DON’T cut those (thigh braces) off until you have a bit of time in the boat, doing wet exits and lots of edging and rolling. They are there to provide better contact/control of the boat for edging/rolling. The open space in between the thigh braces is the “key hole” that allows you to get one leg out at a time, relatively easy, when you sitting in the boat rightside up. If you are upside (capsized), pull the skirt, push you palms on the sides of the coaming, and you should be able to slide right of the cockpit with your legs relatively straight. If you can’t do this, then you may want to consider doing something about the thigh braces.
In comparison, an “ocean cockpit” that characterizes most Greenland boats would be a smaller opening. Think of drawing a line connecting the bottom line of your thigh braces, and getting rid of that opening in between the braces. That would be the size of an ocean cockpit. That open (“keyhole”) space between your thigh braces would be part of the deck in front of your coaming in an “ocean” cockpit.
Cutting off the thigh braces is easy. Rebuilding these is much harder.
Discussion and comparison of “keyhole” vs. “ocean” cockpit:
This is a past effort of mine to make a foam “masik” which would effectively reduced the size of my “keyhole” cockpit to an “ocean” cockpit. I personally find an ocean cockpit more conducive to edging and rolling (particularly to the variations of Greenland rolls) and thus, for me, more “safe” for rougher water paddling.
Here is a boat a friend in FL let me paddle. He liked it in the surf and had it tricked out. It is an older rotomolded Valley Skerry with a modified cockpit and no thigh braces. I had to sit on the deck with my legs already straight out in the cockpit to enter. I really like what he did with the foam.
Be cautious when replacing or retrofitting the seat in a low volume kayak. The only time I ever capsized one of my kayaks (which are all low volume like your new one) in calm water was on a day that I had added a 1" thick foam seat pad on top of the seat. Just that little bit of elevation was enough to change my center of gravity. I had been paddling that boat for 8 years in all kinds of conditions, had a very good feel for it’s stability range and never capsized, but all it took was my turning slightly with my paddle out of the water to look behind me when one of my companions shouted and I was instantly in the drink.
I haven’t had time for that and the water was very cold since all the snow just melted more quickly than earlier this summer. It was too hot (80F) and I didn’t bring the wetsuit expecting warmer water since last month it was 67 ish
Too bad I can’t take this boat to San Clemente this week but such is reality on planes.
Back in the '70’s people use to saw a kayak in order to fly somewhere and then when they got to their destination they would mix some resin and use a bit of fiberglass and put it back together, So some of the manufacturers started making them. Now many offer them.
The same was done with paddles {Greenland} until about 25 years ago. Take a wooden Greenland paddle and cut a scarf joint, fly somewhere then glue back together and go paddling.
Another more “flight” amenable option would be one of Tom Yost’s SOF designs. Always thought Tom is brilliant with his build designs and generous in his sharing of the plans freely.
Of course, the Yost designs are more towards day tripping paddles and short excursions, as opposed to paddling “expeditions”.
I used to see a guy with a Point 65 modular kayak at my local lake (they pre-dated the PackKayak and Skim). Cool boat but heavy – the extra material required for the double walls for each module add some weight. Bulky for travel also and you do need a vehicle at destination to transport. The PackKayaks nest the segments so you can fit them in a car boot. But I prefer folders because I can haul them on my own and stash them in a hotel room, even schlep on a train or bus.
This is what you need in the fleet for those fly-in trips. 14 kilos and carries in a 30" x 14" x 10" duffel. Can remove the deck to paddle with the pup. I knew a guy who traveled with his folding kayak in a wheeled golf club bag to protect it from baggage handler mayhem. The transport guys are used to those containers and the bags are pretty protective – even are long enlough that they can hold a breakdown GP :
but such is reality on planes.
