Bought my kayak

On 25-Sep-2004, ptomblin+netnews@xcski.com (Paul Tomblin) wrote:

 > Are there footrests you can attach to the bulkhead?

If you're that close to the bulkhead, just cut a block of
minicell foam into a wedge and rest your feet on that. But
first check that the bulkhead will take the load. That will
depend on the type of bulkhead - thin foam, thick foam,
hard plastic etc and whether it's glued in or wedged in.

If it's reasonably thick foam or hard plastic and it's glued in,
you could cover it with a sheet of marine plywood that's been
seriously varnished or epoxy covered (to waterproof the wood).
That will spread the load over the bulkhead and carry it out
to the edge of the foam and to the glue area.

Mike<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Bought my kayak 

"Michael Daly" (michaelDaly@foo.bar) writes:

 > If it's reasonably thick foam or hard plastic and it's glued in,
 > you could cover it with a sheet of marine plywood that's been
 > seriously varnished or epoxy covered (to waterproof the wood).
 > That will spread the load over the bulkhead and carry it out
 > to the edge of the foam and to the glue area.

If you're going to do this be careful how you wedge the plywood into the
hull. You don't want to create a "hard spot" in the hull. That's not for
some esoteric performance consideration, but for transportation and storage.

Personally I would not go to the expense of marine plywood unless you have
a scrap on hand. It won't be an integral part of the hull and the hull
certainly isn't going to leak if the interior plywood insert starts to
delaminate after a few years. Here in Ottawa marine ply costs over $50 a
sheet. Exterior grade meranti is $14. Just don't use a board made of wood
chips and glue.

I also wouldn't go the the expense of epoxy resin as a sealer unless you
have some on hand. If you do three coats is minimum for waterproofing
wood. A few coats of exterior grade paint or varnish would be fine, with
extra coats along the edge where the end grain wants to wick water.
Polyurathane (plastic) varnish is good, as is polyester resin, if you have
them. Polyester resin is phoo-phooed as not being as waterproof as expoxy,
but it's plenty good enough for the bulkhead application, if you have some
on hand. I have unreinforced polyester (no fibreglass cloth) on the chine
seams on my small plywood boats and covered with paint or varnish it keeps
out water fine.

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 >> Stay informed about: Bought my kayak 

In a previous article, Keenan Wellar <gokayakingdotca.RemoveThis@hotmail.com> said:
 >in article cj548a$s2n$1@allhats.xcski.com, Paul Tomblin at
 >ptomblin+netnews@xcski.com wrote on 9/25/04 8:58 PM:
  >> One question is that the foot pegs aren't down far enough, and I can
  >> *almost* rest my feet on the bulkhead. Are there footrests you can attach
  >> to the bulkhead?
 >
 >I'm not sure, but I have one question...how come you bought it if the
 >cockpit isn't long enough for you? Just curious.

The cockpit is long enough for me. If I stretch my toes out as far as
they stretch, I can rest them on the bulkhead, and if I put them on the
footpegs I'm jammed into the thigh pads so hard I have serious doubts
about my ability to exit, but otherwise with my feet off the pegs I fit in
it quite comfortably. What I want is something a little further away than
the bottom footpeg position and a little closer than the bulkhead so that
I can be lightly pushing into the thigh pads. This is a flatwater/creek
boat, not a whitewater boat so I don't need insane amounts of control.

--
Paul Tomblin <ptomblin.RemoveThis@xcski.com> <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/" target="_blank">http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/</a>
Welcome to Global Warming, everyone. It appears to be globally
warmer, and if that isn't Global Warming, then What The Fsck Is?
-- Mike Andrews<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Bought my kayak 

Michael Daly wrote:
 > On 25-Sep-2004, ptomblin+netnews@xcski.com (Paul Tomblin) wrote:
 >
 >
  >> Are there footrests you can attach to the bulkhead?
 >
 >
 > If you're that close to the bulkhead, just cut a block of
 > minicell foam into a wedge and rest your feet on that. But
 > first check that the bulkhead will take the load. That will
 > depend on the type of bulkhead - thin foam, thick foam,
 > hard plastic etc and whether it's glued in or wedged in.
 >
 > If it's reasonably thick foam or hard plastic and it's glued in,
 > you could cover it with a sheet of marine plywood that's been
 > seriously varnished or epoxy covered (to waterproof the wood).
 > That will spread the load over the bulkhead and carry it out
 > to the edge of the foam and to the glue area.

