THE HAKA BENCH SEAT - AN ALTERNATIVE TO TRAMPS

It depends on the wind and waves Chris, but close hauled I am just aft of center and I sit pretty far out. If I'm plowing through surf upwind, I may slide forward to limit the bucking.

Downwind, riding swells I sometimes ride forward to help accelerate on the wave face and then use the sheet to adjust speed and angle. I will rake the dagger back at least half way.

But moslty I like sitting high, near the rear Aka and getting as much torque from the sail as I can. While keeping the Amas level and the rudder nuetral. Feels fast. Feels dry. Feels right.

That's why it seemed that a small wing would accomplish alot of the same things. I have sailed a number of times right behind the seat on a stool or ice chest, but it always felt tippy to me and only improved my visibility somewhat. But using the windward wing corrects the hull and feels way more secure.

So a small wing is more practical than a set of Hakas - theoretically.

The RAKA setup you have will make transferring and tacking a breeze. You did a real nice job leveling it. As you get used to them, I'm really interested in hearing your point of view on how they alter the quality of your sailing.

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The Wind Is Your Friend...

That's been a goal of mine since first seeing the haka bench seat. I've been trying to find alternatives to timber and after much research (and many visits to Bunnings ) I think I may be on to a suitable alternative. I want a bench that is cheap, easily maintained, light and strong. Bunnings have a very light and cheap ($89) 2.4m (x2) all aluminium extension ladder. Just got to find a suitable material to make a platform between the rungs.
It won't look as smart as the timber bench but I'm hoping it will be lighter. More to come....

I was a bit against using timber Stringy, but I must say I'm now a convert. Its strength to weight ratio compares favourably to aluminium, plus it's easy to cut and join exactly how you want it. I used treated pine and caulked all the joints and painted it with latex exterior paint and the result is exactly what I had in mind. It's light and waterproof and seriously cheap. If it falls apart in a few years, I'll whip up another one.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ghini.html

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Stringy, I want my next Hakas built of aluminum and topped with textured red plastic slats or footsteps. Just haven't found the materials to match, yet.

But so far, wood is awesome.

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The Wind Is Your Friend...

Interestingly, nicnrob built his hakas of aluminium and they came out the same weight as the wooden ones (10#).

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I take your points Chris and Nohuhu but I just have an aversion to wood exposed to the elements.
I have gone to great lengths at home ensuring any wood is covered up. All my decks have an awning over them.
I also don't like working with wood.
Give me metal any day!

Clever thinking Stringy... It has got me thinking about placing a haka across a Ti closer to the front (eg just behind the rudder control) so you could work the pedals by slipping forward a bit while centred, and then sliding your arse back and to windward when under sail. This would also leave enough space for the rear Miragedrive to be used (although I would imagine that with two-up, you would revert to having a haka out on each side for the crew to slip onto the windward side).

I am assuming it would be possible to attach the "raka" over the top of the rear crossbars without needing to hack the hull, and still keeping the raka fit for use out over the ama, like yours obviously is.

Keep up the innovative thinking! Let us know how the aluminium ladder idea goes too, it should be possible to fit a lightweight surface while retaining the excellent structural integrity of the ladder.

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Tony Stott
2012 Tandem Island "SIC EM" with Hobie spinnaker

Stringy - something akin to this? Like a small roof ladder or those made for motorhomes?

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The Wind Is Your Friend...

If so, everything you may need is on this page. Including clamping systems and tread/decking

Interesting,...

http://www.mills-scaffold.com/products-accessories.html

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The Wind Is Your Friend...

Thanks Tony. BTW its Chrisj's haka. I'm still experimenting with the ladders below.

Nohuhu,
That website looks interesting- thanks. I'll spend some time browsing there. The tread decking looks promising.
This is the AU$89 ladder I got:
http://www.gorillaladders.com.au/products/el-d.html

I've separated the sections by drilling out a couple of rivets and now have a 2.3m x 0.38m and a 2.3m x 0.32m bench framework. Each ladder section weighs under 3.5kgs so when cut to length I'm hoping for something lighter than timber. In this picture they are spanning the same distance as the TI aka and easily take my weight.

The rungs line up so the sections could be joined side by side to make a camping platform with some conduit inside the hollow rungs.
Now for the decking......

Are you setting them up to accept the bivvy you had at Broughton Stringy? What are its dimensions?

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Chris,
Yes, I had that bivvy in mind. Problem is its 96cm at its widest point. Two of those ladders = 70cm so I'd have to come up with something that spaces them apart a bit, or add an extension at the widest point.
If I can get the platforms light enough I'd like to carry two doubled ladders, fitted together for sailing, and set up a 4 ladder platform for camping. That would give a 1.4m floor width which would suit a 2 man tent. We'll see. If it doesn't work out at least I've got a light extension ladder for the house!

Yup! Metal is forever,..

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The Wind Is Your Friend...

....and those shrubs are growing out of the remains of the WOODEN boat that was washed up at the same time!

You know it's funny but the simplest solution may be using slotted marine ply as the deck over the rungs!
(I can't believe I just wrote that......but I do have some sheets already at hand. )

Well if you're going to use wood for the deck, you might as well use it for the subframe too and save the ladder for around the house.

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