i would like to install foot braces on my Merlin. I really don't want to drill holes in my boat so the glue in type are what I would need. I did do a site search here but started reading a bunch of posts and got sidetracked plus I did not find an answer to my question which is, will they really stay put once they are glued in? Can someone recommend a glue in foot rest that has worked for them.? Also has anyone here ever came up with a DIY type of foot rest that could be mounted to the thwart in front of the seat. I usually sit/kneel when I paddle this boat but when I pull my legs forward and just sit a foot rest would be great. Thanks ~JOE~

Glue in works fine provided you use the right glue. I think your best bet would be to start with a Wenonah kit and mount them to some strips of wood that are glued it, you will have to take some care to shape the wood to hulls curve but it shouldn't be too bad, otherwise you could try some welding studs and glue those in, then mount a let to those.

I just take my projects like this to Northwest Canoe in St. Paul. Great guys - good work. Northwest canoe

Placid Boatworks uses Harmony foot pegs secured with Plexus from Jamestown Distributors.

quote Grandma L: "I just take my projects like this to Northwest Canoe in St. Paul. Great guys - good work. Northwest canoe "

I have known a few people that were very unhappy with footrests installed by them, not saying that's always the case but I think they glass them in, plenty strong but from what I've seen/heard a bit on the ugly side. So I'd make sure you have a good expectation of what the end result will look like. Also one friend had his put in way too short (he let them choose the distance based on their knowledge), I think they ended up fixing it but it left marks where it previously was, a real debocal on a really nice boat, a black gold Magic.

quote yellowcanoe: "Placid Boatworks uses Harmony foot pegs secured with Plexus from Jamestown Distributors."

Plexus or similar is what I would be looking at, I used one in that family of adhesives on mine, but I was gluing aluminum to composite, if it were plastic or wood I would have went with the Plexus or some other ITW Devcon Methacrylate. The sucky thing is you almost need the special gun to use it, I guess you could try and drain the cartridge and mix it with a stick but the gun with the mixing tip is very convenient.

If it is a two part epoxy gun( looks like a double barrel caulk gun) then I have that. ~JOE~

quote joetrain: "If it is a two part epoxy gun( looks like a double barrel caulk gun) then I have that. ~JOE~"

I think that's exactly what it is, there is a pic of it somewhere in this thread

Here's a DIY alternative. I also used the Plexus adhesive from Jamestown. I bought two tubes of the stuff and used nearly all of it. I think I did this 5 or 6 years ago and they are still holding well. You need to shape the backs of the wooden blocks to be close to the shape of the hull, otherwise it's pretty straight forward.

I think the Placid guys use sandbags somehow to mold the shape of the track ( plastic) to the hull

But Dave Curtis at Hemlock uses a strip of wood the length of the track but molded to the shape of the hull so the track does not stress when it is straight and the hull is not.

quote WHendrix: "Here's a DIY alternative. I also used the Plexus adhesive from Jamestown. I bought two tubes of the stuff and used nearly all of it. I think I did this 5 or 6 years ago and they are still holding well. You need to shape the backs of the wooden blocks to be close to the shape of the hull, otherwise it's pretty straight forward.


"

That's some Beefy extrusion!

quote WHendrix: "Here's a DIY alternative. I also used the Plexus adhesive from Jamestown. I bought two tubes of the stuff and used nearly all of it. I think I did this 5 or 6 years ago and they are still holding well. You need to shape the backs of the wooden blocks to be close to the shape of the hull, otherwise it's pretty straight forward.


"

This looks doable for me. 2 questions, are the foot rests sliding and if so how are the mounted? Thanks ~JOE~

Yes, they are pretty beefy extrusions. They are the tracks that woodworkers use on things like router tables to mount jigs and guides. They are available at most woodworking supply places like Woodcraft and Rockler. I've thought on several occasions to look for some smaller tracks but just never got around to it.

The foot braces themselves do slide, that's the whole point of the tracks. They are mounted to the tracks with T bolts that slide in the tracks and large plastic knobs. These too are available at woodworking supply stores.

Bill

I installed a Wenonah foot brace in my Magic a few years back and have been pleased with the results. Shaped a couple pieces of Ash to fit the hull then attached with Plexus MA-300. Also used the Plexus to attach the aluminum foot brace to the strips of Ash. Haven't had any problems with the install and it is still holding strong.

quote CampCoffee: "I installed a Wenonah foot brace in my Magic a few years back and have been pleased with the results. Shaped a couple pieces of Ash to fit the hull then attached with Plexus MA-300. Also used the Plexus to attach the aluminum foot brace to the strips of Ash. Haven't had any problems with the install and it is still holding strong. "

That is exactly how I would do it if I did it again

Kayaks come with foot braces, some nice systems are out there. Has anyone used that approach? It seems there are some older boats at the end of their life cycle that could have useful foot braces.

I put a set in my Royalex Bell Rockstar. In that case I just drilled the holes and used inner tube pieces to make the hole waterproof. It's worked well for four years now. I don't think I'd be drilling holes in a Kevlar canoe though.

nicely done campcoffee!