KAPE Racing Seat with Platform
DESCRIPTION
Our standard fiberglass Racing seats (S111, S112) built onto a plywood platform instead of using the aluminium rails (link). This is constructed to be able equipping non-RACING kayaks with this seat type.
Comparing to the Touring Seat (link) this seat type gives an approx. 5 cm higher center of gravity. As the paddler is sitting higher, he/she can catch the water at a higher angle, letting practice a more racing-like paddling technique. Of course this higher center of gravity also decreases the stability of the boat. In overall, this means a more efficient paddling, but requires some experience in kayaking.
SET-UP & INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE
All parts of the seat are made by various plastics, aluminium or surface-treated plywood to extent its lifetime in humid conditions.
An aluminium mounting frame (S12R1) is fixed to the fiberglass seat by four little bolts. The frame is punched in two levels. This makes the seat to be adjustable in height at 2 positions. By this frame the seat is mounted to a plywood platform (S12R2) that is bonded inside the boat. This platform has a pair of rails, made by aluminium J-profiles. The framed seat should be fitted into these rails
Once you've pushed the framed seat into the rails and set to the right distance you can easily fix it by your hand using a bolt with nylon knurled nut (M111). This bolt goes through the frame and should be screwed into a threaded aluminium plate which is placed on the middle of the platform. The seat distance can be set in 7 positions.
The platform is supported from below to distribute weight and to avoid warping the wood.
AVAILABILITY
The Racing Seat with platform is an available choice with no extra charge for all TOURING/FITNESS models in non-STANDARD constructions and also for the Marino 565 in non-STANDARD constructions.
In the STANDARD construction of the above mentioned models the Racing Seat with Platform is also an available choice, but with extra charge.
We DO NOT use (nor recommend to use) this type of seat fixation for RACING kayaks. It is important to note, because it was a widespread way of fixing the seat in the past, and some manufacturer still use this solution. However it tends that the platform delaminates & torn out on the long run, especially under heavyweight paddlers, or under great stress. That’s why we use and highly recommend our original rail fixation (link) for RACING boats. With TOURING/FITNESS boats paddling does not stress the seat so heavily, so we have experenced no problem with this platform fixation so far.
