"Splashski" Cockpit Hood
Tried a 'Splashy' when canoeing? Sure you have. Now for a SplashSki, for surf-skis!
Splashski Hood
The Problem
I paddled a Mako6 last season and a Mako Elite this season... In both skis I added closed cell foam in front of the rudder pedals to reduce the volume of water in the cockpit.
One drawback was that the juice bottle (provided by Fenn) that fits in the cut-out was partially hidden by the foam. During my longest race to date, the 2008 Cape Point Challenge, I could not see how much juice was left in the bottom half of the bottle, 'overdrank' and spent the last hour of a 5-hour race juice-less - not cool!
Closed cell filler
So I decided to do something that would a) keep water coming over the nose of the ski from splashing into the footwell and b) allow me to see my juice bottle and cockpit area.
The Solution - the "SplashSki" Cockpit Hood
The SplashSki cockpit hood is made from 3mm clear Perspex, bent to shape by a fabricator over a mould. A built-in curved lip on the paddler's end further displaces water coming over the cockpit and into the footwell. The hood is positioned using the existing bung hole as a locating point (thanks, Dale L - cool idea!).
Perspex Hood
It weighs approx 400 grams - not much weight for a potential water displacement of 10 - 12 liters?
The hood is attached by a length of 20mm Velcro tape that runs in a horseshoe-shape around the front edge of the cockpit, with the 'loop' side stuck to the ski, and the 'hook' side stuck to the cockpit hood. If paddling without the hood in place, the 'loop' side of the Velcro will then not catch on any fabrics, such as paddling shorts, etc.
The water bottle then relocates into the original 'slot', but it lies at an angle, allowing me to see the bottom of the bottle thru' the pedals, and it is tied down using the same bungee cord provided, but using a single loop (see repositioned bottle pic). It comes out easily over the pedals.
And how well does it work?
Going out through waves, it keeps the ski noticeably drier, allowing less water (weight) into the footwell, and thus keeps the boat lighter/more responsive. I tried it at Muizenberg/Sunrise beach, for an hour of ins-and-outs, and it definitely kept the boat drier when a wave broke over the bow or crashing out through biggish, broken foam.
In windy upwind conditions with a sharp chop/swell, it sheds waves that come over the footwell area, with the curved lip then displacing the water over the sides.
I have tried it in only one (moderate) downwind thus far (a MIllers run) and it works well - keeping water out of the FOOTWELL part of the cockpit, either when burying the nose, or just keeping occasional 'slop' out. It has no effect on the bigger problem with down winds on most ski's - 'sinking back' off of a missed wave, the wave overtaking the (low part of the) surfski, and flooding the SEAT AREA, then the footwell. But it does what it's designed to do. The addition of the closed cell foam helps displace this 'downwind slop' in the footwell, at least.
So the combination of the 'base' closed cell foam ahead of the footplate, UNDERNEATH the water bottle, and the Splash-Ski hood, keeps much water out of the footwell.
Repositioned bottle
On the car, the hood sits just ahead of the front roof rack, so I do not need to take it off whatsoever.
Attaching the hood
The hood is now attached very firmly: in my first attempt at attaching it to the ski, I used extra-length stainless screws to the same diameter as the original screws that hold the carry-strap and one of the bungee straps. Thus no need to drill any holes in the ski whatsoever, as I wanted to keep it 'spec'.
But this proved to be overkill; the Velcro-only attachment of the hood is so strong that no other attachment method is necessary, and the ski can be (carefully) lifted using the hood only, such is Velcro's strength!
Remounting
Ingress/Egress: the hood does not affect remounting the whatsoever - the feet need to be bent slightly more - the curved lip, whilst shedding water, also prevents any scraped shins, though in reality the hood sits well clear of legs and feet. It ends a little way behind the pedals.
Future Improvements
Further refinements needed:
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The hood will be given a slightly raised profile at the paddlers (raised) edge;
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A few paddling mates (the 'jury') think it will look (and perform) better if the curved lip end of the hood is raised to the same height as the bow of the ski, giving a nice flat 'line'. The hood currently appears to dip down slightly towards the pedals, apparently spoiling the aesthetics! Sorry, guys!
