07-05-2011, 02:02 AM
Last report (probably) about the fishfinder-footrest mod:
The questions posed by the folks in this forum have been excellent and helped me think more analytically about my toon mod (see pics in posts above).
Q1: Is there room for your right foot? Yes
Q2: Is there room for your foot with a fin strapped on? Yes
Q3: Can you use the footrest for its other intended use - a place to push with your foot and leg while rowing vigorously or for extended periods of time?
Answer: please read on....yesterday a buddy and I took our toons out for an extended float down the lazy Crawfish River in WI. In six hours, we covered about 4-5 miles of bends and twists while floating and fishing. All the while I thought about FG's question (#3 above). In its present shape, I am not able to place my right foot on the wooden platform in a way that allows me to push off with that foot. Two thoughts:
A. I could modify the platform by shaping a place where my right foot could push off. Right now, when I try to push with my shoe, my foot slides off. It's a great footrest, but not a suitable push bar/platform.
B. What's interesting, though, is that pushing off with my left foot only on the unmodified left foot bar was very comfortable and felt natural. My body stayed balanced and centered. After hours of floating and rowing, my back, legs and central core were not overused or sore.
I'm happy enough with the mod that I won't change it for the time being. If I need to replace the footrest for some reason in the future, I'll shape the new platform so that my right foot can rest and push off.
Last part of my report: Although we got skunked, we learned a lot about floating a slow river and saw lots of blue herons and kingfishers. The process of discovering what doesn't work will eventually lead to what does work for catching fish.
The questions posed by the folks in this forum have been excellent and helped me think more analytically about my toon mod (see pics in posts above).
Q1: Is there room for your right foot? Yes
Q2: Is there room for your foot with a fin strapped on? Yes
Q3: Can you use the footrest for its other intended use - a place to push with your foot and leg while rowing vigorously or for extended periods of time?
Answer: please read on....yesterday a buddy and I took our toons out for an extended float down the lazy Crawfish River in WI. In six hours, we covered about 4-5 miles of bends and twists while floating and fishing. All the while I thought about FG's question (#3 above). In its present shape, I am not able to place my right foot on the wooden platform in a way that allows me to push off with that foot. Two thoughts:
A. I could modify the platform by shaping a place where my right foot could push off. Right now, when I try to push with my shoe, my foot slides off. It's a great footrest, but not a suitable push bar/platform.
B. What's interesting, though, is that pushing off with my left foot only on the unmodified left foot bar was very comfortable and felt natural. My body stayed balanced and centered. After hours of floating and rowing, my back, legs and central core were not overused or sore.
I'm happy enough with the mod that I won't change it for the time being. If I need to replace the footrest for some reason in the future, I'll shape the new platform so that my right foot can rest and push off.
Last part of my report: Although we got skunked, we learned a lot about floating a slow river and saw lots of blue herons and kingfishers. The process of discovering what doesn't work will eventually lead to what does work for catching fish.