Millbrook Boats have shown an interest in the WB dealing at preorder bases. If there is enough interest please contact KAZ asap and encourige him a bit
marko
Wheelboy review
Moderators: kenneth, sbroam, TheKrikkitWars, Mike W., Sir Adam, KNeal, PAC, adamin
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marko
WB US - dealer
HI
Millbrook Boats have shown an interest in the WB dealing at preorder bases. If there is enough interest please contact KAZ asap and encourige him a bit
marko
Millbrook Boats have shown an interest in the WB dealing at preorder bases. If there is enough interest please contact KAZ asap and encourige him a bit
marko
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Bruce Farrenkopf
- CBoats Addict
- Posts: 339
- Joined: Mon Sep 01, 2003 3:35 am
- Location: Reno, NV
Wheelboy Owners,
How well is the Wheelboy outfitted? Does alot of work have to be done on the inside to comfortably set it up? Does the outfitting provide a good start for the inevitable tailoring? Can you get your knees nice and wide and low? From Larry's review it sounds like the answer to the last question is YES
! But I'd like to hear something definite.
Thanks for answering any part of these questions.
SYOTR,
Bruce
How well is the Wheelboy outfitted? Does alot of work have to be done on the inside to comfortably set it up? Does the outfitting provide a good start for the inevitable tailoring? Can you get your knees nice and wide and low? From Larry's review it sounds like the answer to the last question is YES
! But I'd like to hear something definite.Thanks for answering any part of these questions.
SYOTR,
Bruce
Wheelboy easy to outfit
Bruce,
I found the WB to be fast and easy to outfit. I added 1" of foam to the factory seat, installed thigh straps (drilled five holes and installed nuts and bolts,) and hit the river. Since the first outing I have added 1/4" of foam to the knee area, and that will make the WB as good as most of my boats. Futher tweaking should be easy.
I really like the factory pedastal as a general statement. It offers a large and ready to paddle base for all future outfitting. What is already in the boat is all in the correct place, in my opinion.
When I first got the boat, I thought that the factory pedastal assembly had a fixture that would hold my knees inward more than was preferable. It is hard to describe, but part of the fiberglass base shoulders up near the knee. By the time I was done with my outfitting, however, I came to understand that my knee was located flush with the boat's chine. So, the fiberglass shoulder really is not holding my knee inward any more than the shape of the boat.
Two knitpicks, based on my anatomy and preferance:
1) I prefer to have my toes pointed inward more than the factory pedastal allows.
2) No provision is made by the factory for foot braces, which I like to have in my boats.
3) As previously mentioned, I think the boat needs some grab loops. I think Marko is already on that.
It is fair to say that foot braces will be easy to rig, in part because the sides of the pedastal are paralellel and the pedastal is wide in this area. So, if I had my way on 1), it would make it harder to satisfy 2), above. These nitpicks are so small that I have not bothered mentioning them before.
All in all, I think the WB comes with a great outfitting setup - one that adds real value to the purchased boat.
Hope that helps. Get a WB.
Kaz - you the man.
I found the WB to be fast and easy to outfit. I added 1" of foam to the factory seat, installed thigh straps (drilled five holes and installed nuts and bolts,) and hit the river. Since the first outing I have added 1/4" of foam to the knee area, and that will make the WB as good as most of my boats. Futher tweaking should be easy.
I really like the factory pedastal as a general statement. It offers a large and ready to paddle base for all future outfitting. What is already in the boat is all in the correct place, in my opinion.
When I first got the boat, I thought that the factory pedastal assembly had a fixture that would hold my knees inward more than was preferable. It is hard to describe, but part of the fiberglass base shoulders up near the knee. By the time I was done with my outfitting, however, I came to understand that my knee was located flush with the boat's chine. So, the fiberglass shoulder really is not holding my knee inward any more than the shape of the boat.
Two knitpicks, based on my anatomy and preferance:
1) I prefer to have my toes pointed inward more than the factory pedastal allows.
2) No provision is made by the factory for foot braces, which I like to have in my boats.
3) As previously mentioned, I think the boat needs some grab loops. I think Marko is already on that.
It is fair to say that foot braces will be easy to rig, in part because the sides of the pedastal are paralellel and the pedastal is wide in this area. So, if I had my way on 1), it would make it harder to satisfy 2), above. These nitpicks are so small that I have not bothered mentioning them before.
