Hi Malcolm,

Thank you kindly for your reply. I like it when home cooked food (Schade's braces) tastes better, costs less and is healthier than the processed stuff (Werner, SmartTrack & Keepers braces). I like barefooted on those rare warm days in Washington state. Once, I found my Tevas didn't fit, forcing me to race 5 miles barefoot with smarttrack pedals--ooh, that hurt. I like also to think that having the pressure on the center of the kayak rather than the hull sides might cause less deflection of the boat's course during forward stroking.

WRT to that SOF you haven't finished, I claim credit to seriously outrageous delay with this Arctic Tern 14. I bought it in 2003 and last worked on it in 2007. I began work on it again Friday, April 8 & I hope to finish it by the end of May, perhaps even April. I wish both of us luck.

Jeff

: Good day Jeff,

: I built the one you are referring to, and I absolutely loved it.
: The ONLY reason I switched is because I went with a rudder, and
: the brace of course doesn't work with a rudder. I actually kept
: the brace and plan to install it on Amy's SOF kayak that I
: really really need to get off my butt and finish.

: The footbrace gives you plenty of surface to brace against, and is
: very comfortable with bare feet. It is easily adjustable, and it
: doesn't slip once set. I like it because you can put lots of
: force against it when rolling and bracing and not worry with it
: bending or breaking.

: If you have access to Ash, it's a good choice for the bottom piece
: that the rope hooks into.