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Not sure what forum this belongs in - maybe "Boat Mods"? Anyway ...
The Bell NorthStar was advertised as having a kneeling thwart. The one I got - kevlar skincoat - didn't have one. I test-paddled it using the aft thwart and since then I've put a can seat in it with the front edge of the seat using the old thwart holes in the gunwales. I intend to use the boat for solo tripping.
A friend of mine, well seasoned in the ways of boats, suggested that the skincoat layup may not be strong enough to handle regular use like this and may eventually crack (which would be a good reason for not putting a kneeling thwart in it). If it did crack, I'd guess it would be in the tumblehome area and the upper hull. The question is: Should I put some layers of fiberglass or structural foam in that area to reinforce it? On the flip side: Will the gunwales distribute the weight along the hull enough that it will be strong enough.
I weigh 170 lbs max. and mostly kneel but sit some of the time.
Thanks for any feedback.
The Bell NorthStar was advertised as having a kneeling thwart. The one I got - kevlar skincoat - didn't have one. I test-paddled it using the aft thwart and since then I've put a can seat in it with the front edge of the seat using the old thwart holes in the gunwales. I intend to use the boat for solo tripping.
A friend of mine, well seasoned in the ways of boats, suggested that the skincoat layup may not be strong enough to handle regular use like this and may eventually crack (which would be a good reason for not putting a kneeling thwart in it). If it did crack, I'd guess it would be in the tumblehome area and the upper hull. The question is: Should I put some layers of fiberglass or structural foam in that area to reinforce it? On the flip side: Will the gunwales distribute the weight along the hull enough that it will be strong enough.
I weigh 170 lbs max. and mostly kneel but sit some of the time.
Thanks for any feedback.