Hi all, Usually I am a bit of a lurker on this list, but know I have to shout it out for once: 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. The boat fits me like a glove, tracks like a train (with the disadvantage that turning takes some effort). I still have to get used to the somewhat limited primary stability, but secondary is quite good. I was really looking for a more playfull boat like the Romany explorer or Greenlander, but the availabilty second hand is absolutely zero, and the prices for new boats are very high. 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? I still am thinking about deck layout, as there are few lines on the deck now. I might ad a running bowline, but am not sure if it is worth the effort and clutter on the deck. Third change is fitting a knee tube. Doughs knee tube with deck acces seems a quite good solution. 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. 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. 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. 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? Happy kayakking, Merijn ****************************** Merijn Wijnen Vinkenhofje 8 5613 CN Eindhoven The Netherlands Tel.: 040-2939991 (job: 040-2650539) Fax: same as tel., call before sending or try twice E-mail: Home: merijn_at_music.demon.nl Job: m.wijnen_at_ind.tno.nl Web-site: http://www.music.demon.nl *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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 İİİİİ furniture from the workshop http://studiofurniture.com/diary İİİİİ life as a tourist, daily journal http://studiofurniture.com/paint İİİİİ paintings, photographs, etchings, objects *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
It would seem that if the boat is built in Holland that it would make more sense to order the boat as you want it. It's much easier to move the bulkhead at the time the boat is built. I have two Nordkapps, one has the compass recess in the bow just ahead of the hatch and the other has the compass recess on the deck. I prefer the compass in the bow. It doesn't take up any space under the deck and it's easier to keep your eye on your heading. It's also supposed to reduce a tendency for getting seasick. I have also cut out the FG seats and fitted it with a minicell seat that sits directly on the hull...less weight and more stability. As for the knee tube, why buy a nice lightweight boat and clutter it up with stuff. You wouldn't put steel cranks on your recumbent. (BTW please e-mail me a photograph of your bikes) If you were going the battleship approach like Doug, then weight isn't an issue. I assume you are not really 8'6"??? Tot Zeins! Bob Denton Delray Beach *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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