04-29-2013, 03:30 PM
SHig:
Brilliant creation, thanks for sharing! There is nothing even close on the market, with your creation having at least a 2X weight advantage when comparable bags/back rest are added.
What would be your estimate for the strength of your material/seams compared with closest existing lightweights, like the Trinity/420L? Did you consider the NFO heart valve material or is it too heavy/expensive/difficult to work, in this application?
What do you think of moving the valves within reach of a mouth inflation tube? That way their seam/condition could be visually monitored for leaks. Also, pressure could be adjusted on the fly for temperature/pinhole leaks is what I was thinking....
Hope this helps.
Pon
[quote SHigSpeed]I went down to my local "pond" to test out the new boat. I did my best to try to fall out and I failed. I inflated it on shore then hopped in and it immediately tempered - lost pressure due to cooling down. In this less than tight state it was a bit wobbly with how high I sit. Felt a bit like balancing on a ball side to side. Front to back was fine. A quick few breaths to tighten the skin and back in the drink.
MUCH better. Definitely not as solid feeling as my Fish Cat but that's to be expected because of the way the seat is attached to the "U". It does allow some roll, but I think it won't be hard to get used to. Feels kinda like sitting in a canoe or kayak, especially at first when the pressure dropped. Still, no risk of actually barrel rolling.
I'm WAY out of the water - probably A good 3", pretty much what I had designed for. I can make do with pants waders, no chest waders required.
Anyway, photos:
[.IMG][url "http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7048/8691279068_4d6e9c2302_b.jpg[/IMG]"]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/...6e9c2302_b.jpg[/IMG][/url]
[.IMG][url "http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8118/8690163763_eb4ce3fb7c_b.jpg[/IMG]"]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/...4ce3fb7c_b.jpg[/IMG][/url]
[.IMG][url "http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7052/8690155155_18676dc0c0_b.jpg[/IMG]"]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/...676dc0c0_b.jpg[/IMG][/url]
[.IMG][url "http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8102/8691269660_7034f78385_b.jpg[/IMG]"]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/...34f78385_b.jpg[/IMG][/url]
[.IMG][url "http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7044/8690146743_d4b5e1c92f_b.jpg[/IMG]"]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/...b5e1c92f_b.jpg[/IMG][/url]
I made some fly casting motions while I was at it and it was a no-drama affair - not that I had expected any.
I'll have to take my gear next time I hit the "pond".
_SHig[/quote]
[signature]
Brilliant creation, thanks for sharing! There is nothing even close on the market, with your creation having at least a 2X weight advantage when comparable bags/back rest are added.
What would be your estimate for the strength of your material/seams compared with closest existing lightweights, like the Trinity/420L? Did you consider the NFO heart valve material or is it too heavy/expensive/difficult to work, in this application?
What do you think of moving the valves within reach of a mouth inflation tube? That way their seam/condition could be visually monitored for leaks. Also, pressure could be adjusted on the fly for temperature/pinhole leaks is what I was thinking....
Hope this helps.
Pon
[quote SHigSpeed]I went down to my local "pond" to test out the new boat. I did my best to try to fall out and I failed. I inflated it on shore then hopped in and it immediately tempered - lost pressure due to cooling down. In this less than tight state it was a bit wobbly with how high I sit. Felt a bit like balancing on a ball side to side. Front to back was fine. A quick few breaths to tighten the skin and back in the drink.
MUCH better. Definitely not as solid feeling as my Fish Cat but that's to be expected because of the way the seat is attached to the "U". It does allow some roll, but I think it won't be hard to get used to. Feels kinda like sitting in a canoe or kayak, especially at first when the pressure dropped. Still, no risk of actually barrel rolling.
I'm WAY out of the water - probably A good 3", pretty much what I had designed for. I can make do with pants waders, no chest waders required.
Anyway, photos:
[.IMG][url "http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7048/8691279068_4d6e9c2302_b.jpg[/IMG]"]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/...6e9c2302_b.jpg[/IMG][/url]
[.IMG][url "http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8118/8690163763_eb4ce3fb7c_b.jpg[/IMG]"]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/...4ce3fb7c_b.jpg[/IMG][/url]
[.IMG][url "http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7052/8690155155_18676dc0c0_b.jpg[/IMG]"]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/...676dc0c0_b.jpg[/IMG][/url]
[.IMG][url "http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8102/8691269660_7034f78385_b.jpg[/IMG]"]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/...34f78385_b.jpg[/IMG][/url]
[.IMG][url "http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7044/8690146743_d4b5e1c92f_b.jpg[/IMG]"]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/...b5e1c92f_b.jpg[/IMG][/url]
I made some fly casting motions while I was at it and it was a no-drama affair - not that I had expected any.
I'll have to take my gear next time I hit the "pond".
_SHig[/quote]
[signature]