Donald,

Yes that is 477 in the pictures. Am happy to see that they may be used as a frame of refereference. I begin the last session of keelboat classes next week on Windance, 1306, next week. I really enjoy teaching on this boat. Donations to NH Boat Museum can be made at https://www.nhbm.org/support/donations-endowments/ While their form doesn't explicitly allow a donation to go to the sailing programs, if you send an email with that preference and my name, they will honor it. And for all, be sure to visit the museum which is always expanding if you visit the lakes region of New Hampshire.

Keith Simpson, Cm.

Fleet 64, Winnipesaukee, NH

Knotalot 477

@Jim Thanks for the reply! I think I'm going to shy away from drilling any holes for the time being since the boat is owned by my father in law. Out of curiosity, what kind of load-bearing capacity does the bulkhead have? Seems like securing one end to the bulkhead is relatively common, so short answer must be "enough!"

@Keith Thanks for the reply and the offer. I pulled the trigger on the webbing solution (though it takes a little longer to go from purchase to installation on an island), but I do appreciate it. On a separate note, is your old boat the 477 the actual boat in those pictures? Not sure if you saw but I linked to the same down below. Also, hiking straps aside, is there a link somewhere for donating to your sailing program?

I have the whole set including mounting hardware if you are interested. I had been saving them to install on the boat that I use to teach from (1307). I have decided that my students will never use them. I even had to remove the tiller extension because it just makes things too complicated for learning. I don't see my teaching boat in competition again.

These were in my ill-fated Knotalot, 477, once a national champion boat. You can see them installed in thethis link and the next few pics http://yourarchivist.com/ensign/boat/slide_06.php

These were tied with super-strong line with holes through the bulkhead and then had metal straps run through loops sewn into the web on the aft end, bolted to the deck just aft of the seats.

I'll let these go for $100, part of which I will donate to our sailing program (as have a other procedes from the sale of my boat parts). email is ksimp@ksimp.org

Keith Simpson, Ex Cm.

Fleet 64, Winnipesaukee, NH

Knotalot 477

Now USSailing Certified Level 1 and Basic Keelboat Instructor

NH Boat Museum/Wolfeboro Parks and Recreation

Harbor freight has tow straps that can be cut down to make hiking straps. Cut them with a hot knife and hand sew with a heavy needle and sail twine. If you don't have a hot knife you can heat a butter knife with a propane torch, don't tell the cook???   I fastened the fronts with two padeyes thru bolted to the bulkhead high enough so it makes feet easy to get into.  I attached the back by drilling two holes thru the back of the seat bench and loop line thru those holes to the strap, and this line is what adjusts the length. I also added loops about mid way that go around the seats so the strap can only rise so far.  A nice addition is bungy cord to keep the strap where you want it

Thanks, Jon!

The sewn loop for a piece of line is a nice addition.

Very pleased to hear that this a case where the cheap and easy to install option is probably the best one. Unless anyone has a compelling reason to do otherwise, it looks like I'll be following your and Bill's lead down the webbing path.

Don

Thanks for the reply, Bill!

That's a great idea, particularly since your solution sounds to be the 'set-it-and-forget-it' variety. I'd been thinking along those lines when I came across this photo while poking around online: http://yourarchivist.com/ensign/boat/slide_07.php

Off hand, I can't guess what's anchoring them inside the cabin, though that may just be a failure of imagination. Between that and another post I'd found where [Poster A] claims Ensigns are uncomfortable due to combing boards and [Poster B] says something along the lines of: 'oh, you probably just didn't have your hiking straps installed and adjusted correctly,' I got worried.

That's a bummer about the heat--it was blowing 20 here today and hard not to think of getting out on the water this weekend as the bigger ships cruised by.

Thanks again!

Don

Hi all!

Newly joined here. Been sailing an Ensign casually for the past five-ish years and decided to participate in some more races this year as well as put some time into updating the setup. First off, thanks to all here who participate in the forum--it's really a wealth of knowledge.

Does anyone have good info on where to buy hiking straps and how to go about installing them? Ensign spars isn't stocked, and from a good number of the regatta photos here it looks like virtually everyone has them. Frankly, I'm feeling pretty silly not having thought to install them before finding this site!

Thanks in advance,

DL