I picked up my new to me master cut Acrobat this weekend. It came with a lap belt & what the seller called a "death block". It's a chunk of foam that fits between you knees. It is not attached to the boat. It's kind of like the center section of a bulkhead. Since it's not attached it doesn't impede exiting the boat, except in that itty-bitty Acrobat
Today I tried it in my Viper. My Viper just has knee cups & thigh straps. This "death block" makes the boat much more responsive It's really noticable when doing stern-squirts & rolling. It's an extra chunk of foam to carry when shouldering the boat, but it's well worth it.
I think adding some foam to form a channel that the bow wall would fit into would improve the design.
OH, the Acrobat is dog-gone amazing too One problem though, it cartwheels faster than I do Actually there is another problem, there's really not enough room for my big, fat knees uner the deck. I trust that Sir Adam has adressed this in the Maven
Looks way cool. That has to help push the fun factor up!
I’m cleaning up my Acro (seams and such) and hope to have it ready for this weekend for a possible NRG visit to the “Halls” and “Needle”. I might just add a “block of death” to mine as well while at it based on your comments. But I don’t have a lap belt set up so I’ll have to think it out! Can you post pics of the block in place so I can review and do some “goes-in-to-s”!
As for the knees not fitting – sounds like you have to give the boat up to someone that fits “better” (..but less deserving) – HINT !
Mike - As for the Viper – I re-did the seat and it seems to work (glue is finally holding) but I still have issues (with my butt falling out and/or getting out ) in bigger stuff. I’m still trying to figure it out but I actually fit better in the Full cut Acrobat than the Medium cut Viper, and the cockpit on the Viper is smaller – go figure!
PS: Al took the new (to him) Foreplay out for a Loop run (LY) and made the transition from OC to C look easy. He had some issues with the stern dropping on him since he isn’t use to that slicy of a boat but was working the harder eddies from the get go and dialing into the edges! At his size the Foreskin’s buoyancy is at maybe 15 to 20% so he’ll be making us all look bad in the very near term!
Oh and I have to also agree…. we await the Maven with great interest! But Adam’s wedding comes first!
CU Sat!
Paul C.
Cboats Moderator
Official TOG Member (Team Old Guy)!
Paul, it will work with or without a lap-belt. I just have thigh-straps in my Viper & it works great. Maybe you should paddle your Acro this weekend
Give up this boat? Nah, you deserve one with bunches of metal-flake to match your helmet Paul S. will build one for ya. After really paying attention to it today, I think I can make it a little narrower (less foam between my knees) & I'll be able to fit into the Acro a little better.
David, if I loose weight (not likely ) I'll need a smaller boat. It's cool to be sitting still in flatwater & lean back a little...it goes vertical on the stern Then you smash the bow & go into cartwheels Fat guy + little boat = big fun
Is Al paddling the Forplay this weekend? It would be tons of fun on some of those waves. It is slicey, but it's a shame that they put equal amounts of volume in both deck & hull. It doesn't wing down & I have to force squirts.
Thanks for the pictures - I have a plan! I hope to have it completed by weekend. Oh and the Acro will be on the Jeep in case of a NRG run! I think David is bringing his, are you bringing yours? I hear the "Halls" a calling you!
Oh, unfortunately Al will not be making it this weekend! Family duties - Oldest girl's band won a contest and has moved up to regions, or something of the like - so he'll be escorting her.
He is disappointed on missing paddling but happy for her! He'll be forcing me to head south a week or two later as well! Bummer! LOL
Not sure if he is quite ready for the LG in the Foreplay. The slicy attitude of the boat at his weight would make for a very long day! Also with him in it the boat does start to think and hunt unrequested squirts. But he is liking it!
Paul C.
Cboats Moderator
Official TOG Member (Team Old Guy)!
It's really noticable when doing stern-squirts & rolling. It's an extra chunk of foam to carry when shouldering the boat, but it's well worth it.
One problem though, it cartwheels faster than I do 
Actually there is another problem, there's really not enough room for my big, fat knees uner the deck. I trust that Sir Adam has adressed this in the Maven 
) in bigger stuff. I’m still trying to figure it out but I actually fit better in the Full cut Acrobat than the Medium cut Viper, and the cockpit on the Viper is smaller – go figure! 
) I'll need a smaller boat. It's cool to be sitting still in flatwater & lean back a little...it goes vertical on the stern