Hips pads in OC1?

[Paolo]

Hip pads are very important in C1, why nobody seem use it in open boat? Are them not usefull or semply the boats are too whide for put them? I put them in my Prelude but I'm not sure thei works.
Any suggestion?

[sbroam]

Paolo -

I've seen open boats outfitted with a kneeling thwart that had blocks of foam to stabilize the hips. I think most OC-1s don't have hip pads because of the difficulty of putting them in. That and the perceived benefit in a larger OC-1 might be less than the benefit of having them in a smaller C-1, especially one that can be squirted or pivoted.

Scott

[Jim]

I picked up a Millbrook "Prowler" 2 years ago, outfitted by Kaz, and it had hip pads. I added a little to tightn up in there and LOVE it. I have added hip pads to all of my OCs since then.

Also, my observation is that a lot of the New England OC slalom racers use them.

Jim

[super fly]

a super fly to get better contact with the side of the boat,
feels like i have more control on my leans ,
few pic's in outfitting gallery
mel

[NZMatt]

I've seen foam hip blocks commonly used in slalom boats. I've used a friends boat which had them and they seemed to work pretty well, but I was just messing about onh class 2. The thigh straps in the bopat were pretty poor, but I felt in good control....probably from the hip blocks.

[Don Williams]

A friend had a kevlar slalom OC-1 which had a very substantial hip pad. It was a 3" (I think) block of minicell running all the way across the boat with a cutout for the paddler. It looked like a large "C" and was combined with a foam pedestal, thigh straps, and knee cups.

[Heidi]

Hi all, I'm new to the board and I've learned a lot from reading through the archives.

I've got an OT H2 Pro, 30 1/4" wide. Adam helped me install 4" x 6", (2 pcs. of 3" + 1") foam blocks, to the hip area with flammable Weldwood. It was very easy and now I connect with the boat, it reduced the opening by half.

I'm new to the sport so the length and depth was considered to minimize entrapment. As my skills improve more minicell will be added. I wouldn't have known to do it, but for the help of Adam. Thanks again Adam and thanks Craig Smerda, your infitting pics are inspirational. Heidi

[biggreenchicken]

I know this is months after your post Paolo, but I'm new to this site and was perusing past posts. A gal named Carolyn in Texas has the C-shaped cut-out in her Phantom (like Don Williams described) with thigh straps and NO foot pegs. She is a great boater and runs some very tough stuff in OC1 as well as C1. She has always said how much she likes this set-up. I have rolled her Phantom before and was surprised at the ease with which I did. I'm considering something of the kind for my Spanish Fly.

Never underestimate the power of a big green chicken!

[Paolo]

Thanks, actually I'm using hip pads now.