c,
"Very" nice boat!

Aft cockpit deck rigging:
Tough for me to turn around to really acces anything back there on the water...definately neccessary to be able to secure your paddle/outrigger there for wet reentry....some advise nylon straps bolted down through grommets, parallel to sheer line on both sides...I think it looks ugly, and instead doubled up the bungie cord for this purpose, as well as running the line in an "X" inside the rectangle. Placement was five inches aft of the coaming (Pygmy Boats, Osprey stnd., recommended placement by Pygmy Boats)...however I think it should have been set further back because I place the bilge pump and paddle float there, and I need to be careful that the "gear" doesn't interfere with attatching the sprayskirt and sea sock. The bilge pump is notorious for getting in the way...so it generally sits back further, part of which ends up reaching the stern hatch.

Forward cockpit deck rigging:
On the Osprey Stnd., the cockpit is kind of large, and it is difficult to reach anything on the forward deck rigging...even in a deck bag....leaning forward and shifting weight rocks the boat in calm water, and in rough water, I'm usually paddling too hard to bother with creature comforts. A place to store a map is neccessary though, but from what I can tell without practical experience is it would be better placed over the sprayskirt in front of the paddler, rather than forward of the cockpit on the deck. A compass might proove useful, in the event that you need direction (wilderness expeditions, fog, night paddling, etc.). I've seen different placements for a compass, and different techniques for mounting them...I prefer the removable kind with lines that secure it to deck rigging...however there are permanent mounts that come with them or that you can make to match the "beautiful" strip pattern you achieved here. In the event of heavy fog, you would be better off placing the compass as close to the cockpit and in view as possible...or in your lap.

Deck Rigging Patterns:
The criss-cross patterns are aesthetically pleasing...many to choose from, I don't see any being more so than another. Brian Nystrom uses sliders...we had a similar discussion last week, someone was asking about spare paddle placement, and the discussion went from deck rigging to paddle carving...Brian uses the Greenland Styles, and width of blade, length of shaft all had something to do with the deck-rigging...scroll the archives for early this week and late last week for the thread...or search for the bulletin board contributions Brian made.

Deck Lines:
On my Wife's Osprey Standard, I have the painter lines attached to the boat with a "lark's head" knot. This leaves two lines available to run to the cockpit from both bow and stern. I run them through the padeyes that secure the bungie deck rigging, to keep 'em running closer to the sheer line. I tie the stern lines to the padeyes just forward of the cockpit with a trucker's hitch, or synching knot...I just pass the bow lines forward to the cockpit and secure them under the bungie with a simple knot to untie, so that when I beach, I can get to it easy to secure the boat, or for control when I get out. I don't use seperate lines for painters "and" deck lines.

I'm about at the stage you are at with my present project. Though I'll be varnishing in spring... Good Job on your Boat! Probably cause some serious rubber necking on the roof of your vehicle, going to and from the water. Hope no accidents occur.

Bill Cruz

: the pics below is the setup i have come up with. it is similar to others i
: have seen, but i have never been in a kayak before. will those with some
: experiance please make suggestions as to layout, purpose, and utility of
: this configuration.

: IE: should the hatches be less restricted? should the cross in front of the
: cockpit be closer or further away? should it be narrower or x inches apart

: i am planning on one continuous piece of 3/16 bungie. should it be multiple
: pieces?

: anything else i should know before drilling holes?

: i am planning on the kajak sport deckline fittings for the 3/16 bungie.

: where should the knot be located?

: thnaks a bunch, its finnaly coming together.

: http://www.members.aol.com/spydermanptrpkr/boat50.jpg

: http://www.members.aol.com/spydermanptrpkr/boat51.jpg