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I will add a small carry strap - using pre-existing screws - to aid carrying both the ski AND paddle when walking the ski from car to beach. This is because while it's easy to reach in and grab the foot strap to carry the ski, I have already shortened the overly-long foot strap, and cannot grab it AND the paddle that is resting across the sides (hell, this sounds complex!). Pic to follow...
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I will also slightly chamfer the leading edge which sticks 3mm proud of the deck so it does not spray up any water.
This was a prototype - version 2 will follow the cockpit coaming better, and use a complete 'horseshoe' of Velcro.
The 'jury' reckons I should make SplashSki version 2 in 'smoked' Perspex, so more pics to follow!
Comments from surfski.info version 1!
| Date | Reader | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2009-04-08 08:18:49 | Hiro Colombani | Brilliant, I need one, red tinted please 8) |
| 2009-04-08 10:14:04 | natalie | So basically just copy the new kayak center double??? only difference is the colour! |
| 2009-04-08 10:29:46 | Rob Mousley | [quote]So basically just copy the new kayak center double??? only difference is the colour![/quote] Folks have been playing with this idea for years. Even if it was a "copy", it's not meant to be a commercial product - it's just Chris building something for his Fenn ski! And sharing it with us, which is great! Thanks Chris! :) |
| 2009-04-08 12:03:08 | Chris Grinton | I have not seen the new Kayak centre double - this is a product of original thought! But many years in a K2, and owning a K1 canoe, I use a splashy extensively, and want something 'similar' to keep water out of my ski. |
| 2009-04-08 12:59:20 | mark | As a discerning paddler, the "cockpit hood", posses a few immediate questions for me. 1) With the cover, covering both the handle and foot straps and more than half of the cockpit, how do you re-mount the ski in the surf? What do you hold on to. 2) How do you get your legs back in to the cockpit, when you have to get your backside in and down in the seat before you do anything else. As a seasoned paddler, I would rather roll under a very big wave, (saving the ski from damage by getting my weight off the ski) and be able to right the ski quickly and get going again. The speed of being able to do this should out weigh carrying water that you can clear once you get going. While there are no spec's for open ocean racing there are general safety spec's that have been adopted from the ILS spec's, for open ocean racing by the NSSC. One of these being that any deflector with an edge radius of less than 4mm should be protected by a cover with a wall thickness of min 2mm and an ID of 6mm. Whether these specs are enforced or not, I would hate to be hit by the deflector on a ski going backwards in the surf. Being made of perspex I shudder to think of the implications if it breaks. I think that some of these innovations are not bad at all, but sometimes the safety aspects are not given the attention it deserves. We have a saying in our factory. "For the sake of a gadget, do not sacrifice safety or strength". We have between 60 and 100 double ski's starting off the beach in races in KZN, and quite often starting together. It is noticeable that no matter how strong the paddling combination, the new double ski's on the market with the built in deflector on the front and back deck, are very slow to mount, remount and get going in the surf. A new model spec ski for lifesaving also has this deflector on the cockpit and from what we have seen so far, it has its limitations in the surf. I give it one thing. It looks pretty neat. |
| 2009-04-08 13:33:10 | Rob Mousley | Hmm... Mark's got a point - what if a wave dumping on the ski smashed the perspex? Sharp pieces of perspex flying around might spoil your whole day. I've got a date to do a downwind with Chris this weekend so I'll have more pics and I'll knock him off so he can demonstrate remounting with the hood in place :D |
| 2009-04-08 15:13:43 | Jody | Hi Chris, Can you please elaborate on the cloised cell foam in front of the foot plate? Shaping? How do you stop it from floating off? Thanks, Jody |
| 2009-04-08 17:03:51 | Greg Philps | Why not have a customised Splashie made by Tripper ? I seem to recall them being used on an APEX double at the PE 2 EL Challenge ? |
| 2009-04-08 17:17:50 | James Murray | Neat workmanship. What kind of adhesive was used to fasten the velcro to boat? |
