It Folds!


The hinges may be a bit industrial looking but they do work. I avoided countersunk heads because it's a nightmare cutting big countersinks in stainless plate.  Perhaps some paint will help to disguise them.


Next sail will be in mild weather because this is one part of an outrigger canoe that do not want to fail.  I've left enough metal in the brackets that I would be able to go to larger size pins if I see any distortion in the 5/16" (8mm) ones I have now.

Comments

  1. Woohoo this looks great. Looks like your measurements were on - the ama sits nicely centered over the hull. I'm eyeing up my beams now - oh how nice it would be to leave lashings in place!

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  2. You're awesome! I've been reading through all the many comments about folding iakos here from the bush but haven't been able to access pictures that go with them. Out in town for a few days here and glad to see how one might go about making foldable crossbeams. This is a great idea. Can't wait to see how it works. If you find this holds up well, I just may have my first retrofit for Shan Skailyn... before it's ever sailed.

    I would like to know, how do you drill the smaller diameter holes (for the snap pins) through the stainless rod? I tried several things but broke all my bits. I gotta be doing something wrong there.

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  3. I have a drill press for drilling small holes into the end of a bolt. First I file a small flat spot and then center punch it.

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  4. My drill bits must be really cheap or something because they wore out before they drilled very far. Others were binding up in there too. Maybe I just need to learn how to drill hard metals a little better. Can't remember if I was using slow speed and oil or not. But I did flatten the side first. Hmmm.

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  5. Mrs Gary, have some more sail tests, report any problem with this sistem? Maybe a use one iako like this in my melanésia outrigger. I don't undstand nothing about outrigger, and are a Master...thanks for all and good winds

    Roger
    TikiRio

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  6. No problems at all. It looks very solid still.

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  7. Were you glassing the inside of the kiatos before installing the hinge, and would you recommend doing so now?

    Would you think it fair to say that your design would carry a payload better and handle waves in a more kindly fashion than CLC's Junior Outrigger? My impression is that Va'a motu is a more robust design, capable of cautious inter island or coastal trips, and the JO designed for shorter trips and daysailing.

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  8. I didn't put any glass inside the beam at the hinge location, but I did glue in hefty pieces of wood to make the walls thicker. Another way would be to make the end solid and use bonded fasteners.
    Too soon to tell about CLC's new canoe. Trying to paddle it might be difficult with that big ama.

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  9. Another advantage to the folding scheme: theft-resistance.

    Maybe moot in more civilized areas, but in places I am thinking of the folded iakos with a padlock securing each in the folded position would go a long way in protecting against misadventure at the hands of the inebriated at night.

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