Cataraft Tubes Cataraft Frames Cataraft Fitting

 

 

QuadCatt Cataraft Fitting for Optimum Performance

  1. Locate the seat so that your thighs are level when your feet are positioned on the foot bar.
  2. Mount the oar clips or stops so that the pivot point on the thole mount is 30% inboard and 70% outboard. This would be 36 inches and 84 inches respectively on a 10 foot oar.
  3. Secure the thole pin mounts fore to aft so that when the oars are aligned on the same axis with each other, they are just in front of your knee caps.
  4. Rotate the thole mounts so that there is about 6 inches of space between the handles when they are at rest, under the knees.
  5. Adjust the spacers under the thole pin or oar lock so that when your arms are extended and level, the blades are 95% to 100% submerged. The height of the spacers will depend on the total weight of the QuadCatt. Heavy loads will require higher spacers because of the increased draft.
  6. Insure that you can swing the handles past your hips for forward tucking and that you can stow them “at ease” under your knees.

Precision and Tube Tip Control

The similarity between a galactic black hole and a river rapid is that they both have an event horizon. Once you cross that line, you are absolutely going to run that rapid. Now it is just a matter of style. Precision equals style. Precision is all about controlling the tips of the tubes. If you can get the tips exactly where you want them, the rest of the craft will usually follow in suit. When you are fully engaged with the tumult of the rapid, the oars and the tips are constantly vying with each other for control of the craft. It all comes down to leverage.

CRITICAL CONCEPT!   The farther forward your oars and tholes are mounted on the cataraft, the more leverage and control you have over the tips. The proof:

[A] Hold your oar horizontally with one hand on the grip and the other a shoulder width up the shaft. Now have someone push sideways against the blade [which is 8 feet away] while you try to hold the oar from moving. They will easily be able to move the blade with just a finger tip and will effortlessly overpower your resistance. This is akin to a stern mounted oar setup; a 1 foot wave can throw your craft off line. In this scenario, the tips have most of the leverage.

[B] This time hold the oar with one hand on the neck of the blade and the other hand a shoulder width back down the shaft and again have someone push the blade sidewise. You can easily resist their effort and not allow the blade to rotate. This is the desired effect of the bow forward oar setup.

So how does this “oar leverage” demonstration relate to tip control?  Think of the hand pushing on the blade as a diagonal wave and think of the oar blade as the tube tip. When the distance between your grip on the oar and the end of the blade is short it is very difficult for the wave force [pushing hand] to deflect the tips off line.

With the QuadCatt tubes and modular frame configured for Balance, Power and Precision, you now have a craft that can handle class 5 chaotic rivers and run remote expeditions around the world. It is up to you to provide the skills, talent and passion to bring it all together.

The QuadCatt Whitewater Formula

A2 + B2 = C2

Cataraft capabilities x Pilot proficiencies = River ratings

Ultimately, a river rating is based not on how difficult it is to run, but how challenging it is to swim. Do the Math!