| 2009-04-08 19:01:59 | postal256 | Natalie, Van Dusen makes a nice boat called the Mohican for several years now. It has a surfski style cockpit but is still 'closed' in comparison to normal skis. They also use a sailboat style retractable bailer and drastic deck cutaways for your stroke (both of which others are starting to use). Heck, I think you can even get it with a rotating K1 seat in it. Does that mean everyone is copying them? Good job Chris. Did you shape the mold yourself? |
| 2009-04-09 01:32:59 | Chris Grinton | [quote]Can you please elaborate on the cloised cell foam in front of the foot plate? Shaping? How do you stop it from floating off? [/quote] Closed cell foam was off-cuts from a local yacht-bulder, free of charge. Shaped by cutting it with a hacksaw blade, or Stanley knife, then bonded together with Genkem adhesive, and given a light sanding down just to make it neat. [quote]What kind of adhesive was used to fasten the velcro to boat?[/quote] The Velcro comes with an adhesive backing - a very transparent strong glue that can be removed with the tape without leaving much/any residue. [quote]1) With the cover, covering both the handle and foot straps and more than half of the cockpit, how do you re-mount the ski in the surf? What do you hold on to. [/quote] I've use the gunwales (sides) of the ski, with my paddles accross the ski: have never used a handle before. I think the hood covers less than 40% of the total cockpit. [quote]2) How do you get your legs back in to the cockpit, when you have to get your backside in and down in the seat before you do anything else. As a seasoned paddler, I would rather roll under a very big wave, (saving the ski from damage by getting my weight off the ski) and be able to right the ski quickly and get going again. The speed of being able to do this should out weigh carrying water that you can clear once you get going. [/quote] I simply climb back in - side-saddle - jump up, bum in to seat, swing both legs up and straight into footwell. I've never seen anyone in CT purposefully roll a ski GOING OUT thru surf? What I (and others) have done is if approaching bathers COMING IN, and the ski gets sideways (out of control), THEN rolling the ski to arrest its progress. THICKNESS: Regarding specs, the 3mm feels strong enough - intuitively, not scientifically - to withstand big waves. It has a convex shape, further adding to it's strength. I can't see it splintering into shards; rather - i.m.o., it could suffer a crack at it's weakest point, but would not shatter like glass? 5mm Perspex is avail, but seemed like overkill. What WOULD prevent possible splintering is using LEXAN, though it's more expensive. In closing, I went out on a calm day and tried 5 remounts next to the harbour wall - it had no impact on my time to get back into the ski. But will demonstrate it to Rob, for clarity. |
| 2009-04-09 08:14:28 | Rob Mousley | Hi Chris [quote] I've never seen anyone in CT purposefully roll a ski GOING OUT thru surf?[/quote] Very seldom happens down here in CT, but they often do it in Durban. The idea is - when a massive wave is about to dump on you, you roll off the ski, roll it upside down, get underneath it and hold onto the footstraps. The wave breaks, goes over you, you roll the ski upright, leap in & take off before the next big wave arrives! |
| 2009-04-09 08:41:21 | Andrew Neal | The only time I've ever been off my ski in the breakers I had fallen off on the previous wave and tried to hold onto my ski. Not pretty...I'd rather sprint like hell and try to punch it. At least you then have some serious momentum to get over/through and even if you swim you should clear that wave. With flipping the ski it tends to pick up the ski because it's so bouyant and if you are hanging on something or someone is going to get broken! |
| 2009-04-09 17:58:55 | Stuart Knaggs | First - not exactly on the topic but I just wanted to say something about seeing the juice bottle. I don't think you should be watching your consumption in a race. It is important that you develop a "drinking habit" and then calculate what you will need for a particular length race. Limiting your intake can only cause problems. Also, only 2 litres for the Cape Point seems a bit meagre to me. So, having dealt with that, there should be no problem with making the hood out of glass (or carbon). Easier to mould, you can put a round edge on it and it certainly won't shatter. And a carbon one will have as much "bling" factor as a perspex one. Having said that, I really don't have a problem with waves coming in the front of my cockpit, except when going out through surf. That only happens once in a race (usually), so I'm not really sure of the advantage unless you are going to put a skirt on like the Swedes do for winter time to keep warm. (that doesn't sound right but I'm sure you know what I mean) Stuart |
