A change=compromise=surgery

Moved my ass forward in my yak and that meant moving my footplate, which means that I needed to be able to reach deeper into the hull to make adjustments tight.

Call it a squeeze,,,

“Well,,” I think to myself, “I made those hatches and set upt the frame for them. Maybe it time to put that front on in use.”

The biggest problem is its gonna require surgery. Surgery means knives, and this is 12oz Ballistic nylon with 4 layers of two part Polyurethane soaked into it and almost a year of cure time. Imagine doing surgery on a Rhinoceros or African Bull Elephant.

I’m not 100% certain, but I would imagine that any surgeon would remember their first time cutting into flesh, and the finality of it.

That first cut was the hardest.

Granted, this isn’t fleah and blood, but Serena does have a certain amount of character in her and she was created by my hands and imagination. I most definitely have some emotion tied into her as well. (Fear, excitement, maybe even some transcendence; I have had moments of Zen when paddling in certain places.)

Cuts made.

The hatch is on the right hand side there, and you can see the gasket material on it.While things are curing, I’m making the delrin blocks that will act as latches and hold downs. Two fixed on the bowside and two rotating on the cockpit side.

I figure to use a section of rawhide for a retaining loop inside. And now have even more reason to utilize floatbags. That’s a rather large ‘leak’ waiting to happen.

But advantages are being able to adjust footholds better, and easier loading of gear for the eventual camp-float.

I may even breakdown and purchase a sliding footrest set. Installing them now will be cake. (Supposed to do this before skinning, but I tried the plate and liked it, so skipped that part.)

Next phase is to cover the outer hatch to blend with the deck. Extra skin and some poly with pigment. Easy peasy.