Excel Volaire RD 390 - Pictures and keel jumping

[Brerabit]

First up, the big questions when anything is compared to the T38 - is the hull as stiff/rigid, is it straight and can you stand on its upturned keel - don’t ask me why - maybe it’s an alternative ceremony to smashing a bottle of champagne over the bows - good call probably.

The answer to the first two I already knew but always up for a challenge, I heaved it over and clambered aboard, genuinely not sure how this was going to go. I needn’t have worried - the best way I can describe it is that if someone told you it was GRP with a soft finish, that would explain it. I’m around 80kgs and with two feet relatively close together and balanced on the keel line, it was difficult to see any significant movement at all, just a slightly padded feel. but definitely no shape changing.

Flushed with success I jumped off and heaved it back over before I realised I’d not taken any pictures of its nether regions - sorry, another time, it was hot out there.

Where it’s resting on its rather over engineered support hasn’t been indented, it was just a useful hollow to locate the jack.

All dressed up and nowhere to go

[chris moody]

That boat does look amazing in black.

[Brerabit]

I think so as well
- But you do have to put up with "All because the lady loves Milk Tray" jokes

[Bigsofty]

Looks really good in black,

[Brerabit]

That is a good looking boat. I like the range of adjustment on the seats - the Honwave seats are in just the wrong position for me to sit on and still balance the boat.

[Brerabit]

They’re very good and easily adjusted @ChrisParish - a bit too easy at times, so I’m looking at ways of fixing them in position. The ‘planks’ are extruded aluminium with hard plastic fittings that slide on the luff tape. The best idea I’ve come up with so far is to drill and tap underneath for knurled head M6-316 screws to wind gently into the rope edge. It wouldn’t take much contact to restrict the seat sliding.
…but I can’t help thinking there’s a slicker way.

[Brerabit]

The usual way people deal with them is to tie a rope around them and then to the side of the boat, so your idea is pretty slick. I think they should make a different type of clamp which incorporates a screw to tighten the clamp.
Imagine a hinged clamp with the top and bottom clamping surfaces are on different sides of the hinge with a screw set between the pivot and the clamping surface. Tighten the screw to tighten the clamp. Or better still an over-center clamp

[Brerabit]

You’ve just given me an idea for a good workaround.
Instead of rope I could loop some shock cord under the seat, over the tubes and into a rubbing strake hook.

Unless you know a wiz at 3D printing, I’m limited to the bungee solution…

[ChrisParish]

Well now you mention it, I do have a 3D printer.

I’ll get some dimensions from you at some point and see if I can come up with something.

[Brerabit]

You could be onto a winner if it could be universal - its the only drawback with this type of seat.
We'll have a chat about it.