It has been a long time since I was in a Skerry, but I think I remember that it is a pretty commonplace sea kayak style cockpit. Many sea kayak cockpits partly overlap the knee/thigh area, and one could usually wish that thigh hooks would extend deeper into the opening. Manufacturers are reluctant to make really agressive thigh hooks for two reasons: One, many beginners would be put off by the increased difficulty of exiting and entering the boat, and buy something else; Two, manufacturers worry about someone failing to exit, and the heirs sueing. Consequently I usually make very aggressive thigh hooks out of 3" minicell foam and cantilever them out into the cockpit. I like to glue an additional scrap of foam into the 90 degree angle between the combing and the protruding brace. That gives the brace a lot more rigidity and strength. It is also possible to overlay the finished brace with fabric for additional reinforcement, and, if you choose the correct fabric, increased grip for your leg. I have a website that discusses and illustrates the subject, but since I do sell materials through my site, I won't list the address. Anyone wishing to find it can contact me privately. Ken Rasmussen p.s. I am not only new to this website, I'm new to chat rooms. Please let me know if I've violated any protocols so I can modify my behavior. Thanks, Ken. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
At 09:41 PM 4/10/01 -0700, Kathea and Ken wrote: >It has been a long time since I was in a Skerry, but I think I remember that >it is a pretty commonplace sea kayak style cockpit. Depends on which model you get. I've got a glass Skerray with the ocean cockpit. It's only 21" long so it extends quite a bit over my knees. I've added just a small amount of padding under the deck, mostly to protect my knees, but the foam is slightly thicker near the center so I get good support when I'm bracing and rolling. >Many sea kayak cockpits >partly overlap the knee/thigh area, and one could usually wish that thigh >hooks would extend deeper into the opening. Manufacturers are reluctant to >make really agressive thigh hooks for two reasons: One, many beginners would >be put off by the increased difficulty of exiting and entering the boat, and >buy something else; Two, manufacturers worry about someone failing to exit, >and the heirs sueing. That's too bad because all it takes is a couple of hours of instruction to learn how to safely exit and reenter, even with a confining cockpit. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
I wouldn't disagree with this John, but I think that choosing a boat is a very difficult thing for a beginner. I was lucky enough to be in the company of fine paddlers when I bought my boat, I was on this list lurking a year before my first purchase. If a boat is too tippy, too confining or too hard to steer for a beginner, they probably won't use it. I am resigned that most people that are serious will have a spare boat within a year. Took me 2 year, ended up with a fleet that 3rd, and still looking at another boat. I was lucky with my first. > > >Many sea kayak cockpits > >partly overlap the knee/thigh area, and one could usually wish that thigh > >hooks would extend deeper into the opening. Manufacturers are reluctant to > >make really agressive thigh hooks for two reasons: One, many beginners would > >be put off by the increased difficulty of exiting and entering the boat, and > >buy something else; Two, manufacturers worry about someone failing to exit, > >and the heirs sueing. > > That's too bad because all it takes is a couple of hours of instruction > to learn how to safely exit and reenter, even with a confining cockpit. > -- ¤ Gabriel L Romeu ¤ http://studiofurniture.com + /diary or + /paint *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
I think you did just fine Ken, but your website is too valuable a reference so I will list it: http://members.tripod.com/kayakfit/instructions.htm IMHO, this is the best site out there to learn how to make a very secure, controlled fit in your kayak. glad your here Ken, gabriel I have a website that discusses and illustrates the > subject, but since I do sell materials through my site, I won't list the > address. Anyone wishing to find it can contact me privately. > > Ken Rasmussen > > p.s. I am not only new to this website, I'm new to chat rooms. Please let me > know if I've violated any protocols so I can modify my behavior. Thanks, Ken. -- ¤ Gabriel L Romeu ¤ http://studiofurniture.com + /diary or + /paint *************************************************************************** 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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