Between the taper of the boat and the combined thickness of the bulkhead
and foot rest pad, I question whether the plywood is necessary. Judging
by his leg length and my own experience with the foot room in a Skerray,
I'd say that chances are that his feet are going to have to be splayed,
so the pressure will be primarily on the perimeter of the bulkhead,
where you want it. For the flatwater use he specifies, I can't imagine
the bulkhead becoming dislodged.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Bought my kayak 

I just checked on the GRO site and the Skerray has plastic bulkheads, so
there's no need for reinforcement with plywood.
 >> Stay informed about: Bought my kayak 

In a previous article, "Michael Daly" <michaelDaly.TakeThisOut@foo.bar> said:
 >On 25-Sep-2004, ptomblin+netnews@xcski.com (Paul Tomblin) wrote:
  >> Are there footrests you can attach to the bulkhead?
 >If you're that close to the bulkhead, just cut a block of
 >minicell foam into a wedge and rest your feet on that. But

That might work. I see this minicell mentioned a lot on kayak web sites -
where do I get it? And how do I glue it to polyethylene?

 >first check that the bulkhead will take the load. That will
 >depend on the type of bulkhead - thin foam, thick foam,
 >hard plastic etc and whether it's glued in or wedged in.

According to this web site
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.rapidstyle.com/GRO/boatspages/skeray-rmx.html" target="_blank">http://www.rapidstyle.com/GRO/boatspages/skeray-rmx.html</a>
"it has watertight polyethylene integral bulkheads, which will not leak or
burst off as often happens with other plastic sea kayaks". So I think it
could take the pressure.

--
Paul Tomblin <ptomblin.TakeThisOut@xcski.com> <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/" target="_blank">http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/</a>
"Nobody can be told what the dominatrix is, they have to see it for themselves"<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Bought my kayak 

Paul Tomblin (ptomblin+netnews@xcski.com) writes:

 > That might work. I see this minicell mentioned a lot on kayak web sites -
 > where do I get it? And how do I glue it to polyethylene?

and rigid closed cell foam would do. I'd get a piece of builder's
insulation foam board (not the white "bead" board, but the blue of pink
closed cell stuff). you can cut it to shape to fit against the bulkhead.
easy to cut another piece if the first one wears out. I keep pieces of
builders rigid foam insulation on hand. Two days ago I drove past a house
under renovation with some out by the curb for the trash, and I picked up
four pieces for my collection. The best things in life, and that includes
boatbuilding material, are free.

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My vote is for rigid blue or pink styrene closed cell builders insulation
foam to get the thickness, angle and shape you want but then add a thin 3/8"
or 1/2" layer of flexibile urethane foam such as minicell for comfort and to
resist permanent dents in the rigid foam block.

Small pieces of the builders foam are literally free. You don't even have
to drive around to find a work site to scavenge. The big building supply
stores toss out broken boards and scrap almost on a daily basis and have
always been happy to let me walk away with a few square feet of it. I use
it to build visual/photography models of upholstered furniture concepts.
It's a heck of a lot cheaper and much easier to shape than urethane
upholstery foam.

Peace


"William R. Watt" <ag384.TakeThisOut@FreeNet.Carleton.CA> wrote in message
news:cj6mp0$3ai$1@freenet9.carleton.ca...
 >
 > Paul Tomblin (ptomblin+netnews@xcski.com) writes:
 >
  > > That might work. I see this minicell mentioned a lot on kayak web
sites -
  > > where do I get it? And how do I glue it to polyethylene?
 >
 > and rigid closed cell foam would do. I'd get a piece of builder's
 > insulation foam board (not the white "bead" board, but the blue of pink
 > closed cell stuff). you can cut it to shape to fit against the bulkhead.
 > easy to cut another piece if the first one wears out. I keep pieces of
 > builders rigid foam insulation on hand. Two days ago I drove past a house
 > under renovation with some out by the curb for the trash, and I picked up
 > four pieces for my collection. The best things in life, and that includes
 > boatbuilding material, are free.
 >
 > --
 > --------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 >> Stay informed about: Bought my kayak 

in article cj6dos$qao$1@allhats.xcski.com, Paul Tomblin at
ptomblin+netnews@xcski.com wrote on 9/26/04 8:47 AM:

 > In a previous article, Keenan Wellar <gokayakingdotca.RemoveThis@hotmail.com> said:
  >> in article cj548a$s2n$1@allhats.xcski.com, Paul Tomblin at
  >> ptomblin+netnews@xcski.com wrote on 9/25/04 8:58 PM:
   >>> One question is that the foot pegs aren't down far enough, and I can
   >>> *almost* rest my feet on the bulkhead. Are there footrests you can attach
   >>> to the bulkhead?
  >>
  >> I'm not sure, but I have one question...how come you bought it if the
  >> cockpit isn't long enough for you? Just curious.
 >
 > The cockpit is long enough for me.

