bulkhead or straps

zeke · Post by **zeke** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 12:25 am

Which is the preferred set up? Are straps dangerous if you can't roll? I'm new to OC-1 and I've only paddled a boat w/ bulkhead.

Post by **sbroam** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 12:46 am

Lots of discussion here on the forum - search will turn up lots of debate. My 30 second version -

thigh straps - may be more secure (tight), easier to adjust for different paddlers / different layers of clothes, can be safe if you set them up right (no mystery, but careful planning)

bulkheads - can be a challenge to set up, not adjustable, very easy no fuss entry/exit (some concern about exit in certain pin situations)

zeke · Post by **zeke** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 12:58 am

I'm guessing the strap set up is lighter too.(?)

ezwater · Post by **ezwater** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 1:29 am

Straps can be lighter, if everything is planned and set up right. I think straps also are better for those who plan to roll and want to be "tight" in the boat.

I'm kind of a "loose" open boater, and rather than using thigh straps, I have either wedged myself under the (padded) center thwart, or I have built a bulkhead setup with minicell. That minicell does add flotation, and it can also support the bottom of the boat in a way that stiffens the whole boat, prevents oil-canning, and supports the hull in a pin. But while I have been doing foam/thwart bulkheads since '73 (!), I can't offer any formula. You can waste a whole lot of minicell trying to fake out what you want.

So probably you should go with straps. Try not to strap yourself so tight that your D-ring pads pull the Royalex apart. If you put in some minicell knee spreaders made of minicell, and find a way to get some supplementary support from the center thwart, you won't need to tighten your straps too much. Toe blocks help too, if you can tolerate them.

jakke · Post by **jakke** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 5:48 am

Bulkead saddles do roll. I roll mine (ok, just in the pool, I still fail to roll it with my PFD on

).
Anyhow a well fitted bulkhead can be just as tight as straps, end maybe more comfortable.
I have a bulkead saddle with quick-release, so the pinning issue is no issue anymore.
A thirth advantage of bulkheads is that the area where the foam is, no water can be there!

But the main rule for me would be: choose what feels best for you.

Post by **sbroam** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 11:30 am

More $.02s -

1. you absolutely can roll with a bulkhead - if set up correctly. The factory bulkhead in my Spanish Fly was so tight I had to shave it down (normal for me and my fat legs and expected for a factory set up)
2. bulkheads take up a lot of space - the D-rings in my Zephyr blew out (first generation glue) - I built a bulkhead. Now I want to go back to straps to I can fit my Pelican box for my camera
3. EZ is exactly right - you can overstress a strap system (pull up d-rings and the vinyl with them, but careful lay out can minimize that. [I'm "loose", too, in OC-1 and C-1, preferring to have a little slack and "hold on" when I need to.]

Jakke -

Got any pix of your quick release bulkhead? Always interested in a new idea!

Scott

Tiggy · Post by **Tiggy** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 12:43 pm

Straps are not dangerous. Take your feet off of the toe blocks and you come right out. Being a rookie you should fall out of the boat before the thing flips. My 2 cents

jakke · Post by **jakke** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 7:58 am

@sbroam:
[img]http://www.canoeadventure.be/mambots/co ... g-qr-2.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.canoeadventure.be/mambots/co ... g-qr-4.jpg[/img]

It's my local dealer who made it, and worked it out, so I don't know the details of how to build it.

The strap systems does need improvement though. It tends to come loose after a couple of hours whitewater paddling. And secondly I had pads getting loose as well. Something to look at.

To contact the designer: http://www.canoeadventure.be

fez · Post by **fez** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 4:11 pm

I like a small bulkhead just for the knees AND straps (click!)

But maybe this is only a practicable method in a C1, don`t know...

Larry Horne · Post by **Larry Horne** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 2:46 am

i like straps better...mostly for the adjustability.. 4 straps feels very secure.

river0013 · Post by **river0013** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 9:31 pm

I changed the outfitting in my Prelude from a foam saddle/bulkhead to a pedastal seat with double thigh straps. I feel more secure in the boat and it rolls much better. I learned early on that a boat rolls much better when the water has room to move from side to side. With this set up my flat water roll is 100% and combat rolls are 50-75%...with the bulkhead it was 25% and 0%.

Chad

raven · Post by **raven** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 9:45 pm

[quote="river0013"]I changed the outfitting in my Prelude from a foam saddle/bulkhead to a pedastal seat with double thigh straps. I feel more secure in the boat and it rolls much better. I learned early on that a boat rolls much better when the water has room to move from side to side. With this set up my flat water roll is 100% and combat rolls are 50-75%...with the bulkhead it was 25% and 0%.

Chad[/quote]

Any chance of some photo's of your strap set up ? Chad

Cheers Raven

river0013 · Post by **river0013** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 10:03 pm

Here are some pics of my prelude with double thigh straps (the green one)

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/567509447GWDVms

raven · Post by **raven** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 10:16 pm

[quote="river0013"]Here are some pics of my prelude with double thigh straps (the green one)

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/567509447GWDVms[/quote]

Thank's very much Chad

Raven ( Scotland GB )

C-Forum

bulkhead or straps

bulkhead or straps

Double thigh straps!

Re: Double thigh straps!

pics- prelude with double thigh straps

Re: pics- prelude with double thigh straps