THE HAKA BENCH SEAT - AN ALTERNATIVE TO TRAMPS

I know there is the overused cliché 'It ticks all the boxes', but this Haka design really does. I've been off the forum radar for a while and have just spent the last few weeks knocking up a new Haka design. But after seeing this one betsy, I might have to go back to the drawing board. Excellent job.

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Don't take life too seriously................it ain't permanent.

That is sort of what I did, except I used the stuff that they cover windsurfer booms with - which is *really* durable.

Wrapped each aka with it and it's one of the best ergonomic mods I have made: easier on the hands, non-skid if/when you have to sit on an aka, ding resistant, and quiet when akas are removed and bumping up against each other.

My only regret is not indulging my inner OCD and covering the starboard akas in red and port akas in green.... -)

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipP ... JaRW5TYzBR

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2015 AI in "Dune" - "The Grey Pig"
2017 Trailex 450 Trailer
Pre-September 2015 cradles
(anybody want to buy a slightly-used AI SpinKit?)
eMail: [email protected]

Well, I built a steel Haka about 4 years ago. Yes 'STEEL'. I got laughed at. Got told it would be heavy. Got told it would rust. Got told that the last boat that had steel hakas was the Titanic.
I've taken it out on every outing (saltwater) since and it doesn't have one bit of corrosion so, after all those years it was time to go back to the workshop a knock up version 2.

Using 2 lengths of zinc coated electrical cable tray (again) I did a bit of angle grinding origami on the ends.

....fold.....

......and fold again

.........then bolted them together with stainless socket headed cap screws, washers and nylock nuts.

Sorry, I got carried away and missed a couple of photos but on the top outside edges I glued and cable tied 1/2 pool noodles the full length (the blue bit).

Then, using 4 of those dove tailed camping mats...........

........I coated the join with thick coat of black silastic and stippled it with a paint brush to hide the join.

......and after a bit of practice, found a technique that gave this result.

Howz that for comfort?



Specification:
Price = $62
Build difficulty = Easy
Resistance to the elements = 8/10
Materials = steel / foam / stainless fittings / contact adhesive / pool noodles
Weight = 8.5kg (beat that)
Warranty = 5 years

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Don't take life too seriously................it ain't permanent.

Mate, welcome back!
Very nice upgrade to a unique haka.
The stippled join looks very professional and the shape looks very comfortable.
Great work! (Hmmm ...humble pie doesn't taste too bad)

Couple things I really like about these. Weight. Closed cell covers=comfort (also won't slice you up like a vegimatic). The narrow bench profile helps, making them and less vulnerable to winds and waves. And the elevate/dryer seat.

Do you find that they flex at all, like wood? That's a nice feature to have too.

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The Wind Is Your Friend...

Thanks Stringy and Nohuhu (feels like the old band is back together. And now for Keith on the drums...yeah). It doesn't flex at all. I can see why that would be a good feature but I stretched the foam mat across the pool noodles before glueing and added some foam under as well so the the mat flexes. Really comfortable in the garage but have yet to give it the real test. I should be able to strap 2x20ltr dry bags to it as well which will be handy. Your thread is the gift that keeps on giving Nohuhu.

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Don't take life too seriously................it ain't permanent.

That haka is so nice, I couldn't use it for the crap (literally) we do on them. Great job, Russ!!!

Keith

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2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

This is a message for Betsy_y, who posted anout her bamboo hakas last summer.
Betsy I notice you are in Cleveland.
So am I.
There does not seem to ne a lot of Hobie Island folks here.
So I'm posting this in the hope you'll see it and respond.
It would be fun to meet and sail with others on Lake Erie.
Thanks,
Marty Cooperman
[email protected]

Thanks Keith. There will be no crapp'n on my Haka.

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Don't take life too seriously................it ain't permanent.

Hey Marty,

I've just moved to Columbus so I'm "fairly" local. I plan on doing some sails up there. I'll keep you in mind if I head up that direction.

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2015 Hobie Tandem Island Hibiscus
"Third Normal Form"

• Trampolines
• Hobie cover
• Davis Spar Fly
• Kayakbob's Sprayskirts
• Spine Board Hakas

So my hakas are done! After a billion readings of this thread I decided on backboards, jet ski padding contact cemented on, 550 cord and a kayak tie down up front and two kayak tie downs in back. Boom.

A little heavy, but I'm fairly light. And I'll bring one less six pack along. Or maybe not.

Cujo

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Bryan "Cujo" Edmonds

2015 Tandem Island "Supernova"
2014 Lund SSV18

Nice! I just finally got my spine boards delivered. I plan on mounting them using railblaza mounts. Stay tuned for pics.

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2015 Hobie Tandem Island Hibiscus
"Third Normal Form"

• Trampolines
• Hobie cover
• Davis Spar Fly
• Kayakbob's Sprayskirts
• Spine Board Hakas

The black water bike foam is on Amazon as "HYDRO-TURF SHT40MDPSABLK Mat Sheet...". I also bought the 3m contact cement gel to roll on the boards. Stuck like stink on poop. Two person sticking job.

Robert Smith from Florida was up with Jim Quinlan sailing with us and he helped me with getting the mats on straight. We had a great sail and then Bob went and rented a place in Belfast Maine for a month and is going on an extended sail trip up here on the Maine Island Trail!!

All colors represented, Yellow, Red, and even Gray...

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Bryan "Cujo" Edmonds

2015 Tandem Island "Supernova"
2014 Lund SSV18

Hi bedmonds: I got backboards too, and am looking for a good way to attach the front over the trampoline. How did you do it?

Great job with those spineboards Bryan!
I like the foam padding and all those handholds you get with a spineboard.
Are they a dished spineboard and is there much sag when hiked out in the middle?
Also what was the finished weight?
That location looks ideal for TI exploring/sailing.