new fluid design

[1xsculler]

My experience when performing the extremely non-scientific wiggle-test, comparing an Empacher R-15, a Wintech Medalist lightweight, a Van Dusen Advantage lightweight, a Pocock Hypercarbon lightweight and a mid-weight Fluid indicated to me, much to my surprise, that the Fluid was the stiffest of the bunch. Not by much but never the less, less wiggle. If a Fluid is stiffer I expect it would be due to a layer, or two, of uni-directional carbon fiber cloth in the lay-up.

[stoneboat]

http://youtu.be/SXBWOl0vgeU

Speaking of design changes

Here’s a video I shot of the 2012 Fluid this morning. It hasn’t been baptized yet. I should be on the water by the middle of March (yippee!)

The main reasons I traded-in were that my old boat had not lost any value to date and I could get advantages of the design improvements… Stiffer hull, easier to climb back in w/o lacerating my legs…

[JD]

Stoney: Congrats. Lovely boat. Workmanship appears very good. Still a little concerned about the stiffness of the rigger attachment area. Thats a lot of load for such a thin layer of carbon (amazing stuff). But appearances aren't everything and what works, works. Nice going.

[1xsculler]

It's a beauty! I like the minor but very welcome cockpit modifications. The skeg looks just like a Van Dusen's. I was always concerned about attaching hardware to thin sections of carbon fiber, too, until I started messing around with my own carbon fiber parts. That stuff is so darn strong once it's cured I now have no concerns at all.
Gord does a very good job of keeping the weight of his boats down, important or not. I have a 2009, mid-weight EL that weighs only a few ounces over 29 # in stock form even though the EL is supposed to be 2 #s heavier than the Elite. I installed a Van Dusen foot stretcher, with a nice bend at the ball of the foot, and got it down to 28.5 #. Faster, who knows? Lighter boats are more pleasant to carry to the water.

[southernrower]

1x- I know not to doubt you after seeing the vid of the small block V8 you put in a BMW, but how do you attach a stern wing mounted VD footstretcher to a bow rigged boat??

[gdoyle]

1x- I know not to doubt you after seeing the vid of the small block V8 you put in a BMW, but how do you attach a stern wing mounted VD footstretcher to a bow rigged boat??

http://www.rowingillustrated.com/boards ... 22&p=52846

[1xsculler]

I used the extremely light and rigid, carbon, honeycomb V.D. foot stretcher platform and I made a carbon fiber cross tube and attached it to the Fluid hull holes that the stock Fluid foot stretcher attaches to. It's not real pretty as it's unfinished but I like the shape of a V.D. foot stretcher and I'll eventually clean it up. It works very well.

[Bucky]

Stoneboat, I got distracted at the end of the video. Is that an old pair of Scarpa T2s on the shelf next to the orange helmet?
And the next time you post a video could you please throw a few week old pizza boxes and crushed tall-boys around the cave?

[JD]

Yeah, the guy's a bit if a Felix. We need some more Oscar.

[SwissSculler]

Wow, Fluid's really made some major progress in their design. Almost looks like a Hudson now...

[Tinpusher]

Wow, Fluid's really made some major progress in their design. Almost looks like a Hudson now...

Almost.

[Squared & Buried]

@stoneboat: How do you like the bat logic system now that you are (hopefully) back on the water?

[stoneboat]

@stoneboat: How do you like the bat logic system now that you are (hopefully) back on the water?

Sorry.. zoned out... away from this thread...

Like the T2's in the video?... You should see the '84 Kaschper that was there too... with the family of mice living in it!...

Squared & Buried: The bat logic allows an older and inflexible guy like me to get more pressure spread across on the whole foot earlier.. I haven't been tempted to them with the other footstretcher I have w/regular shoes.
Perhaps the biggest plus is that the sensation of having my feet oriented and padded this way is that it reminds me to open my back later so that the connection between the last part of my leg drive is better coordinated with the opening of the back. I feel that it would be harder to sustain this with the normal rig.
Remember my birthdate though... 08/18/1952.... I need "prosthetic" help at this point!

I am in the middle of trying to radically alter my head racing stroke... I feel the Bat-Logic is a very positive addition.. helping to enlist the glutes and hams... I've single sculled approx. 236k with them in 31 days. Doing leg presses heels-down also helps.

I am also practicing starts for the Masters (1k) racing season ~ I feel that the Bat-Logic helps my starting sequence too.

[1xsculler]

Does the Batlogic system do any more for you than a foot board that is bent at the balls of your feet like on Van Dusens? If it does do something more what is it?

[stoneboat]

Does the Batlogic system do any more for you than a foot board that is bent at the balls of your feet like on Van Dusens? If it does do something more what is it?

You have a good point monsieur d'1x! There isn't a whole lot of difference... but I tell you what I see.

• your feet are locked into a precise location with what feels like carefully considered orientation. (I'm not familiar with Van Dusen)
• Bat Logic can be precisely shim-able for people with leg length differences
• Bat Logic is sized to your foot... It's not one size fits all
• Bat Logic is now adaptable to the erg (I haven't tried this yet)
  I would think that transportablity might be desirable though... It might help me avoid over compression and collapsing into the catch ~ a significant problem for me.
• If I travel to far away places to scull, I would have an advantage in renting the same make boat and simply bring my footstretcher with me with the BL system preinstalled and broken-in..
• It feels great with the Nikes designed for the purpose... These fit the BL system to a T.... No more sloppy running shoe type boat shoes..... That collapse after a little wear.

All this being said there are those who contend that sculling off of Peinert foot blocks is all you need... I think you lose a little power there as the fit is sloppy... I like the freedom of the Peinert though....
BL tries for the other end of the spectrum... by precisely fitting your foot and being micro adjustable...

We see how it goes as the 2012 race season progresses... I haven't raced in them yet.