one for the front and one for the back of the bulkhead since they'll be different shapes. It's not a bad idea to angle it a bit to make it easier to get in and out. Once you get the templates sorted out, cutting the foam shouldn't be problem. Take the thwart out, glue the bulkhead to the saddle, and re-install the thwart.

http://kayakoutfitting.com/tips/wwcanoe/index.html

The gel formula or the regular stuff?

Craig Smerda wrote:

Yeah, yeah. Thanks Shmartass!!!

I knew I had that coming to some extent, but I was looking more for how to go about contouring the thigh hooks from scratch , where to start cutting first, dangle angle, physics theses...How to get from raw foam to a form that allows you to start using "Step 3".

...like Jeremy's cardboard tip (Thanks Jeremy!)

Your (excellent, generous, and helpful) tutorial assumes that the reader is not a complete 3D moron and already has the thigh hooks made. I guess I need to just start cutting and stop worrying.



And everyone knows what the Weldwood's best for: affixing thigh strap anchors to PE hulls...duh!

Mr. Smerda has a step-by-step tutorial out on the interwebs, maybe even on th outfitting section here? Maybe on the kayakoutfitting.com (Zitzow's place what sells minicell).

sbroam wrote:Mr. Smerda has a step-by-step tutorial out on the interwebs, maybe even on th outfitting section here? Maybe on the kayakoutfitting.com (Zitzow's place what sells minicell).

I posted it directly above the t-shirt... anyone notice?

Craig Smerda wrote:http://kayakoutfitting.com/tips/wwcanoe/index.html

I did that "how-to" almost ten years ago... loved those boots

Uh, holy shite that's a nice bulkhead. Can that go in the outfitting section of this site? Wow.

Craig Smerda wrote:
I posted it directly above the t-shirt... anyone notice?

Craig Smerda wrote:http://kayakoutfitting.com/tips/wwcanoe/index.html

I did that "how-to" almost ten years ago... loved those boots

Sorry, I was blinded by the t-shirt and intoxicated by the weldwood fumes

Bob's saddle in that picture looks really good... 'cept I prefer a minimum of six inches of foam on top my thighs. I usually add another three inches to the front (bow side) of the thigh hooks and another couple inches coming up towards my crotch. Foam is lighter than water and I prefer to get as much coverage as possible so I actually "wear" the boat. The first thing I did when I got home from Nationals after letting everyone try my open L'edge with the stock outfitting was to add three inches over my knees and I tightened it up just for "me". I haven't done this to my decked model yet because I'm still letting local folks demo it.

FWIW... I always set my boats for "drysuit & liner" paddling... then in summer I just click the pegs one notch forward and life is good.

Here...

Whatever Bob did while making that saddle works for me - that is in my Maxim, and as I said in other threads, I can paddle a while in that boat without pain.

Todhunter wrote:Whatever Bob did while making that saddle works for me - that is in my Maxim, and as I said in other threads, I can paddle a while in that boat without pain.

It's when your're out of the Boat that you encounter real pain !

My point is this... I'd rather have to use a thigh/knee ("double") strap system than just a pair of thigh straps.

Heck... I don't even own a boat that doesn't have a bulkhead.