| 2009-04-10 08:51:05 | Chris Grinton | More answers to questions: [quote]Jody:How do you stop it from floating off? [/quote] the foam was kept in the ski with a very thing bungy, that followed the near exact route of the pedal bungee, but was tied onto the back of the pedals. This stopped it from floating oout when flooding the ski [quote]postal256:Did you shape the mold yourself?[/quote] No, i took it to a fabricator here in Cape Town, left the ski with him for a half-day, and showed him what I wanted. After I scouted around the factory, I found an old motorcycle windscreen, with a curled lip, so was very easy to exlplain what I wanted using the windscreen. He got it near spot-on th efirst time! I then decided to scoot the hood forward by 6 centimeters, and have the bung actually pass thru' the forward (leading) edge of the hood, giving it a cool attachment / location point (thanka again - Dale!). So version 2 will be an even better fit. [quote]Stuart Knaggs: It is important that you develop a "drinking habit" and then calculate what you will need for a particular length race[/quote] Could not agree more - have sone 3 Cape Epics (8 day stage races) where knowing your 'fuel needs' was critical. Used a camelback and waterbottles; could feel weight of camelback on my back, and could see waterbottles, which helped. But I agree; 2 liters (actually 2.25L) in th e'fridge' bottle that keithe Fenn supplies might be a bit meagre! Maybe an extra bottle, or simply a 3 litre bladder. [quote]Greg Philips:Why not have a customised Splashie made by Tripper [/quote] Unsure how to attach this? I used a Tripper Splashy for my K2 and K1, but on a ski it would need a 'coaming' to slip over, which does not exist? I did think of a hard solution (SplashSki hood) and soft solution (foam 'skirt'), the soft solution for the bigger problem of water coing over the side in bigish downwinds. But I've hit a blank on how to design it. Am sure the 'brains-trust' out there will come up with something both practical and elegant! ;D [quote]Stuart Knaggs:That only happens once in a race (usually)[/quote] I agree, though we have some races that are 3 laps, with a run around a pole on the beach each lap, out thru' the surf each time. And then some downwinds (Milnerton) where you start out thru' biggish surf, and near the end you go thru' confused slop to reach the biggish waves at the finish (Blouberg), and it's that confused 'counter chop' near the finish that again can dump accross the bow BEFORE coming in. [quote]Andrew Neal:At least you then have some serious momentum [/quote] Agree - this is how we do it down in CT - maximum momentum to get thru' broken surf. |
| 2009-04-11 21:32:48 | Rich Kohler | We had a full zip up splashy make for the Apex that we were sponsored for the PE2EL 2008. Unfortunately the surf was flat so there was little need for it. It is very similar to a K1 zipup Splash cover and was double Velcro to the top of the cockpit. It was made up by Quantum sail makers in Cape Town. I believe we will see more of this kind in the future as it works amazingly well and here is why. 1: When going through a wave you become buoyant and tend to float out of the seat. With a splashy you actually get pushed down into the seat by the weight of the water making you nice and stable. Same thing when you nose dive down a big run. gone are the days of curling your toes around the foot straps to stay in the boat. 2: After passing through a wave all you do is raise your legs a little and any water on the top of the splashy just runs off the sides. 3: Any water that does seep through the zip, very little, just goes out the self bailers. 4: It also keeps the sun off your legs which is an added bonus. 5: If you fall out you just slip out the splashy which has elastic around the waist. 6: When getting back on you just have to unzip it before getting in which is very simple.(did practice this) 7: Any drinking system tubes can be put through a small hole cut in the cover and the splashy also ensures the drinking system never gets washed off in the surf. Only drawback could be the few seconds it takes to zip up before racing through the surf. |
| 2009-04-12 09:06:25 | Chris Grinton | Hey Rich Any chance of a couple of pics, to give us a better idea? Certainly sounds like a very workable (proven) idea. I do think the quest for fast(er) ski's will continue, but may take 2nd place to ski's that are more ergonomic and drier. Cheers |
