i know one of the keys to paddling is driving off your legs but its hard to do in a six man. especially in seats 2-6 bc there isnt anything to lock your feet on like when you sit one or in a oc1. pinning your knees on either side of the gunnel is hard to do and hurts for a long period of time. what if there were adjustable foot blocks in front of each seat (so short and tall people can adjust it to their height) like in some rudderless canoes. any thoughts or pics or yes you have tried it and it works or sucks... anything thanks!
Submitted by JULZ87 on Fri, 05/09/2008 - 9:47am
I put adjustable foot blocks in a Tahitian six man and it worked really well. Im sure everyone wishes they were legal in Cali and Hawaii.
#1 Fri, 05/09/2008 - 10:30am
is it not legal in hawaii? i never heard that rule before. do u have any pics aquafiend
#2 Fri, 05/09/2008 - 10:34am
Wax Bu! There's your foot block. Some choose to use ocean shoes with grip below to be secured. Footblocks will cause problems when its time to bail water out. Peace two fingers.
#3 Fri, 05/09/2008 - 10:39am
thats why the footblocks are adjustable... naw but i see what you are saying... good point. we would all look like retards if we wore ocean shoes lol but it might do the job. and wax can only do so much...
#4 Fri, 05/09/2008 - 10:41am
have you tryed to go up on one knee and leav the last 1/4 of you but on the seat kinda high kneel?
#5 Fri, 05/09/2008 - 10:52am
Ehayward its right, you want some grip, wax is the ticket.
blocks are not legal, not traditional, makes bailing unvialbe and its not safe, you can hurt yourself pretty bad........
surfboard wax will give you what you are looking for.
aloha!
#6 Fri, 05/09/2008 - 11:38am
I put the edge of my butt on the seat and the inside leg as far under the seat as I can, with my hull side leg having most of the weight. Gives me extra reach, and excellent power to push off with. Tears my shorts and butt up a bit if the pad moves out from under me.....but really don't care ....I don't have to look at my butt!! I also use Solomon water shoes, slippers or bare feet...depending on what the water is like. I don't know why we can't just use paint with sand in it on the bottom of the canoe. It would give us a bit of traction. I put those sticky traction stickers in my Indian canoe...and it worked for those with long legs, as I didn't account for the short legged paddlers when measuring them out. They start to come undone after a while though, but are easily replaced.
#7 Fri, 05/09/2008 - 2:06pm
Yeah, I shoulda mentioned we had an electric pump in the boat as well........that took care of bailing.
#8 Fri, 05/09/2008 - 2:23pm
Pumps are illegal in Hawaii.
#9 Fri, 05/09/2008 - 2:45pm
Pumps and footblocks are illegal in Tahiti for V6 tough they are allowed for V1.
Ehayward and marianolarghi are right, wax is the answer.
Sloughcanoe said "I don’t know why we can’t just use paint with sand in it on the bottom of the canoe." Ther is no rule forbiding this in Tahiti. I am considering this : paint the inside of the hull with non-slip paint that is used for boats decks.
#10 Fri, 05/09/2008 - 5:26pm
another option is to use grip tape, this seems to work really well to help incorporate using the legs. it also holds up very well if canoe bottom is clean. the tape will last for several seasons.
pilikua
#11 Sat, 05/10/2008 - 5:55am