One person's daily setup SIB outfit (Aerotec) - Page 4

Fenlander · 29 July 2021, 22:58

Made the seat up today. I used a trial plank before cutting the actual seat to sort the length and plastic rail mount positioning plus the amount that needed chamfering off for the seat ends to nestle neatly on the rail flaps... so the support is shared between the plastic brackets and the seat bearing weight onto the flap material.

Also decided to use seam tape to reinforce the rail material so the seat has a greater thickness to go at before it rubs through anywhere near the tube material.

As strength wasn't crucial in bonding these pieces decided to use the single part glue that I hadn't wanted to use from the seat kit. In truth it was great to use being thinner than most so easier to brush the thin coats on... its bond was instant and fierce.

My Ukrainian seat (via Germany) is dark brown compared to the OE forward seat being black... but once its cushion arrives so little will be visible I didn't bother to paint to match... I just found the nearest stained varnish I had to seal the cut ends.

Oldman2 · 30 July 2021, 02:19

Looking very nice David, that will take a long time to wear through if at all. I notice you just had to get the yellow wheels into shot

Fenlander · 30 July 2021, 20:06

I'm sure those wheels move about themselves to stay in shot.

The icing so to speak arrived today... the seat cushion for my (as opposed to her) new seat. Went for the Bengar brand again and great service from them in Germany... ordered Tues later PM... arrived this am. German VAT deducted and no UK VAT or customs.... result.

My main reason for getting this brand is their thick and high density foam. See test with a 56lb weight where it hardly deforms.

Oldman2 · 30 July 2021, 22:09

You will be getting asked "who or what is Bengar" a fair bit but it looks even thick enough for my behind in a chop

So thats the fettling finished for now....Ah no its handles to fit next isnt it.

Fenlander · 31 July 2021, 11:17

Yep just the handles left to do but the humidity is very high this weekend... and the UPVC front door "gearbox" has failed in the closed position so I'm working on some non-destructive mystical locksmithery skills at the moment to open and resolve.

We have deferred or possibly cancelled the final item on the to-do which was the bow canopy. On balance we decided the downsides (for us) outweighed the benefit given the Aerotec is very deep and reassuring at the bow in terms of shelter and a dry ride... if there is any degree of splash it's all at the transom end.

Re Bengar I could of course change the boat name to that... or become their paid UK influencer with a steady supply of free goods.

Fenlander · 31 July 2021, 17:54

Some new stainless screws arrived in the post today which reminded me...

Like some folks have commented with the Elling OE seats the screws in my Bengar one were smaller than they might have been so I upgraded from their 3.5x27mm to 4x35mm.

Also a pic of the seat cushion snap clasp straps.

Fenlander · 03 August 2021, 11:47

Rear lift handle prep day yesterday following on from post #56 where I planned to cut down some Honwave ones. Decided on a length of approx 21cm down from the original 29cm and a slight height trim. Initially glued the separated ends to the new size. Then made up a black overlay from a scrap fabric section as the blue really grated with my OCD and it would greatly strengthen them. Glued it on oversize to trim later. It was a pig to feed that through the handle when coated with glue without it sticking in the wrong place.

Finally trimmed the excess and they await the next sub 60% humidity period to glue on the boat.

Oldman2 · 03 August 2021, 12:02

That looks as I would expect very nice sir, much better in black too

Fenlander · 03 August 2021, 12:23

Thanks... next humidity window predicted 4pm tomorrow so I'm just going to finalise and mark the positions then sit on my hands until the humidity meter says go.

Fenlander · 04 August 2021, 18:35

A fairly uneventful job to fit the rear lift handles. Re positioning I had planned on fixing to the cones but when I rigged up a bit of test rope it was surprising how slightly spreading my arms wider caught a twinge in my iffy shoulder that all this weight saving is about. So near the transom they went.

As it's 7 days since the floor strap mod I fitted and inflated the floor for the first time. It sits in much tighter so well worthwhile. In the image the floor sits just below that tape seam on the tube which is an indicator it's in the right place... before it was above the seam. Looks much tighter how it stretches the outer floor material now when looked at underneath.

