Pyranha Kayak®
Burn® Modifications
(and for other boats too!)
....... mods you can do to
your boat, no duct tape needed!
Warning:
Perform these mods and it will be death on a stick for you, it makes you tighter in the boat,
and that makes performance go up, but that said I ain't there to help you install the foam, for all I know you might glue
your legs in the boat and you can't get out and drown or worse have your picture taken of you stuck in your boat by your buddies
and have your picture posted on Boatertalk.
Apology: These pictures were taken with my cell phone camera
PlasticWeldingServices
For Your Repair Needs
Okay Before We Get Going Mod: For any boat
This mod if for every boat on the market and every boat ever made. Take
some hand tools i.e. screwdriver and other assorted hand tools. This helps
if you have a buddy, if not take level with you. Go to the lake BEFORE
outfitting your boat. Go to the lake and see and make sure your boat is
level in the water. Creekers take note, pack your normal gear in the boat. A
level boat will make the boat track and carve it's edges like it was
designed for. I have paddled with fellow Burn owners " It's too corky in the
stern". We get to the takeout I move the seat forward, and on the next run "OMG
I LOVE THIS BOAT" Well it was the same boat. Like I said this applies
to every boat out there, it needs to be "trimmed" before you know where you
want to put the foam. I think everyone thinks a boat is suppose to paddle
straight outta the box...anyway let's continue. .....
Drain Plug Mod: For any boat
The first mod I performed was the drain plug. The drain plug is water tight, but once loose, it's loose and you wind up
looking for a stick before running nutcracker falls. On the inside of the boat I added Tyraps to the keeper part inside the
boat, and made it look like a spider web, and stuck the drain plug back in the boat. Then on the outside of the boat, I added
some shock cord, crimped a electrical lug on it, attached it to where the screw is, drilled thru the drain plug and attached
the shock cord with a knot. Then finally I used RTV clear caulk to help keeps things dry.
Cockpit Mod:For any boat
The next mod I performed was the cockpit, the cockpit has a screw going thru it, which is great and really the best thing
since sliced bread. That screw helps you adjust the thigh hooks to were you can move them back and forth, this really helps
fine tune the fit, and is great for my chicken legs and helps keep me tight in the boat. I used mastic to shim up the screw,
this helps prevent blow by, I have used RTV to build up around the screw. Once I do this all my boats stay dry. You could
go ghetto and use Duct Tape, but you won't do that to you're nice boat would you?
Inside the Boat
Thigh Hooks-Knee Blocks: For any boat
I always install knee blocks, (wedge shaped 8"x6" out of 3" foam) BUT I also install thigh hooks blocks(6"x6"x3") behind
the thigh hooks to give them support and to make me tighter in the boat. The Pyranha thigh hooks are floppy for this very
reason so you can build them up for YOUR legs. On the knee blocks, I extend them out further than most people do, instead
of some as big as a hip pad, I make mine almost twice as long, in case I piton, the track to the bulkhead won't eat me a new
one when my legs slide forward.
More knee block stuff: For any boat
Check out Leland's site if you want to know more about how to make some knee blocks click here
Hip pads: For the Burn-Connect 30
I usually remove the factory hip pads, but I really like the feel of the Connect 30® outfitting
system in the boat. So with the self-adhesive foam wedges that came with the boat, I cut them up with a razor knife, and I
shimmed up the top, left the middle alone, the shimmed up the bottom...my wormy hips are thigh as a glove now, and I added
the thin foam to help hold in place on top of the wedge-shim foam.In the picture if you look close, you can see how the flat
factory hip pads are now curved by shimming the top and the bottom.
Portage pads:For any boat
I made some portage pads, for my gimpy shoulders, the Alabama runs that are any count down here have a hike with them,
and besides I'm lazy, I want to be comfortable. And no one wants to be the first in the group to set their boat down during
a walk.
Connect 30 MUST DO MOD!!
The Connect 30 Orange Cord that connects the
ratchet straps to the backband WILL BREAK! You need to replace the factory cord with some
prussic rope from your favorite outdoor store, older models had this cord and it has been replaced with a better string...forget
the string folks...go with rope. You want to do this upgrade before paddling, it's not a biggy...but why make it hard on yourself.
At the bottom of the picture you can see another pad installed over the screws, it helps keep getting you wet hands torn,
I sliced my palm open one day on one of my old school bolts from its screws, so now I do this to every bolt, on every boat
.The "portage grip pad" also gives me grip when first getting out of the boat.
Pillar Mod:For any boat
I weld boats, and a lot of repairs I have seen have been from the center pillar wearing a groove in the boat, sand gets
trapped between the boat , and slowing grinds a groove in it. Blunts are real bad about doing this. After fixing about 6 Blunts,
the light bulb came on, and I starting adding this hard tack foam that I found from McMaster-Carr. It it used to install on equipment to help prevent falls and slips. Its self-adhesive, it adds a little bit more weight,
but its thin enough not to bother the pillar or add stress in anyway to cause a warranty void.
Water Bottle Mod: For any boat
I drilled 2 holes thru the pillar, and added shock cord in two places, by doing this the water stays in place during a
portage, which I seem to do a lot of in my older age. It seemed no matter what boat or brand, after the portage, sweating
by a$$ off, no water bottle!...look around and back up at the top where I started there it is ....so I have to hike back...wasted
energy sucks, so this will take care of it. I carry two Naglene bottles, just keep one clipped in the back and swap. More
water helps my back by keeping it lubed up, and more water also helps me stay warmer.
Bulkhead Mod:For any boat
I should have taken more pictures, but first, the wedges, I found this by accident, after a lake paddle out and having
my boat tight for creeking I was was hurting like a mo fo, at the takeout. You don't notice the hurting stuff on the good
stuff. I found some old hip pads, and used them on the next trip and EUREKA! I was on to something. Behind the wedges, I notched
the bulkhead foam so it would fit good around the bulkhead track. Then I did the "Lance Jones" mod. I installed shims behind the foam that you can't see, if I piton, the foam will collapse , and not my ankles.
Back to the wedges, the wedges help give you wiggle room, move your foot a little and you're tight in your boat, move them
the other way and you're ready for the flat water paddle out. No more numb feet. I tried making foot tunnels, using happy
feet, but keeping it simple really works the best for me.
Okay here is the best tip I can give you, the factory bulkhead foam is self-adhesive, which I like, but I also use Weldbond
glue, I have found that sand gets trapped with the factory stuff and eventually pries the foam loose, which you don't want
during a beatdown, or a portage from h*ll to find out you're foam is missing.
So HOOOOO KAYYYYYYY, (in my best Dave Chappell voice) that's about it, all this stuff is simple ,it took me
about 4 hours to do; taking my time, and you will also need a shake down cruise to work out the kinks so you will fit better.
I like a easy run first, then after one more fit up, then go to something harder. But doing mods to your boat, will make you
a better boater, and not as stiff at the takeout (that's what she said) and gimped up.One other thing, make it easy on yourself
, use saw horses for working on the boat, and a real respirator for gluing up the foam.
To see more... Adam MR. ....Heavy on the Mister"GranolaPaddler " Goshorn
Has made a video that can walk you thru some of these mods, and even more mods. Go pop some popcorn...and enjoy the
video, and give him a special thanks for helping the boating community and for taking the time to make this video! Remember
these mods are custom (in nature) and make the boat for you, and you are responsible on performing the mods correctly and
boating safely.
