OCPaddler.com | shortening iakos

jc9_0

if you shorten your iako, the boat will definitely be TIPPIER.
i would guess that a small change = big difference.
also with iako being curved throughout their shape, you will be changing angles while you shorten the iako. maybe consider bending new ones that are shorter. that way you still have your old ones if the boat is too tippy.
also check to see what arc your paddle takes on your recovery. make your ama too close and you'll be scratch it all the time with your paddle.

#1 Sun, 06/29/2008 - 8:58pm

jpi92109

Im thinking about an inch at a time for a max of 2 inches. I talked with Jr and the OC iakos are bent so that cutting as much as 3 or 4 inches wont change the ama positioning. I can handle tippier if it makes the ama lighter but I feel like I can only raise my rear iako so far, meaning, I can only make the canoe lean so far past straight up to the right. Does that make sense?? My goal is just to make it easier to pop the ama up in the surf and bumps. Sound like im on the right track or AFU?

#2 Sun, 06/29/2008 - 9:01pm

fuzerider

True that the boat getter tippier as iakos get shorter . It`s also true that you gain better ama control by carving out Zephyr seat lower . I would do both to add performance to your canoe.
http://maineoutriggerchampionships.blogspot.com/

#3 Mon, 06/30/2008 - 3:03am

jpi92109

Fuze, they just sent me a new seat which is about 4 sizes shorter to fit my shorter height than the original owners as well as about 1.5 inches deeper on the seat. It was like a completely different canoe! tippier at first but now the seat hugs my hips more and I have much more control but I know I can get even more. Its fairly common for people to shorten the iakos on the OC boats that you know of??
The only thing that was worse with the new seat was that I now cant paddle "over" my paddle as much anymore which made me feel much weaker but after a couple of weeks I feel fine, or at least much better but the added control of the boat overall is worth it.
Thanks

#4 Mon, 06/30/2008 - 5:11am

Shawn Michael

I had to add some foam to make me higher (on a fusion) and it feels really strong to be up some, but maybe you just need a shorter paddle and a different choke on it.

#5 Mon, 06/30/2008 - 4:07pm

jpi92109

i already use a 47 and im 5'9. i actually feel pretty good all around now but just want to try and lighten up my ama a bit. i think i might be dialed then. after 1 year and 4 canoes, finally!

#6 Mon, 06/30/2008 - 8:16pm

eckhart

I had the Fusion iakus at 36 in, usually 46 in.. Different feel, if you paddle often it is not a problem re balance.
Now I have it back at 46 because the original carbon iakus broke.
Overall, i think that other things, such as reading the ocean, are more important.

#7 Mon, 06/30/2008 - 10:46pm

Jim

47 is an extremely short paddle for someone 5'9". Have you experimented w/ other shaft lengths? Insert jc9 "shaft length" comment here...

#8 Tue, 07/01/2008 - 5:34am

fuzerider

OC canoes are very adjustable , thats one of the reasons I paddle them . Seat , iakos , even iako geometry is adjustable by bending them . I like a fairly low seat , low seat gives you better ama control, to get this I sculpted out the seat with 4 1/2 inch grinder with rough sandpaper disc in it. Real easy to gouge seat if youre not carefull , maybe gouge yourself too. So , go slow and finish off with 40 or so grit by hand.
http://maineoutriggerchampionships.blogspot.com/

#9 Tue, 07/01/2008 - 6:43am

jpi92109

I like the 47 because I have a bad shoulder and I dont have to raise my arm very high on my return. Ive tried 48, 49, 50,....and this is the length I feel good with for whatever reason.
36 inch iakos sounds really short! Mine are 43 or 44 I cant remember but they havent been touched. I guess if I cut off 2 inches I would notice a difference for sure??

#10 Tue, 07/01/2008 - 10:17pm

oldguysrulepaddlinonguam

I read somewhere before that Jr. shortened the iakos on Fuze or whatever OC boat he was using when travelling and racing and that was the only modification he did; so the threads above made me curious and I just did the same. I'm 6'1", 205 and paddle a Fuze I really got for my wife (4'11", 100 lbs). When I first got it I thought it was tippy compared to my Waveblade, but immedaitely fell in love with it. On Guam we seldom get the real downwind runs Hawaii does, but there is usually something cookin somwhere.
After cutting the iakos 2" even better! I can't see or feel any negative to how the ama rides, except it's out of the water more at the front, but does not plow at the back. A lot looser and easier to unweight the ama and take off, now I'm going to sculpt out my seat a little and see how that is.
On the never ending comments on paddle length; I was 'taught' to use a 52 or 53 for my height. When I went to Hamilton for the 1st time in 96 Walter Guild (6'4"' or 6'5"??) was using a 50 on his OC1 and I thought...I'm doing this wrong! Now I paddle a 50 in OC6 and 49/50 when va'a.

#11 Wed, 07/02/2008 - 2:06pm

jpi92109

Nice! Unfortunately I just got a new tat and cannot paddle for about 10 days. Feel like im on restriction. As soon as I get back in the water im all over cuttin those puppies. I was really interested to hear from someone who had done it and could comment on their own personal findings. I had already made up my mind to do it but this just makes me feel a little more comfortable with it. Thanks.

#12 Wed, 07/02/2008 - 9:28pm