Re: [Paddlewise] Kayak Fit

On Thu, 19 Oct 2000 MJAkayaker_at_aol.com wrote:

> This brings up some questions I have thought about for some time.   I am 
> asking the following with the idea of really optimizing my paddling 
> efficiency and boat control.   With that in mind, I am really looking for 
> changes that make a significant enough difference that the effect would be 
> readily apparent (20% of the things you can change usually give you 80% of 
> the total possible improvement).

I would start by working on your forward stroke mechanics.  A really good
forward stroke will make a huge difference in how far, how fast, and how 
long you can paddle.  Try looking into freestyle canoeing 
http://www.mbnet.mb.ca/freestyle/freestyle.html.  That paddling
style has phenomenal boat and paddle control.  Some of the moves can be
adapted to a kayak.
 
> If a boat is a little large you can bring you knees or thighs into contact 
> with the deck and or braces by either padding out the deck/brace or by 
> bringing the footrests back so that you knees are more bent.  Besides 
> adjusting to a comfortable position is there any plus or minus to more or 
> less knee bend.  If so how is a good way to judge if you might benefit from 
> more or less knee bend.  One of my paddling partners thinks it is easier to 
> edge and roll with the knees bent quite a bit  

I like my legs so they have room to wiggle around, a couple inches of play
at the knees, but can be snugged up quickly.  I like to be able to keep 
my butt, both knees and both feet in one place while edging and rolling.  
When snugged into place I prefer if my butt stays in contact with the seat,
even when upside down.

> If you are using a sliding footpedal controlled rudder should the footpedal 
> adjustment really be determined by being able to move the rudder enough.   
> How much swing would you want to get out of the rudder when you leg is fully 
> extended (45deg, 60deg, as much as the rudder mech allows)?  Or do you just 
> do a normal adjustment with the rudder centered and live with whatever amount 
> of rudder travel that will give you. 

Eek.  Shoot the sliding footpedal controls as soon as possible.
 
> If you have thigh braces is there any benefit to padding out the knee contact 
> area for a tight fit as well as padding out the thigh braces?  If you do not 
> have thigh braces do you need to make a kneepad with hooked shape (thicker 
> toward the middle of the kayak) to help keep the knee from sliding inward?

I want my knees to stay where I put them, regardless of what angle the boat
and my body are.
 
> Finally is there a benefit to really tightening the fit at the hips.  I know 
> I do not want to feel like I am sliding around, but should I keep making the 
> fit tighter until I start to have trouble with a wet exit and then back off 
> just a little.  Is there a rule of thumb for testing the hip fit in a kayak?

Hip outfitting gets tough for those of us in cold areas.  What's snug in
a drysuit with fleece will be loose in a bathing suit.  Leaving room on each
side of my hips to slide in my fingers (sungly) has worked for me.

kirk
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