Heat guns and cockpit rims - bad idea?

[yarnellboat]

For those of you big-legged C-1 paddlers... did you ever have to mess with the shape of your rim to place yourself in there trim, but keep the rim from giving you constant charlie horses?

I'm tempted to put a dowling along the underside of the rim (to keep its shape for the skirt), build a simple jig for even pressure, heat 'er up, and try bumping out my rim just a little.

P.

[sbroam]

A long time back Ric Taylor posted either here or on the previous incarnation of this site a description (and pictures) of how he raised the cockpit rim on a Medieval conversion. He did it with a plastic bag, hot water, some lumber etc - it was involved but not crazy and it sounded like it worked great. Do a search here. If it doesn't turn up, I'm pretty sure I have pictures at the house on a CD somewhere.

Also, I've done some "volume manipulation" in the past using an old hot air popcorn popper - aim where you want it and drape a towel over it to help contain the heat. Gently and slowly move the plastic in the direction you want it, then brace it and let it cool slowly (an hour or more). The popcorn popper gets it hot, but I've never had it so hot I thought I was damaging the plastic.

[riverright]

There was an article on the boatwerks board a while back posted by Corran. Here's the link

http://www.2imagine.net/blogger2006/modify.html

Basically, its a description of a squashtail they modified by increasing volume similar to what you're asking about, for a team paddler.

Brad

[yarnellboat]

Thanks! Great links. I knew somebody would know something.

Scott, great memory. Here's that thread...
http://cboats.net/cforum/viewtopic.php? ... t=medeival

I think I'll have to try this to get my thighs into my boat.

P.

[kneeler]

I've done it several times. It works great and is pretty low risk.

I get a towel and heat the top of the boat where I want to bend the rim outward slowly and over a broad area (maybe 10" area).

I pull at the rim with my hand under the towel until I feel it is a little pliable. Don't let the plastic get too hot to where it looks wet (or even close to that point).

once the rim has some play to it, I climb in the boat with the towel between my leg and the cockpit rim and I lean across the front deck, forcing the cockpit to bend outwards with my thigh.

I do one side at a time and, if I can stand it, I heat the rim when I'm in the boat. I find that, when heating slowly you are less likely to put a crease in the rim but you are more likely to lose some space when it cools. Just bend it a slightly more than you want and let it settle. THe main thing is, heat slowly and minimally and be careful not to crease the plastic.

I've doen this to at least a half dozen boats.

[Craig Smerda]

Think or say what you want to about Corran but his article is dead on and great advise. The huge point to keep in mind is to leave everything in there to cure and not rush the job.

They build 'em... we make 'em work.

Craig

[Jan_dettmer]

yeah, great articel...

Use gentle heat and heat the plastic SLOW!

Cheers, Jan

[Space Canoe]

two (one inside another) rolled up around a really thin dowel until they made a three foot long tube. the thin dowel allowed the tube to flex and bend around the side of the rim. My computer with all the info is in the hospital, but I think I sent Adam the pics of this so maybe he has the ability to post some. it worked really well and I then built some braces to put under the rim when I'm not using it (which has been about a year due to Plantar Fasciaitis(sp?) not allowing me to bend my foot back when I kneel)... I should get the computer back in about a week and then if you want the info let me know and I'll send it off.
Hope this helps;
Ric Taylor.