I'm near completion of restorong E2986 (been a 3 year job!) and am about to open my wallet to purchase new blocks/cleats etc. Since I've taken out the old winch kicker system, and will be replacing the toe straps along with most other things.....can anybody send me some pics of a good cockpit layout before I start drilling holes? I've fitted wooden blocks to the side seats to accomodate cleats for kicker control, and have replaced the wooden block at the base of the king post so have strong new timber to fix to. Should I incorporate some means of adjusting the toe straps? (I have the old cockpit layout with forward thwart mounted mid way along centreboard case). Thanks for reading my essay! Look forward to some replies ps. my email add is edmund@shawstephens.com if anybody has any pics
I'll try to remember to take a few photos of mine tomorrow for you - it's not the newest, but it's set up inside virtually identically to the JJ Boats new ones.
Be careful with the cleats on the side benches - usually there is a (extra?) support there to take the added force. However, this isn't there (or not in the same position) with the ones not originally built to accomodate them.
As for adjustable toe straps, I'm not a believer myself, and probably would never bother with them. I can see this ending in a debate over this, but I reckon, the time it takes to fit them would be better served with practising. The amount of difference it makes speedwise is so tiny its untrue. I may (possibly) entertain the idea of adjustable toestraps for the crew - but only if I was going to sail with lots of different crews of different sizes. If you're still not convinced, consider the fact that it's one more thing to go wrong. It only takes the cleat to slip and you're out of the boat in the drink.
i have a very early fiberglass boat and it has no front toestraps coudl some one plz send me a photo or e-mail me with a dercption of how 2 fit some as i have no idea my e-mail is stemason1@hotmail.com thnks