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Greenland Forum

Padding Anas Acuta
David Belako

I bought an older Anas Acuta last year and have been paddling it in the condition in which I bought it.

I wasn’t familiar at all with the foam knee brace set up but have become a huge fan since. The issue has been the amount of distance between my knees and the pads. Does anyone have suggestions for padding out the braces? I thought about just padding the braces themselves or actually making a faux masik out of minicell and attaching it between the braces and deck coaming or just padding down the whole foredeck to my knees.

Any input would be greatly appreciated. It’s my go to boat and I have a rolling class coming up. I would like to get it under way.

Thanks much

Dave

Mike Hamilton

David, drop me a line at khamilto@umd.edu I'll be working with you in June and know a few folks with AA's for you to ask.

Ed Lawson
Jerrold Borenstein
The foam masik works great. Ive used them on several kayaks including my friends AA



Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone


I bought an older Anas Acuta last year and have been paddling it in the condition in which I bought it.

I wasn’t familiar at all with the foam knee brace set up but have become a huge fan since. The issue has been the amount of distance between my knees and the pads. Does anyone have suggestions for padding out the braces? I thought about just padding the braces themselves or actually making a faux masik out of minicell and attaching it between the braces and deck coaming or just padding down the whole foredeck to my knees.

Any input would be greatly appreciated. It’s my go to boat and I have a rolling class coming up. I would like to get it under way.

Thanks much

Dave

Gabriel Romeu

Agreed, I use a dense closed cell foam and carve with an electric knife (vegetarian, bought exclusively for this purpose;), finishing with dragon skin.  I adhere it using contact cement...gabriel

On 4/20/2021 7:43 PM, Jerrold Borenstein (aikijerry@gmail.com) wrote:
Ed Lawson

> I wasn’t familiar at all with the foam knee brace set up but have

> become a huge fan since.


I suspect you mean the "W" form that some put in for knee braces in center of boat and,

as I recall, may have come from Valley with an AA.


>I thought about just padding the braces

> themselves or actually making a faux masik out of minicell and

> attaching it between the braces and deck coaming or just padding down

> the whole foredeck to my knees.


I don't remember how my AA came originally, but I put in a single piece

of foam to act as a masik (no bumps, etc.) and have been very happy

with it. I am not into doing all the rolls, but it works well for the

rolling I do and for cruising about on multiday trips when I want some

room to move about. Personally I did not like the "W" foam outfitting

that I tried once. Too inflexible regarding positions and got it the

way. Of course I was accustomed to a simple masik having used a SOF so

perhaps prejudiced or just rigid thinking.

>

David Belako
I do like the instant control that the foam knee brace affords. However, I feel that I need more control in general paddling conditions where I don’t have to reach for the braces. I tried slipping in a piece of foam between the knee braces and coaming and even that felt better. 
You’re talking about removing the knee brace completely and replacing with a mask, not adding a piece. Correct?

Brian Nystrom

A foam masik works great in any boat with an ocean cockpit. I've installed them on Anas Acutas, Pintails, a Nordkapp HM, a Nigel Foster Silhouette and a Nigel Foster Rumour. We even brought foam masiks to Shetland with us and installed them in Skerray RMs we were borrowing using adhesive-backed Velcro. It's by far the most comfortable and versatile knee bracing method I've found.



Best Regards


Brian

Ed Lawson

Dave:


Yes. I started with a "bare" under-deck and added a strip of foam that goes from seam to seam. The height of the foam and width would be an individual matter. I like to have a couple a finger's width or more between the masik and my thigh, the forward edge ends just before the knee joint and is about 4" in width. Also, a thin strip of foam to prevent the knee cap from pressing against the deck when "engaged" with the masik. Foaming out the bulkhead and getting rid of the footpegs is nice too. Personally I very seldom "engage" the masik or the thigh braces in any kayak unless rolling so my outfitting may be for a looser fit than your preference.


Ed Lawson

David Belako

Thanks everyone. It appears the consensus is to remove the foam brace and install the Masik. I’ll get on it.

Dave

John Henry

I just acquired an 86 Anas Acuta, working on fitting it out now

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