Sorry, what I meant was "if the pedals don't extend far enough into the
cockpit that you can put your feet on them in a comfortable position." If it
is not too late can you take it back and get one where the pedals meet your
needs? It just seems odd to have to modify a new boat like this. Also the
boat is designed to have your feet on the pedlas, not the bulkhead, so even
if you are comfortable with your feet there it doesn't seem the best way to
take advantage of what the boat has to offer?

 > If I stretch my toes out as far as
 > they stretch, I can rest them on the bulkhead, and if I put them on the
 > footpegs I'm jammed into the thigh pads so hard I have serious doubts
 > about my ability to exit, but otherwise with my feet off the pegs I fit in
 > it quite comfortably. What I want is something a little further away than
 > the bottom footpeg position and a little closer than the bulkhead so that
 > I can be lightly pushing into the thigh pads. This is a flatwater/creek
 > boat, not a whitewater boat so I don't need insane amounts of control.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Bought my kayak 

In a previous article, Keenan Wellar <gokayakingdotca DeleteThis @hotmail.com> said:
  >> The cockpit is long enough for me.
 >
 >Sorry, what I meant was "if the pedals don't extend far enough into the
 >cockpit that you can put your feet on them in a comfortable position." If it

I tried 5 different kayaks from 4 different manufacturers, and not one of
them was any better in this regard. I'm 6'4", and not particularly long
legged for my height, but it doesn't seem like anybody accomodates the
tall very well.

--
Paul Tomblin <ptomblin DeleteThis @xcski.com> <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/" target="_blank">http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/</a>
As for taste buds, bear in mind that the country which gave the world
Irn Bru also developed the Deep Fried Mars Bar. Marmite is the height
of sophistication in comparison. -- Malcolm Ray<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Bought my kayak 

Prijon Yukon or Kodiak. I know too late now, but for anyone else reading
that may be looking for a boat for a tall paddler. The club I paddle with
sometimes, has one of each. I am only 6ft 1in but I have gotten into the
boats and could not find the pedal even slouching and stretching my foot all
the way out. So the person that used the boat last had to have been many
inches taller than me. The Yukon is my favorite for knocking around but the
Kodiak is faster for long distance trips.

--
KENNETH MCCLELLAND
"Paul Tomblin" <ptomblin+netnews@xcski.com> wrote in message
news:cj7g44$a4n$1@allhats.xcski.com...
 > In a previous article, Keenan Wellar <gokayakingdotca.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> said:
   > >> The cockpit is long enough for me.
  > >
  > >Sorry, what I meant was "if the pedals don't extend far enough into the
  > >cockpit that you can put your feet on them in a comfortable position." If
it
 >
 > I tried 5 different kayaks from 4 different manufacturers, and not one of
 > them was any better in this regard. I'm 6'4", and not particularly long
 > legged for my height, but it doesn't seem like anybody accomodates the
 > tall very well.
 >
 > --
<font color=purple> > Paul Tomblin <ptomblin.TakeThisOut@xcski.com> <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/</font" target="_blank">http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/</font</a>>
 > As for taste buds, bear in mind that the country which gave the world
 > Irn Bru also developed the Deep Fried Mars Bar. Marmite is the height
 > of sophistication in comparison. -- Malcolm Ray<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Bought my kayak 

Paul Tomblin (ptomblin+netnews@xcski.com) writes:

 >... I'm 6'4", and not particularly long
 > legged for my height, but it doesn't seem like anybody accomodates the
 > tall very well.

There yoru go, just what I've been posting about. Somebody (I think it was
Wellar) wrote "kayaks are worn". You should be able to state your inseam
length and buy a kayak to fit like a pair of trousers. People certainly
pay enough for kayaks. (From what I see the biggest cost in kayaks must be
advertising.) My inseam is 33". Out of 20 kayaks I've tried I only had
footrest problems with a couple.

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in article cj7g44$a4n$1@allhats.xcski.com, Paul Tomblin at
ptomblin+netnews@xcski.com wrote on 9/26/04 6:33 PM:

 > In a previous article, Keenan Wellar <gokayakingdotca.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> said:
   >>> The cockpit is long enough for me.
  >>
  >> Sorry, what I meant was "if the pedals don't extend far enough into the
  >> cockpit that you can put your feet on them in a comfortable position." If it
 >
 > I tried 5 different kayaks from 4 different manufacturers, and not one of
 > them was any better in this regard. I'm 6'4", and not particularly long
 > legged for my height, but it doesn't seem like anybody accomodates the
 > tall very well.

I went through the same thing. Current Designs has a plastic boat called
Storm that will work for you. In glass the Navigator by Seaward (what I
ended up with).<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Bought my kayak