In message
"Ewan Scott" wrote:


"ChipsCheeseandMayo" wrote in message
oups.com...
I love my new boat, however the deck is quite hard to get off and this
makes me nervous. I am used to being lazy and just pulling the deck
release loop towards my body to get out. With my new deck I cannot do
this- I need to pull it towards the front of my boat with a reasonable
amount of force. Kneeing the deck off will not work as I can't get my
knees out

I figure if I attatch a length of webbing to the inside of the front of
my cockpit and make sure it is hanging outside the cockpit when I
attatch me deck this would solve the (potential) problem.

I figure a length of webbing (or maybe a loop) and just drill a hole
and bolt it through. Any issues? Will it make my deck leak? Will it
introduce a weakness into the hull causing it to split in half when I
use it? Will it jus rip off?

Comments appreciated...

p.s. I know the real solution is to roll, but I have currently mislaid
that ability. Plus I am a bit of an underwater panicker and need to get
out NOW and not faff about...

The Inazone used to come with a webbing loop at the front of the cockpit
that does exaclty what you say. If you do pop rivit a loop to the front of
the cockpit rim, make sure to reinforce it with washers top and bottom, file
down the tip of the sheared rivet shaft, and I'd cover the rivet with
silicone sealant.

Plan B - buy a deck that fits a little looser.

My deck has a cross deck strap that I can tension to suit the width of the
cockpit. In a worst case scenario I can yank it and it will pull the deck
off from the sides of the cockpit.

One of our club was unfortunate enough to get pinned, with the bow in the
air, and his body pinned flat on the back deck. He could just reach the
cross-strap and release the deck. He would still be there if the only
release had been at the far end of the cockpit.

Unfortunately such decks are getting hard to find.


Plab C, get some rolling practice in :-)

Ewan Scott



--
Alan Adams

http://www.nckc.org.uk/