My Whitewater Boat is Complete Finally!

[Drowned Rat]

Re: My Whitewater Boat is Complete Finally!

Very cool. Just let me know if you need any help.

 

[jimandsue60]

Re: My Whitewater Boat is Complete Finally!

I just noticed that it looks like you added a downtube crossover behind the seats that was not there on your original images. What do you use that for?

I was thinking of adding a foot bar http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp?pfid=1200DF&deptid=1178 Do you think it is needed?

Jim

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: My Whitewater Boat is Complete Finally!

Good eye. When I sea trialed the boat, initially the rear floor board would bounce a little. That rear board has the fuel cell and battery attached to it so the weight would want to jostle it around when going over large waves. The rear drop bar sits directly on the fuel cell, holding the whole contraption down. It also serves for extra rear handholds too.

I wouldn't use a foot bar unless you plan on doing a lot of rowing. I have webbing straps wrapped on the frame tubes in various locations that serve as handholds. Even in really big water I've never felt unstable or like I was going to come out of my seat, but I've always got one hand on the tiller and the other on a handhold. If you had both hands on oars then a foot bar would be nice.

 

[QC]

Re: My Whitewater Boat is Complete Finally!

Hey DR,

I am confused about something simple . . . What keeps the ice chest from slipping down further? Also, any way to rig it so you can open the chest without detaching?

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: My Whitewater Boat is Complete Finally!

Hi QC,

The webbing straps go all the way under the cooler and are held to the crossbars with a buckle and special wrap. The loose ends come up over the top of the cooler so you can un-do the cam and have access to the cooler without removing or adjusting the straps themselves.

You can sort of see it in this photo

The cam is just out of the picture at the top, but all you have to do is loosen the webbing with the cam and you can open the cooler. Just loosening the cams do not loosen the straps going under the cooler.

 

[jimandsue60]

Re: My Whitewater Boat is Complete Finally!

Very cool. Just let me know if you need any help.

I am going to get the same seat mounts you have from NRS. I am considering swivel seat mounting plates. Any thoughts positive or negative on swivels for the captain or passenger seats.

Where did you get your seats and are you happy with them? Would you prefer a folding back chair?

I have not found your style on the internet. I have found some of these http://www.iboats.com/Deluxe_Molded...9396035--**********.744354284--view_id.375101 although they seem a bit cheesy.

Jim

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: My Whitewater Boat is Complete Finally!

Hi Jim,

Here are the seats>> http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp?pfid=1225.5 They make a low back version of this same seat too.

And here are the mounts>> http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp?pfid=1238

There is absolutely no flex or unwanted movement whatsoever with this setup. They are super comfortable, even for long periods of time. Swivel brackets are available, but I would not want them on a boat like this. For fishing though you might want to consider them.

They have some really cool ideas for fishing frames you should check out. I especially like the stern frame seat mount. That would be fun! http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product_list.asp?deptid=1054

 

[QC]

Re: My Whitewater Boat is Complete Finally!

Ahhhhh . . . now I get it . . .

 

[jimandsue60]

Re: My Whitewater Boat is Complete Finally!

Thanks for all the help and I hope I didn't hijack your thread. I ordered the frame parts today for a basic rectangular frame with seat mounts. I will buy the seats locally cause I want to sit in them before buying. I should have the parts next week and will keep you posted.

Jim

 

[nobrainsd]

Re: My Whitewater Boat is Complete Finally!

Be sure to post some pics! We all would like to see how your mods turn out.

 

[Nos4r2]

Re: My Whitewater Boat is Complete Finally!

Nice!

Only thing I'd upgrade on that is I'd fit elephants trunk self-drainers and I'd swap that fuel tank for a bladder tank as it doesn't need breathers. Mine can be used with the tanks fully submerged-which has been known to happen

Not a good idea not to be using the killcord-ever-on an inflatable btw.

 

[azlakes]

Re: My Whitewater Boat is Complete Finally!

Not a good idea not to be using the killcord-ever-on an inflatable btw.

... please enlighten?

DR - was that pic of ur craft at Lee's Ferry? The cam was taking footage so come on dood, out with it

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: My Whitewater Boat is Complete Finally!

Hey there azlakes, yeah it's near Lee's Ferry. I've got almost 4 hours of footage recorded. I keep meaning to set up an account on youtube but haven't got around to it. I'll get it on there one of these days.

 

[azlakes]

Re: My Whitewater Boat is Complete Finally!

... kewl was that just a recent run or from last year's?

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: My Whitewater Boat is Complete Finally!

That was a couple months ago. Before it got too hot, although I'm not believing the weather we're having around here right now. Perfect boat camping weather.

 

[Nos4r2]

Re: My Whitewater Boat is Complete Finally!

... please enlighten?

Last pic -with the boat planing-shows the kill cord clipped to itself instead of to the helmsman. It's very very easy to fall out of an inflatable and it to come back and run over you. Remember, you're sitting higher than the sides of the boat.

The helmsman in the rib in this vid wasn't wearing it-everyone aboard was thrown out when it highsided during a sharp turn.
Luckily they managed to swim clear of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI0xKmNUZlE

 

[TJLMERC330]

Re: My Whitewater Boat is Complete Finally!

Hey nice rig !!! Just wondreing why in the one picture the boat is on the trailer backwards ? Weight displacement? I have a Merc 330 RIB that I tow .....

Just curious ... Tom

 

[jimandsue60]

Re: My Whitewater Boat is Complete Finally!

Hi QC,

The webbing straps go all the way under the cooler and are held to the crossbars with a buckle and special wrap. The loose ends come up over the top of the cooler so you can un-do the cam and have access to the cooler without removing or adjusting the straps themselves.

You can sort of see it in this photo

The cam is just out of the picture at the top, but all you have to do is loosen the webbing with the cam and you can open the cooler. Just loosening the cams do not loosen the straps going under the cooler.

Could you explain the buckle and special wrap a little more or show a picture of it? I just got another tube from NRS and am going to set up a cooler like yours.

Thanks
Jim

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: My Whitewater Boat is Complete Finally!

Hi Jim,

Here are the directions>>>http://www.nrsweb.com/frames/Strap_Slides.asp

You'll follow this procedure on each side of the cooler, so 4 times. There is a link on the page to buy the slider buckles for the NRS straps. I have 9' straps on my cooler which gives you enough slack that you don't have to completely undo the strap to get into the cooler. It's a bit tricky getting it set up so it's exactly even on both sides, but once you're done, it never needs adjusting again.

 

[jimandsue60]

Re: My Whitewater Boat is Complete Finally!

Thanks DR

Jim