Two important things happened today: 1) I started seeing a new physical therapist, and 2) I decided that if I want to get back on the water this year I'm going to have to start thinking outside the box. Owing to the lightweight and infinite modifiability of skin-on-frame, individuals with injuries are a big part of my business, so I suppose it's a little ironic that I'm now one of those people who needs help.
After sustaining a fairly serious sacro-illiac injury in the winter of 2013, I've been off the water for a little over 16 months now. Despite physical therapy, rest, and careful exercise, things aren't getting any better yet, and I don't need to tell you how much of a problem that is for a guy who's life and passion revolves around kayaking. I need to paddle.
Unlike a lot of people, I can sit for extend periods of time on my knees, and I also have excellent balance, so I thought it might be time to consider a C1 conversion for my kayaks.
Unlike a lot of people, I can sit for extend periods of time on my knees, and I also have excellent balance, so I thought it might be time to consider a C1 conversion for my kayaks.
A C1 is basically a decked kayak that you kneel in, a little wider and a little deeper than a kayak, they are primarily a whitewater phenomenon with the common thinking that a sea kayak would simply be too tippy for a raised center of gravity. I decided to test this theory by outfitting a standard F1 with a pillar seat.
A trip to the hardware and paddling store, and about $50 of foam and straps and other misc. bits later I arrived at my friend Harvs' house. Harv is my buddy. He also happens to be my only buddy with a band saw AND a sewing machine in the same place!
A trip to the hardware and paddling store, and about $50 of foam and straps and other misc. bits later I arrived at my friend Harvs' house. Harv is my buddy. He also happens to be my only buddy with a band saw AND a sewing machine in the same place!
I think most people would approach a $50 block of foam a bit more tentatively, but if there is one thing I've learned from prototype projects in the past it's that you are just as likely to screw something up after staring at it for two hours. So, like in most things, I tend to take a "go for it" attitude and after a few minutes this foam pillar is what I came up with.
The paddler sits on top, the legs are folded to the sides underneath. The trick here is keeping your center of gravity low while keeping your legs from falling asleep. I can tolerate 4.5 vertical inches, but I think most people would be more comfortable with 6. The seat is 8 inches wide up top, 6 at the bottom, and 12 inches long end to end, about 8 inches of which protrudes in front of the backband.
The paddler sits on top, the legs are folded to the sides underneath. The trick here is keeping your center of gravity low while keeping your legs from falling asleep. I can tolerate 4.5 vertical inches, but I think most people would be more comfortable with 6. The seat is 8 inches wide up top, 6 at the bottom, and 12 inches long end to end, about 8 inches of which protrudes in front of the backband.
Because C1's don't have thigh braces it's common for them to be outfitted with thigh straps or a seat belt to hold the paddler in place.
Once convenient thing about a skin-on-frame kayak is the abundance of attachment points all over the frame.
A simple loop of parachute cord does the job nicely.
Once convenient thing about a skin-on-frame kayak is the abundance of attachment points all over the frame.
A simple loop of parachute cord does the job nicely.
Next it was time for me to try my hand at the sewing machine. Don't let the photo fool you, I'm totally an expert at this! :)
With the buckles sewn in place and clipped into the attachment loops I decided it was time to give the whole setup a test drive and headed down to the pond in the middle of a local city park for a voyage of dubious legality.
With the buckles sewn in place and clipped into the attachment loops I decided it was time to give the whole setup a test drive and headed down to the pond in the middle of a local city park for a voyage of dubious legality.
So how does it work? Surprisingly well actually. The minimalist outfitting is comfortable and the boat is much more stable than I'd anticipated. I could easily paddle this 22.5 inch wide kayak in rough water. The buckle straps do add a layer of complexity to a wet exit, but they pop pretty easily and I'm not worried about entrapment. What will be really interesting is to see how it rolls!
One thing I wasn't prepared for is the giant cavern of cargo space where my legs used to be, a space large enough to fit a backpack full of gear without disturbing the float bags in either end. This could be huge advantage!
One thing I wasn't prepared for is the giant cavern of cargo space where my legs used to be, a space large enough to fit a backpack full of gear without disturbing the float bags in either end. This could be huge advantage!
The cockpit of a stock boat is a little small for this sort of setup, so if this works I'll probably build a dedicated boat with just a bit more room in the paddler area, maybe an inch wider and an inch deeper.
The physical comfort is a heck of a lot better than sitting normally in a kayak right now, but more testing is required to see if it actually stresses the injury any less.
For now, I'm hopeful. I'd give anything to be back on the water, and if this works it might offer enough freedom on the water to keep me from going crazy while I wait another year for the injury to stabilize.
I'll take it on a trip, and report back. Maybe this modification could help someone besides just me?
The physical comfort is a heck of a lot better than sitting normally in a kayak right now, but more testing is required to see if it actually stresses the injury any less.
For now, I'm hopeful. I'd give anything to be back on the water, and if this works it might offer enough freedom on the water to keep me from going crazy while I wait another year for the injury to stabilize.
I'll take it on a trip, and report back. Maybe this modification could help someone besides just me?
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