[Matt] > I'm by no means an expert on this system but I > think it is a move in the right direction Agreed. > I think the fact that you have a solid foot pedal > at the balls of your foot is superior to rudder pedals that hinge at your > heel (which I think are superior to sliding pedals). The heel hinged pedals > let one get the thighs (quads) involved in the stroke but not the calf >muscles as well. A solid pedal at the balls of the feet (or one that pivots > at the ball) lets you use both quads and calves to help power the kayak. I use a higher pivot point, level with the ankle, halfway between what you want and don't like !! A disadvantage with "ball-of-the-foot" fixed height pedal is the great differences in feet sizes. I remember paddling with a couple of your friends, she had to have a wet suit - rolled up for her feet to rest on to reach up to the rudder bar!! This was exceptional but does show a potential problem in a multifit situation. If it is your own boat you fit the "drop kit", something else they provide and used here for years. > Because of the low mounting of the blade's pivot point the blade of the Seal > Line rudder extended as deep into the water as most of those rudders mounted > higher Except the blades on so many of those are too short too. The worst I've seen would be the one on the Sea Yak - measure it one day and see how much actually gets into the water. > Alex, I don't see any great advantage to not drilling through the hull to > mount the foot/rudder pedals as long as the screws aren't below the >waterline all the time (slight extra drag would be my objection there). > We've drilled through the hull just below (or through) the seam for over 20 > years now (on well over 1000 kayaks) and have yet to hear of any leaks at > the footbrace mount in any of them at all. ..... What are your objections to screws through the hull Alex? I would believe that you do do a good job and the gasket is necessary so that the glass does not get crushed and the bolt won't work loose. I've heard of, saw the boat half a day before it happened - a bolt fell out so they then had a hole. It was a Necky Tofino fitted out in this country and the company were not doing a very good job at the time. It was also one of their hire boats and poorly maintained - rusted rudderline adjustments - I ended up looping the line over the pedal to make it short enough so it would work for the paddler. They were doing a 2 day trip, we were out for the day. Properly done, no problems. The bolt really does need a way of being locked - Loctite? > One companies kayaks I saw at the >symposium had the Keeper foot pedals simply glued to the inside of the hull >with plenty of 3M 5200 adhesive/caulk. Dubious about the long term life of such a method - presumably a glass boat? > I'd have to wait and see for some time before even considering converting to > that method. We don't like changing things that have not caused us any > problems in the past. I'd definitely agree there. Alex . . Alex (Sandy) Ferguson Chemistry Department University of Canterbury New Zealand *************************************************************************** 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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