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Like many the only criticism I have with the espri are the poor rounded footrests which are difficult to lean on having no hard ridges.
So fashioned an adjustable set using ply and aluminium angle.
The footrest is shaped in ply with a side return to protect the little toe from leaning on the angle rail...finished rest has 1/4" holes, 3cms c to c in line [more than in pic], which allows plenty of adjustment
The rail is 40mm aluminium angle each is 275mm [dealer had 55cms in his bin for $5, so just cut in half]....this is drilled with 3/16" holes, 6cms c to c in line...and is attached to kayak with 2 wellnuts per side into major ridges of espri footrest moulding.
Note: After fitting and testing with different size crew members, the rail was cut just behind the rear wellnut and is finished at 170mm, and the full range of adjustment is still good, and the 2 wellnuts now give a firm fit to the boat
With sloping sides and different angles on sides, when rails were bolted on the footrests did not line up in the middle, so the finished article was fine tuned to correct alignment [variation from pic]
The portside rest has 1" packing under [as pic] to make footrest thicker for the feet; while the starboard rest has the packing now on top [not as pic] and this corrected the alignement and is not obvious to the eye.
Total outlay was $5 alum angle rail, $5.50 s/s bolts and wing nuts, scrap ply
So fashioned an adjustable set using ply and aluminium angle.
The footrest is shaped in ply with a side return to protect the little toe from leaning on the angle rail...finished rest has 1/4" holes, 3cms c to c in line [more than in pic], which allows plenty of adjustment
The rail is 40mm aluminium angle each is 275mm [dealer had 55cms in his bin for $5, so just cut in half]....this is drilled with 3/16" holes, 6cms c to c in line...and is attached to kayak with 2 wellnuts per side into major ridges of espri footrest moulding.
Note: After fitting and testing with different size crew members, the rail was cut just behind the rear wellnut and is finished at 170mm, and the full range of adjustment is still good, and the 2 wellnuts now give a firm fit to the boat
With sloping sides and different angles on sides, when rails were bolted on the footrests did not line up in the middle, so the finished article was fine tuned to correct alignment [variation from pic]
The portside rest has 1" packing under [as pic] to make footrest thicker for the feet; while the starboard rest has the packing now on top [not as pic] and this corrected the alignement and is not obvious to the eye.
Total outlay was $5 alum angle rail, $5.50 s/s bolts and wing nuts, scrap ply
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