Re: [Paddlewise] New boat: fitting out the deck

merijn wijnen wrote:
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> Usually I am a bit of a lurker on this list, but know I have to shout it
>   out for once:

Nice to hear from you...
> 
> I finally found a boat
> 
> I have been looking for more than a year for a bout that suits both  me
> and my limited budget and leaves me enough money to be able  to buy the
> safetystuff I need.
> Yesterday I tried a Rofra Falklander, a Norkapp HM copy build in  the
> Netherlands using vacuum baginging. Light and strong.

Sounds like  a wonderful boat.  I have a FR Silhouette built in the
Netherlands which is extremely well made.
> 
> I will have to modify the boat a bit. First thing is mounting a
> compass. Has anybody experience with building a compass recess  in an
> existing deck? And what brand of compass?

Must you build it in?  Easy to make a deckplate to install a surface
mount.  YOu can use a block of wood, spray glue a bit of sandpaper to
the deck location to use as a contour to match the wood.


> Third change is fitting a knee tube. Doughs knee tube with deck  acces
> seems a quite good solution.

Patrick Maun (soon to me a neighbor of yours) did a really fine job of
knee tube installation.  See it at-
http://www.studiofurniture.com/diary/kayak/outfit/outfit.html
for that and other kayak outfitting stuff.

> I want to mount a handsfree pump. A footpump seems the most  interesting
> solution, but I have rather limited room for movement with  my size 13
> feet mounted on my long (1.94 m)8'6'' body. 

Ever think of basketball?

I am  worried if I will be
> able to pump for a long enough time. The other  solution is an electric
> pump, but reliability is the problem in that  quarter.

Lot of people have had good success on this list.
> 
> 
> Last job is changing the rear bulkhead. It is mounted far aft of the
> cockpit, and I would like it more to the front. Is it a good idea to
> skip  the rear bulkhead at use the seat instead? That would limit
> cockpit  volume vey much.

I would probably pack it with closed cell foam.
> 
> Last question: I am used to work with epoxies (I build recumbent  bikes
> with it). Is it possible to carry out modifications on a polyester  boat
> using epoxy, or should I stick to polyester?

Definitely use epoxy.  Much safer  then the resins and very easy to
use.  You know about fillers when you are using it as an adhesive as
well as scuffing the surface of application I presume.

I think it is a good idea for everyone in the Netherlands to have a
kayak nearby in case that little guy pulls his thumb out of the dikes.

How close are you to Nijmegen (my birthplace and half my relatives)?  

best, gabriel



-- 
                            Gabriel L
Romeu                                                    
http://studiofurniture.com        ©©©©©   furniture from the
workshop               
http://studiofurniture.com/diary  ©©©©©   life as a tourist, daily
journal         
http://studiofurniture.com/paint  ©©©©©   paintings, photographs,
etchings, objects

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