Foot Brace

[Russell]

I read on the article on how to prepare for the Kenduskeag and came across a reference to making your own foot brace with rope and a board? Can anyone explain how that might work - or is it easier to buy something. I'm looking to install into the stern of a recreational canoe for a 64 km mostly flat water race in Ontario.

[FRAN CYR]

You can make your own aluminum footbrace pretty cheap.

All you need is 1/16 x1 inch angle aluminum and 1 inch aluminum tubing with a smaller size that will telescope inside the 1 inch.
Rivets, and a drill and not fear drilling holes in your canoe.

Or you can buy one at www.wenonah.com/products/template/product_detail.php?IID=186&SID=57cec164ed8fce2e886d51bef0faab43

Here is a pic of one you could build yourself or buy
www.westerncanoekayak.com/product_spec.php?item_description_id=5654

Good luck.

[fred]

There may be fancier ways, but basically you take a small board (maybe 3" x 24" x as thin as possible so it won't break; these dimensions assume you are in the stern) and put a small hole in either end. Put rope through each hole and knot it so it won't pull through. Attach the other ends of the ropes to somewhere back by the seat. There you go!