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Stealth / I upgraded the seat
« on: July 15, 2021, 11:24:10 AM »
I originally got the back band thing for my yack. To be honest for me it did not work. So I finally broke down and got a Surf to Summit seat through my local West Marine. I also got 4 SS Pad eyes. For those of you who haven't drill on your Stealth, here is my advice. Avoid screws if you can't put a washer/nut on the back side. My experience is well nuts are much better for anything that is going to get used with a lot of pressure against it. I have been switching to Water poof kayak rivets (look for the ones that have a small rubber or silicone washer under the head) Sure they cost slightly more, but it is worth it. Pad Eye's I went with SS for two reasons: 1. I can see exactly where those seat straps need to be . 2. The seat position is going to be under more stress so put something with it that reflects it. and 3, that is all they had.
So figure where you want the 4 Pad Eyes, mark and drill the first hole. I went with keeping the pad eyes inline with the hull, as I notcied on some yaks they are set this way for the seats (hey I did some homework). I wanted the straps set back further, nothing worse as those straps are and stretch you will notice you can't get the seat any tighter, so make them longer than what you think you need. Set the rivet in the pad eye, and swivel the pad eye to where you want your second hole. The pad eye will act as you guide for hole #2. Now rivet them in place. Do this for all 4 pad eyes.
Seat set up: Place your seat as far rearward as possible, and set your rear straps. Pull in slack but don't over tighten. Now do the same thing with the front straps. Keep the seat as rearward as possible. And begin to tighten them a little at a time. Depending on the seat, you may get get some side support, and you may need to adjust it so the two sides are equal. Sit in it, see if works for you. Your seat should be slightly forward, this aids you paddling. I don't cut seat straps, I zip tie them, but tape or velcro would work as well. Are you happy with it? do you need to adjust your rudder peddles?
I haven't been on the water yet, but I can already tell it is an improvement.
So figure where you want the 4 Pad Eyes, mark and drill the first hole. I went with keeping the pad eyes inline with the hull, as I notcied on some yaks they are set this way for the seats (hey I did some homework). I wanted the straps set back further, nothing worse as those straps are and stretch you will notice you can't get the seat any tighter, so make them longer than what you think you need. Set the rivet in the pad eye, and swivel the pad eye to where you want your second hole. The pad eye will act as you guide for hole #2. Now rivet them in place. Do this for all 4 pad eyes.
Seat set up: Place your seat as far rearward as possible, and set your rear straps. Pull in slack but don't over tighten. Now do the same thing with the front straps. Keep the seat as rearward as possible. And begin to tighten them a little at a time. Depending on the seat, you may get get some side support, and you may need to adjust it so the two sides are equal. Sit in it, see if works for you. Your seat should be slightly forward, this aids you paddling. I don't cut seat straps, I zip tie them, but tape or velcro would work as well. Are you happy with it? do you need to adjust your rudder peddles?
I haven't been on the water yet, but I can already tell it is an improvement.