: Thanks
: I tried responding yesterday, computer crash,
: Where was I?
: Rubber hinges sound good. If I hadn't started what I'm doing, I'd
: definitely use this method.
: Backing with aluminum strip, pop rivets, good. Hypalon. I googled
: it. The plant in Texas is closing. I also couldn't find anything
: thicker than 1/8",
: Multiple layers makes me think mold and mildew.
: I did come across an image of rubber gate hinges made from a pair
: of beach sandals. I suppose the obvious solution would be pieces
: of old car tires.
: --One thing that really helps any sloppiness from rubber hinges are
: the rudder cables--this will keep the peddles in place.
: -Definitely use the self-adjusting method.
: Might also be a good idea to add a patch of rubber behind my hinges
: as support.

: Yesterday I added the first layer of carbon fiber over the tubes
: glued in place, worked well. (Did I mention that the drinking
: straws I'd used to align the tubes pulled out clean.

: The first few (failures) times I saturated the carbon fiber (CF)
: then laid it on. Goopy, sloppy, difficult to handle. This time I
: brushed some epoxy onto the tops of the tubes, and surrounding
: plywood, then laid on the CF. There are some voids that will
: fill when adding more layers.

: I think I've got some better ideas--for the Hinge method.
: First, forget cutting the tubes to length. instead I should just
: glue or tack a 5" tube, then 2-3 layers Carbon Fiber and
: epoxy right on top. Then after it cures, cut out the notches for
: the opposite hinge.
: This way I'm not fussing with little strips of CF.

: Biggest hassle when a peddle breaks or falls off
: (not-so-SmartTrack), is losing the foot brace and losing the
: tracking (my hull without a rudder is like a coracle) Being able
: to lock down the cables inside the cockpit would solve the
: tracking loss, and perhaps a simple cleat permanently attached
: to the floor of the cockpit could be an emergency foot brace in
: a jam. (anyone who doesn't see loss of foot bracing as a problem
: isn't getting all the ooomph! out of their paddling.)

: Will

Btw, if you're going to make hinges, can't understand why, but but if you do, just put a full length piece of tube on each half (bulkhead and pedal) and once the resin hardens, grind off the pieces that arn't needed. This way the tube is always aligned and you don't have to fight with tiny pieces.

Bill H.