fusioneng wrote:
I've seen Kayakman7's rig, it is as cool as it gets. By reversing his tramps and AKA bars (coolest idea ever btw) he is able to get what he wants out of his boat.
Doing exactly what you want to do is really simple and easily done, you don't need an R&D team to figure it out. Just take your right rear AKA bar and snap it into the left front AKA pocket. Do the same with the other one. Now take the front AKA bars and place them in the back.
Now put the AMA's out and mark the new position where you want to drill for the new ball. If it was me I would leave the old ball alone and just order two more from one of the on line dealers or your local dealer. Of course you can just thread the plastic on the gunwale and screw the new ball in temporarily to just try it out, but eventually you will need something a bit stronger. What I would do is tap a hole into a small aluminum plate, I would the grab one of my spare nylon AKA sheer bolts and saw a small flat screw driver slot into the end (so it can be removed later), now take some light fishing line and fish it thru the new hole you just drill into the hull. Now run the nylon screw into the plate (upside down) tie the fishing line to the cross hole, now gob some contact adhesive or silicone to the top of the plate. Now pull in your fishing line and pull the nylon bolt up thru the hole and hold it up against the inside of the hull until the adhesive sets up (I usually leave it overnight). Next morning cut the fishing line and unscrew the nylon bolt out the bottom of the hole and let it drop (you can fish it out of the hull later just by tipping the boat up). Walla you now just screw the new ball into place and it should be as secure as the original ball.
SNIP
Thanks Bob, I thought of that swap last night too, and on reflection it is a no-brainer; for the cost of a couple of aka brace balls, some bolts and aluminium, it is possible to mount akas anywhere forward or aft of front or rear akas..
What a good way to end this thread!