All in all, I think the WB comes with a great outfitting setup - one that adds real value to the purchased boat.
Hope that helps. Get a WB.
Kaz - you the man.
Cone Bone
randy@artisansgroup.com
randy@artisansgroup.com
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Larry Horne
- C Maven
- Posts: 1447
- Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2004 2:39 am
- Location: Northern California
yah, it comes with some sort of knee cup thingy that i felt kept my knees in from the chines a few inches too far... i took em out and made foam wedges to get my knees wide, and to keep them down. super easy.. just personal adjustment stuff. the saddle on mine was (is) at 5"- a bit lower than i'm used to but i'm leaving it there for now- feels good. i added some ankle blocks. it comes with 1/4" foam for your knees and feet- i need to add a bit more at my knees. (the factory foam seems soft?) the pedestal is sweet and it does come installed in the correct position. all you need to do is add straps and your off....
what i don't get is.. why no staps or other system?? maybe with so many different tastes it's better this way....
i did add some grab loops from a dead kayak. (sorry Marko)
what i really want is some decals!!!
what i don't get is.. why no staps or other system?? maybe with so many different tastes it's better this way....
i did add some grab loops from a dead kayak. (sorry Marko)
what i really want is some decals!!!
Larry
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Bruce Farrenkopf
- CBoats Addict
- Posts: 339
- Joined: Mon Sep 01, 2003 3:35 am
- Location: Reno, NV
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Marko @ drakkar
Wheelboy revision !!
HI
Thanks for the feedback.
Here is what we think here at Drakkar.
The pedestall is wide, straight and keeps your toes bit wide as it is. It is wide because some people will like to screw in some footbegs.... a bit of an compromise there. it also gives better backward support as the box behind your back is fairly large.
Grap loops all new 'non smoking deal' 'non demo' kayaks come with cool grap loops with aluminium drakkar logos. the new metallic graphics will be there too.
Foam in WB outfitting is soft and comfy. It is very expensive, high quality and impossible to scratch. it should give nice feel. the pillar foam is harder.
Straps are under works now but they wont be there as standard. WE can't get that kind of insurance.
We can sell them separately.. They will be cool and have silicone gel padding for extra comfort. Most likely it will be S.b.ratchet tightening and velcro wet-exit. Tighten 4 bolts and head out to river. More info in 21 days...
Knee wedge is there to help you if you need more outside support...Right boys.. take it off if dont like it. but if you lneed to glue outside knee support it will help a lot... pe is large steaming pile of dog doo to glue on..
marko
Thanks for the feedback.
Here is what we think here at Drakkar.
The pedestall is wide, straight and keeps your toes bit wide as it is. It is wide because some people will like to screw in some footbegs.... a bit of an compromise there. it also gives better backward support as the box behind your back is fairly large.
Grap loops all new 'non smoking deal' 'non demo' kayaks come with cool grap loops with aluminium drakkar logos. the new metallic graphics will be there too.
Foam in WB outfitting is soft and comfy. It is very expensive, high quality and impossible to scratch. it should give nice feel. the pillar foam is harder.
Straps are under works now but they wont be there as standard. WE can't get that kind of insurance
.We can sell them separately.. They will be cool and have silicone gel padding for extra comfort. Most likely it will be S.b.ratchet tightening and velcro wet-exit. Tighten 4 bolts and head out to river. More info in 21 days...
Knee wedge is there to help you if you need more outside support...Right boys.. take it off if dont like it. but if you lneed to glue outside knee support it will help a lot... pe is large steaming pile of dog doo to glue on..
marko
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marko @ drakkar
more -....
did I mention ....
We are working on the hipgrapper, canoe cagdeck, c-1paddle....
We are working on the hipgrapper, canoe cagdeck, c-1paddle....
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Larry Horne
- C Maven
- Posts: 1447
- Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2004 2:39 am
- Location: Northern California
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sbroam
- CBoats.net Staff
- Posts: 3969
- Joined: Thu Nov 07, 2002 2:12 am
- Location: Lexington, SC
- Contact:
Cagdeck=drydeck? Skirt/drytop combined?
