Joe wrote, "... I have found that if I adjust my footpegs one click further than I'd prefer my legs won't fall asleep. I don't really care to be bracing on my tip-toes but it beats numb legs. I've been told that adding some foam thigh supports may help. Anyone have any luck with this approach?" Having the benefit of a good molded seat in my VCP "British Heavy" Pintail, I find I have very good support, even under my thighs. Instead of footbraces, I installed a minicell "plug" that replicates the footbrace function (and holds my footpump, as well). No rudder to worry about in a Pintail. And I have installed more foam aft in lieu of the pressure points of a backband, carving away the foam to a perfect lower back contour. The end result is that I can wedge the nether regions of my 55 year old, 185 pound, 6'2" frame through a 16" by 20" cockpit rim and be reasonably comfortable for about eight hours at a time. (Have needed a little help getting out after an eight-hour-plus swim support, but I was okay while I was in the boat.) It's all about tailoring the cockpit for optimal comfort --- or minimal discomfort --- and having a good, snug fit so you don't have to use your muscle groups to stay firmly in place. If you're bouncing or sliding around in a cockpit, you're ! ! constantly using leg and butt muscles to compensate: if you're kinda wedged in there, you're free to use those muscles selectively to optimize your stroke, to brace, or to deliberately relax. Thigh support can be hard to figure out --- try a rolled up towel under your thighs, but be sure to avoid any possibility of entrapment. Make sure that a flooded cockpit doesn't float something up, pinning or restricting your speedy and effective departure from the craft in distress! But, by experimenting to develop enough capture points inside your knees, behind your back, and along your flanks and hips, your legs can relax while being immediately ready to brace or to effect a hip snap. Just takes time and experimenting --- and minicell foam, automotive contact cement, and dragon skin. And more time. Jack *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Oct 27 1999 - 12:27:12 PDT
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