I'll not roll it up until the lift handles have had their 7 day full cure... then that's about it done for the 2021 mods... time for the Bombard Bengar to hit the water and see how the tweaks work for us.

Max... · 05 August 2021, 08:41

Nice work David, must inflate mine one day or the year will be gone!

TmMorris · 05 August 2021, 08:47

That does look very nicely done.

May I ask where you acquired the fabric handles from as I think they will make better inner grab handles for mine as they won't get in the way?

Yabadabadoo · 05 August 2021, 09:50

Looks stunning and some great practical mods, is there enough movement in the sliding seat to balance the boat one up?

Would’ve suggested the same Re handle position, kinder to the body to keep arms in a neutral position - straight down or close to.

Fenlander · 05 August 2021, 10:42

Cheers all. Max you must get out for a blast at least once this year... I forget though... have you lost your carry it inflated on the roof type vehicle?

TM they are Honwave handles from Bridger Marine listed on Ebay...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/193128933...MAAOSwMMldjyqT

As you will gather from my efforts cutting them down they are a little large (backing almost 30cm long)... obviously the wish to change from blue was a personal thing but involved extra work and fabric cost.

If doing again where I wanted black and a smaller size I would get these from Bengar in Germany...

https://bengar.de/en/ultra-leichter-...max-25-kg.html

Yabba I chose the sliding seat type so I had a little flexibility re posn holding the tiller rather than balance. I don't know if you can get them but a much longer "rail" would be needed to cover the solo/two up seated positions.

On the rare occasions I've been solo in the Aerotec I've sat on the right tube and just offset the tank and heavy anchor/kit bag further forward and to the left a bit. Also used a shortish tiller extension.

Max... · 05 August 2021, 18:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Cheers all. Max you must get out for a blast at least once this year... I forget though... have you lost your carry it inflated on the roof type vehicle?

The old Disco soldiers on, but I'm at two extremes with my water fix these last couple of years - on the paddle board (the simplest, cheapest, faff-less way I know to get on the water) or pay a bloke the equivalent of about £1 per 7 seconds of actual course time (I worked it out) to pull me on a lake behind his 350hp V8!

We will try for at least one day - main issue is I've lost my Chief Mate (son) to his car/girlfriend/x-box and he's off up your way for three years come September too.

Fenlander · 05 August 2021, 18:17

>>> I've lost my Chief Mate (son) to his car/girlfriend/x-box and he's off up your way for three years come September too.

Wow... time rushes on! Cambridge?

Max... · 05 August 2021, 19:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

>>> I've lost my Chief Mate (son) to his car/girlfriend/x-box and he's off up your way for three years come September too.

Wow... time rushes on! Cambridge?

Too right, we ain't getting any younger, yes Cambridge.

IT. Little sod will have a Sunseeker before he's 25 I'm sure. Meanwhile I've got a ten year old rubber tub!

Fenlander · 05 August 2021, 19:34

Congratulations due to him for that.... now the hard work starts... and of course SIBs to punts eh.

Max... · 05 August 2021, 21:41

Cheers David, yes. Seems a long time ago that you sold me that brilliant old Zodiac too. We had a lot of fun in that for sure.

Fenlander · 14 August 2021, 19:26

Well the proof of the pudding...

Couldn't manage the 4hrs coast round trip for first trial of the improvements but out on the local Ouse and it's backwaters Thursday.

No doubt carrying the Aerotec with the floor out is a back saver but it does add 5mins to the setup time putting it back in and faffing with the 8 straps... worth it for me though. The between tubes handles behind the transom are spot on for lifting to put the transom wheels on as a one man process.

Having questioned the need for a captain's seat and championed tube sitting for the past ten years I'm an instant convert to the added seat particularly with that excellent Bengar cushion.

Gave the prop a polish in the "not meant for navigation" shallow backwaters so a good chance to spray it again... I like a shiny prop. Polished the outboard leg too for a bit more speed next time.

So yet a successful outfit evolution... just hope the opportunities to get it onto the sea don't slip through our fingers like 2020.

Sorry about the sideways image... I just can't get an image taken in portrait to display correctly here.