: This summer, I launched a CLC 17LT. It hit the water in July lightly
: outfitted, since I was anxious to paddle before the summer slipped away.
: The 100 miles of paddling I did this summer was completed with the
: standard issue tractor seat, which I left loose to see what position would
: work best. I also left out the hip braces and thigh braces, which all made
: me a very timid calm water paddler this summer.

: Now that the weather here in NJ is cooling off, it is time to head into the
: shop and finish the job right. I am going to do a large carved foam seat,
: as depicted in the instructions on the One Ocean Kayak webite, and will
: use the excess foam to make hip braces. The standard CLC design is to put
: in vertical plywood hip braces alongside the seat. I think I could get
: more flotation/less water in the boat by padding out hip braces all the
: way to the sides of the hull, and would get to skip this part of the
: construction. I don't see any disadvantages to this - Does anyone else?
: Would solid minicell hip braces be rigid enough?

: Thanks in Advance

I would not delete the installation of the the plywood hip braces if the manufacturer recommends useing them. My plywood hip braces broke loose from practicing rolling. I used larger fillets when I reinstalled them. They add to the strength and integrity of the boat. I find that good knee/thigh braces give me good control.
: Steve C