C-Boats Moderator
http://picasaweb.google.com/scott.broam/CanoeOutfitting
http://picasaweb.google.com/scott.broam/CanoeOutfitting
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Marko
CAGDECK
yep,
It is a drytop (=cag) and kevlar skirt (=deck) compined.
Idea is to have a kevlar deck fixed to a new kind of cag that will be more than interesting as design. We have some new friends who will do that. I know it will be sexy. i haven't tried it by this time .... but soon I will ...
marko
www.drakkarkayaks.com
It is a drytop (=cag) and kevlar skirt (=deck) compined.
Idea is to have a kevlar deck fixed to a new kind of cag that will be more than interesting as design. We have some new friends who will do that. I know it will be sexy. i haven't tried it by this time .... but soon I will ...
marko
www.drakkarkayaks.com
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Bruce Farrenkopf
- CBoats Addict
- Posts: 339
- Joined: Mon Sep 01, 2003 3:35 am
- Location: Reno, NV
Hello Marko,
The kind of response you are giving to the C boating community is remarkable, maybe even unprecedented .
Larry's and other's comments about the Wheelboy performance are validating the premise that a boat engineered as a C1 by a competent designer will out-perform a kayak conversion. Go Wheelboy!
Thanks,
Bruce
The kind of response you are giving to the C boating community is remarkable, maybe even unprecedented
.Larry's and other's comments about the Wheelboy performance are validating the premise that a boat engineered as a C1 by a competent designer will out-perform a kayak conversion. Go Wheelboy!
Thanks,
Bruce
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Marko @ Drakkar
Thanks
Thanks Bruce. It is my pleasure
We @ Drakkar are not playing with our kayak manufacturing. We are dedicated to be the serious kayak and canoe company with best possible reputation. It takes a lot hard work.
I perfected the design more than 3 years. We did put 18 monts to WB to get manufacturing just right. We are not happy yet. We still keep on perfecting our work. Improving QUALITY control, and gathering user opinnions to help our creeker river c-1 to be the best there is.
We @ Drakkar are not playing with our kayak manufacturing. We are dedicated to be the serious kayak and canoe company with best possible reputation. It takes a lot hard work.
I perfected the design more than 3 years. We did put 18 monts to WB to get manufacturing just right. We are not happy yet. We still keep on perfecting our work. Improving QUALITY control, and gathering user opinnions to help our creeker river c-1 to be the best there is.
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MArko@ drakkar
BIG boys
HI
I think biggest boy in a boat so far is my friend Teemu L who actually is pictured also in our website. www.drakkarkayaks.com . Hi can clen all those moves with minimal efferts and he still floats ok. Airboating is not his game there.
I doubt he can do a rewiev since his c-1 skills are just developping and he is going to have a nice pooltime this winter.
What we could do is make a slightly enlarged custom WB for you... it could come like bit larger in each direction because some extra high air presure at end of cycle. maybe we an add a centimeter of width and 2 for lenght 5 mm for hight... generally in good case we can have up to 5 % more volume. mayby a little more if we allow the bottom round out a bit more...
Cant be mauch help here so BIG boys,, please
Marko
www.drakkarkayaks.com
I think biggest boy in a boat so far is my friend Teemu L who actually is pictured also in our website. www.drakkarkayaks.com . Hi can clen all those moves with minimal efferts and he still floats ok. Airboating is not his game there.
I doubt he can do a rewiev since his c-1 skills are just developping and he is going to have a nice pooltime this winter.
What we could do is make a slightly enlarged custom WB for you... it could come like bit larger in each direction because some extra high air presure at end of cycle. maybe we an add a centimeter of width and 2 for lenght 5 mm for hight... generally in good case we can have up to 5 % more volume. mayby a little more if we allow the bottom round out a bit more...
Cant be mauch help here so BIG boys,, please
Marko
www.drakkarkayaks.com
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oregonmatt
- Pain Boater
- Posts: 55
- Joined: Thu Aug 21, 2003 9:49 pm
- Location: Portland, OR
I may be the biggest current wheelboy owner - 6 feet, 200 lbs. Unfortunately, I've either been sick or traveling since I picked mine up. I have finished outfitting it (Marko - I love the saddle - very easy to take out of the boat for modification, yet very secure when it's in the boat...). I'm planning on paddling it the weekend of Dec. 3-5, so I'll post a big boys' review after I test it out.
Matt
Matt