how to build a bulkhead foot rest

some people like the system that comes with their boat, some do not. Most people at least modify a bulkhead with foam,filling in all the gaps and making a custom fit for their creeker. I highly recommend do that.
Those of us with short legs often need to take it a step further and modify the system more (or build one from scratch) Here is how I have been making mine...

Most hardware stores have 1" wide aluminum bars and tubes. I got these at Lowes.
The bars need to be at least 24" long each (2 of them) and the square tube needs to be between 12" and 20" long



I used 1/4" thick high density polyethelene (HDPE) for the foot plate, bought from US Plastics
A 24" x 48" piece can make 5 or more foot plates so you'll have plenty of extra for your friends or for boat welding when you beat your boat into submission from all the sick boofs and rock spins you'll be doing.



HDPE can be scored and broken like plexi glass or cut with a jig saw. I was out of blades on the jigsaw so used the edge of a chisel for the job.



I copied the shape of DragoRossi's bulkhead for the Mafia and Gangster, made it a little wider, and shortened the length of the side bars a few inches to accomodate my 30" inseam.

The HDPE footplate measures 13 1/2" wide x 7 3/4" high.
The 1" square aluminum tubing was cut to 13 1/2". It will reenforce the footplate.
The 1" aluminum bars are each 24" long.



Be sure to file all the metal corners to eliminate burs and reduce stress risers at joints.
Bend the last 3" of each metal bar so that it will wrap around behind the HDPE footplate and square tube.
I do not have a bench vice so used a c-clamp to hold each bar to the table and bent them by hand.
Line everything up and drill holes for the four 2" screws that will hold everything in place.



How you attach the system to your boat depends on the brand of boat you are using. In this instance I simply stole the ratchets and straps from my old DragoRossi bulkhead and put them on the new one. A super simple technique would be to drill several holes at the ends of the bars, spaced 1" apart to create a traditional adjustable bulkhead. Many manufacturers are incorporating shock absorbing features into their bulkheads. Necky uses springs. DragoRossi's ratchet straps are designed to stretch on impact. Look closely at many different ideas and chose the one that makes sense to you.




Here is a quick comparison of the bulkhead I made (top) and the stock one (bottom). Notice how I made mine wider. I did this so I would not have to fill in as many gaps on the side of the footplate like I do with the stock one, and it gives me more foot room. If I had longer legs I would not have been able to do this.

Mad Boy prototype 2B

some subtle refining of the boat



nice to see more people using a smoother more progressive rocker, particularly on river runners and creekers where bouncy "kick" rocker is not very helpful



this thing looks like it will be a B movie bimbo: fast, easy, and predictable

Winter Wonderland

DragoRossi 2008 prototype first look

Just received these photos of the new river runner from DragoRossi as it's being developed.



The goal was to make something between the Pintail XL and Criticals Mass in speed and size, for those who want a boat that with a little more volume than the playful river runner (Pintail XL) but don't need a full-on hard-core creeker (Critical Mass)




above is a composite photo comparing the template and rocker of the Critical Mass (red) and the second Mad Boy prototype. The imagages are scaled to approxamate the lengths, but I'd have to double check with Corran to be certain about the accuracy.

and below is a reminder of what the Pintail XL looks like.

Let It Rain

http://neguidebook.com/

A beautiful new guidbook by Alden Bird about the many numberous whitewater classics in the northeastern United States and Canada.



The format of guidebooks is often simple. It has to be. A guide book is a reference tool, often used on trips, in conjuction with a map. Most guide books do not go beyond their simple function as this reference tool. "Let It Rain" is a rare exception.

This new guide book, by whitewater paddler Alden Bird, is full of all the standard guide book requirements: concise descriptions of each river, directions to the river, and an assigned classification of each run to help you decide if it is the right one for you. "Let It Rain" goes beyond normal expectations by including numerous insightful narratives, entertaining stories, and hundreds of full color photos. Yes. Full Color!

The pictures, alone, inspire the burning desire to work hard this winter, save my money, and spend April and May in search of whitewater all over the northeast.
The stories further the dream and make me committed to break from my normal routine and get a trip together.
The river descriptions instill confidence, and make me believe that I can find hundreds of exciting runs, all within an afternoon's drive of each other.

Bottom line. Buy this guide book.

old school drawing

anyone remember the days of purple and turquoise Extrasport lifevests, ridiculously useless Protec helmets, 204 cm paddles and side surfing for 5 minutes (on purpose)?



of course you can get it on a tshirt so that you can show that you have been paddling longer than those punks in short boats
http://www.cafepress.com/artandwater/4722866