| 2009-04-14 15:23:22 | Greg Philps | Instead of a full splash cover like Richard's I thought about having a splashcover made (by tripper)that only covers as far as the footrest i.e. just before the peddles. Would also attach with velcro. So would work similar to Chris's but not as dangerous in big surf (in KZn we often have to negotiate large shorebreaks and midbreaks both coming in and going out -see photois from Dolphin Coast on this website) - would also be able to put drinking system and or bottle underneath the splashie. |
| 2009-04-17 05:12:16 | Charles Peddie | This will upset a few guys here but come on people - we're paddling ocean going skis here - getting wet is all part of the game - harden up !! 8) |
| 2009-04-17 10:33:15 | Greg Philps | Charles With all due respect !!! - It is not about getting wet! It's about being able to get out and in through big surf without stalling due to excess water in the buckets (as much as 20 litres in a double if you have short legs)and not washing out or stalling in big downwind conditions. No need for them in flat conditions and where the launches are easy ! This is generally not the case in KZN especially on the north ans south coast ! |
| 2009-04-19 11:47:41 | Charles Peddie | Do you really think Hank, Oscar, Dawid, Matt etc would be seen dead with one of your gay covers on their boats - I think you need to go back to your bath tub mate !! |
| 2009-04-19 13:16:45 | ted | Hey Charles, The Epic V12 has a cowling!! |
| 2009-04-20 09:37:40 | Chris Grinton | [quote]Do you really think Hank, Oscar, Dawid, Matt etc would be seen dead with one of your gay covers on their boats - I think you need to go back to your bath tub mate !! [/quote] You gave me a good chuckle, Charles! But the innovations in surf-ski design do seem to be headed in two ways (i.m.h.o.): 1. lower-volume ski's, more of that later. 2. drier boats, both by improved scuppers (Anderson Bailers, triple scuppers (Red 7) and scupper-bullets, (draining water OUT of the ski) as well as cowlings/hoods (preventing excess water getting IN). So I reckon this could be a future trend. It's called p-r-o-g-r-e-s-s ! ;) Stay tuned. |
| 2009-04-21 07:20:42 | Charles Peddie | Hi Chris - thanks for your reply which is indeed quite correct and you are perhaps smack on with the way the boats are heading - I was sitting on a Frid/Sat night after a couple of beers and thought I might poke some fun but think Greg and maybe Ted got abit upset - sorry guys, I do apologise. Personally I would like to merely see improved draining through better scuppers but no doubt improved boat design will see more and more V12 type developments with cowlings. Regards, Charles |
| 2009-04-23 12:14:11 | Jamii Hamlin | All credit to Chris for this endeavours to stay a little drier and experiment with his creation. On Tuesday evening I test paddled the new Elite Db in a chilly downwind and was appauld how wet I got in the front seat and how long it took to drain out again.(Note to Keith, please make my ordered Elite with bigger scupper holes!) Now before everyone shouts at me for stating this- I always use a wave deflector on all my skis being the Red7 Pro and Millenium db ski, that shed the carpet of water off the deck before it reaches the footwell. The point being that regardless of ski design the fact is you get wet paddling and to reduce the amount of water filling a single well makes an enourmous different to your comfort or performance. I recall that Lee McGregor paddled an experimental ski in the 2004 World Cup Cape Town that pioneered the cowling and splash cover concept for ski design. The all carbon ski was shorter in lenght and looked similar to a K1, basically incorporating a moulded cowling covering the foot well and shin area with an integril lip mould around the seat well for the slash cover to clip under. Lee had co-developing this with Martin Keet former owner of Max Paddles and whilst it was a pioneering idea at the time it never progresssed further that this one-off as the company was sold a year or two later. So to credit Kayak Centre as the author of this concept/design is a unwarrented claim. Added to this many of the commercial touring kayak have for several years have produced ridgid cowling & splashy skirts combinations and if you were to research Ekismo kayaks designs as their creations would possibly predate many ski or kayak manufacturers designs. Still it is great that paddlers like Chris & Richard incubate these ideas for themselves, as manufacturers will soon realized that there is still scope to produce accessories that further improve upon their current offerings. |