can i get some advice on the best way to outfit my new boat with foam (eg for the foot blocks etc). What sort of glue, any useful tips, what not to do etc

I have used minicell foam with an industrial contact that is designed for use on vertical surfaces. I don't know the name of it since I just borrow some from the guys in the boat building shop that I sell for.

Yeh i'm trying to find a good way to kit out my inazone 242 - i'm 6'4'' (almost 2 metres) and the standard full plate foot rest just won't go down far enough!! I've cut up some foam that came out of another boat and that's just really hard to get right, it keeps making my feet cramp and pushing on my toes all wrong, and also they tend to go swimming when i'm out of my boat!! So now instead of gluing them down i've decided (because they were rubbish) to cut up some camping roll mat (you know, the stuff that you put under you in a tent so that you don't get thistles up your arse!) . that seems a bit easier and kinder on the feet because it's slightly softer! The mistake that a lot of people tend to make is to roll it up first and then carve it up, but this tends not to be too stable in some cases, so what i've done and what seems to be a really good way of doing things is to cut up my old camping mat into equally sized strips and then glue them together to make a cube type block, then carve that to the shape of the boat. if the foot rest is too big, simply peel a layer or two off. too small, do the opposite! Also, i have a friend who uses foam as a foot rest and he uses carpet adhesive to glue his down and they won't move, trust me!

Hope this helps

Just remember to make sure you're completely happy with the seat postion and thigh braces if they're adjustable before you start gluing things. Ive just got my foam so that Im happy with it and started to wonder if my seat is right (maybe Im just not happy unless Ive got something to whinge about).

Unless your boat has big thigh braces that wrap around your leg you might want to stick an angled block of foam to the side/bottom of the boat so that it holds your legs up against the thigh brace. It shouldn't need to be so big that it would be an obstruction in a swim.

If you want extra foot room and your boat has a foam central pillar, you can carve a heel space into it. It took me ages because it didn't occur to me that I could take it out of the boat first.

Another thing Ive done is to cram foam into the cockpit combing where I rest it on my shoulder so that it wont dig in so much when I carry it.

If the room starts spinning, you're using too much glue.

Just remember to make sure you're completely happy with the seat postion and thigh braces if they're adjustable before you start gluing things. Ive just got my foam so that Im happy with it and started to wonder if my seat is right (maybe Im just not happy unless Ive got something to whinge about).

Unless your boat has big thigh braces that wrap around your leg you might want to stick an angled block of foam to the side/bottom of the boat so that it holds your legs up against the thigh brace. It shouldn't need to be so big that it would be an obstruction in a swim.

If you want extra foot room and your boat has a foam central pillar, you can carve a heel space into it. It took me ages because it didn't occur to me that I could take it out of the boat first.

Another thing Ive done is to cram foam into the cockpit combing where I rest it on my shoulder so that it wont dig in so much when I carry it.

If the room starts spinning, you're using too much glue.

I use evo-stick contact adhesive it works well. If you have the time and want it to stick really well you will need to sand your boat where you are going to glue it to help key the whole thing together. The other thing you can do is glue both surfaces and then leave them for 12 hours or more, then glue it in. That normally makes it pretty bomb proof. If you are gluing seat pads or other similar bits of thin foam if you cut so the edge is at an angle rather than straight up at 90 degrees to the boat/seat then that helps stop the foam from lifting.

Good luck and don't get too spaced.

Use a hot glue gun, they work the best, use plenty of glue and let it dry properly before using your boat

Whatever you do call the manifacturer and find out if the adhesive will eat away too much at the plastic. Adhesives can break down the plastic and weaken your boat or even eat away slowly over time. So like you would with Adult CPR: Check, Call, Care.

Peace,
Whitewaterules

No foam or glue needed Jacksons happy feet does the trick!

One of the better flexible adhesives I have used is Shoe Goo. Yes, you heard right, Shoe Goo. Super adhesive rubber cement. I have to agree wih WWRules. Check with the manufacturer about using adhesives on the hull.

Also, I have seen Pyhranna boats outfitted with an inflatible bean bag for a foot brace. I do not know if this is similar to Happy Feet. It might be another alternative.

One of the better flexible adhesives I have used is Shoe Goo. Yes, you heard right, Shoe Goo. Super adhesive rubber cement. I have to agree wih WWRules. Check with the manufacturer about using adhesives on the hull.

Also, I have seen Pyhranna boats outfitted with an inflatible bean bag for a foot brace. I do not know if this is similar to Happy Feet. It might be another alternative.