COCKPIT
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BRACING
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AN OPTIMAL PADDLE
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CONTACT US
kayakfit.com
kayakfit@fidalgo.net
KAYAKFIT
6290 Ershig Rd.
Bow, WA
Phone
(360)766-8720
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An ill-fitting kayak is what
drives most of us into customizing our cockpit. Later we
realize the performance advantage that strategically gluing a few
ounces of foam gives us when we try a brace or a roll.
Eventually we realize that there is more performance potential in
the custom fitting than there is in the choice of boat.
Within our kayak club cockpit modification has become a mania.
Members continually strive to outdo one another with creative ideas for
cockpit improvements. We
jokingly refer to our modifications as "Foam Art". Our
custom fit seats, and hip and knee braces, have had such a transforming effect upon our kayaking that we will never
willingly paddle without custom cockpits again. We have learned new
skills which would have been impossible formerly. Our level of comfort
has exceeded all our expectations. We are more satisfied with
our boats, the sport of kayaking, and with our own abilities than we
could ever have imagined.
Having demonstrated to ourselves that
we could improve our kayaks, we soon found more to do: We found ways to improve the deck rigging, more secure storage
for a spare paddle, ways to convert wasted space to useable
storage. We even created a removable built-in ice
chest! There was so much interest in these ideas, that we found ourselves
drawn into presenting workshops
where we demonstrated our methods. The demand for
materials forced us to make them available by keeping
an inventory on hand to sell.
Increasing sophistication among
paddlers is revolutionizing technique and equipment. Our plans for the future
include the creation and continual improvement of this web site;
with more products, more ideas, a forum for contributors, and
eventually, a video, which is being created by Rex Roberton, one
of the pioneers of Foam Art.
We take pride in the fact that
our efforts have brought the performance potential of custom
fitting to the attention of many sea kayakers, who in turn have
inspired others, who will inspire still more. The lore is
spreading, like ripples from a pebble cast into a still pool.
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