Subject: Re: baidarka Center Floor Adjustable Foot Brace
From: James Mitchell (mariner@seanet.com)
Date: Sun Dec 17 2000 - 23:56:32 EST
There is a simpler solution. I needed a different footbrace for Raven
because using the side braces or the top frame caused my calf to be
tensioned enough to put my leg to sleep. Also, I needed to make it
adjustable because I knew I would have other people paddling my boats.
I took a piece of 1-1/2" square frame stock about 10" long, and cut a slot
across about a half inche from each end (now I just drill a 1/2" hole, but
it is not quite as nice that way). I thread a piece of webbing through that
slot, leaving about five feet of web on each side.
Next I take a couple of Fastex buckles, just the simple 1" web strap
buckles, and stitch them into the end of a piece of web about a foot long.
Put a Fastex slider on the web, and thread it around a rib up near your
seat. The buckle should rest inside the cockpit somewhere where you can
reach it easily when seated.
Run the webbing up between the ribs and the skin to keep it out of the way.
Start it about three ribs aft of where your heels will be, and bring it up
to the buckles. Thread it onto the buckle on each side. That's it.
What you get is a heel brace. This means your toes are free to float, so
you have much less pressure on your lower leg. To lock your self in for
rolls or just security, push with your heels so that your knees lock in
below the deck.
I have used these in many boats now, and most report that it is more
comfortable and easier to use than the plastic side-mounted braces. It is
also easier to load gear, because you just lay the foot brace down on the
bottom and slide the gear in over it. And the price is about right.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Klemick" <klemick@home.com>
To: <baidarka@lists.intelenet.net>
Sent: Sunday, December 17, 2000 6:39 PM
Subject: Re: baidarka Center Floor Adjustable Foot Brace
> Mike Hanks wrote:
>
> > Bob,
> >
> > There are both plans ($15) and kits ($50) available for them at Eric
Schade's
>
> > <snip>
>
> > Thanks Mike, just exploring whether it might be an effective plan, sure
can't
> > afford 50. and the scroll cuts are more than I am able to do with my
current
> > tool chest. I'll probably use deck beam braces. I don't know if I'm
going to
> > make 27 lbs, it seems like the canvas weighs that much, but with all the
> > spruce wood work its going to be reasonably light. Last night when I
canvassed
> > the bottom it was tight as a drum but the humidity has become so low
that it
> > loosened a bit. Tomorrow I will give it a bath and scrub in boiling
water
> > which usually does the trick for tightening up. I think I'll have it in
the
> > water in a couple weeks. The next major part is the cockpit before I put
the
> > top skin on. How did you do your cockpit and can you offer any advice?
I
> > could put on a badairka cockpit but some how it doesn't seem appropriate
and I
> > don't think it would look to cool either. Also Mike, when you do a
plywood
> > Walrus what are the significant differences?
>
> Thanks again.........bob klemick
>
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