I have an AE Sport and chose the backbone attachment over the dropstitch floor. It also requires careful centering, but it improves tracking significantly. The standard floor over the backbone is comfortable unless it loses pressure, as mine seems to be doing now however slowly. I'd check it for a leak, but I don't paddle the Sport much since I got an Itiwit x500 earlier this year.
Thank you so much for putting this video together. It is so helpful. I especially like the tip of flipping it over to check alignment while practicing. I made several mistakes on my maiden voyage with the dropstitch floor. I'll use your techniques and practice a few times before my next trip. I'm much more confident that I'll get it right next time. Thanks again! Keep up the great work!
Treasure Pirate , I’m glad you liked the video. My viewers are very important to me and when a question arises that I feel warrants a video I will produce it. Also, it will help others having the same problems. I know you will nail it the next time you go out.
Yet again, your videos are a great resource! I purchased a convertible about a year ago, and TBH it's been a pain to use with the dropstitch floor in solo mode because it constantly tracks to the right or to the left since it's hard to get the floor straight. The instructions say to fill the outer bladders until there is structure, then the DS floor, then the inner bladders. But this almost always leaves the DS floor askew somehow. Plus I've found that the fin can get bent over time since it's literally where you need to fold the kayak for storage in its bag. It will probably straighten up on its own if left unfolded for awhile, but I really wish they'd moved it forward or back about 6 inches so it was away from the folding point. Combine that with the DS floor being out of whack, and it is hard to control - and that's a big boat to constantly have to correct. I totally agree with the question asker's experience of paddling once on the right for every two to the left, or whatever. It definitely makes for a bad experience. I'll try filling the convertible up without the floor next time, and add it after and see if that makes a difference. If it's really that simple, it could really make me use the boat more often. As of right now I mostly keep it stabled except for tandem fishing trips with a buddy since we don't have to move it much once we get to a fishing hole.
Nice to see you still putting out videos. I'm surprised no one else has problems with the inflation of the DS floors. As I mentioned in one of your other videos, routinely, when I disconnect the hose, the air will escape. Generally takes me two tries: maddening.
Bruce Wayne , Hi Bruce, here is the secret. On your adapter that little triangle that strings the connectors, place your thumb on that and use that to twist it off using the adapter triangle piece as leverage. Try that and get back to me. If that doesn’t work for you I will shoot a short video on how to do it.
I had the same problem with my dropstich on my Solstice kayak. If it works the same the valve should be up to start. The connector will push the valve down to let air in and then it should automatically pop back when you take it out. You have to untwist the adaptor in the opposite direction that you twisted it on. Mine don't like to pop up now because I left the valves down too many times and the springs I think got weak.
@@Carlb328 Funny you mention this as I've been deliberately making sure the value is up. I use to assume that if it was down then it was ready to fill. So making sure the value is up & using Dale's trick with the triangle has really helped. As it is, I have a leak in the DS Floor that I have to fix :(
I appreciate your thorough, enthusiastic videos! Very helpful. Can the DS floor be deflated and left in the boat when folding/storing it in the carry bag? REI lists DS weight at 4#6oz, and the single kayak backbone at 2#14oz - so just 2#8oz more. Not bad, but darn, I was so pleased that the boat only weighs 26 pounds. I pick it up from REI today ;~) Thanks.
Here's one for you....I recently fitted the dropstitch floor to my ultralite and was wondering how much extra weight could I carry as the buoyancy is increased???
James Reasoner Hi James, yes in warm weather what ever your main chamber recommends cut it by a 1/4 pound. Example; max main chamber 2lbs, fill to1.75lbs in hot sun or hot days. During your paddle the water temperature will equalize the expansion. Don’t keep in direct sunlight (not on water) as expansion will be greater. When I’m at a camp site and my yak is inflated I will cut the main chambers by 50%. I top off at launch. Hope that helps.
@@DaleMrDSimmons Thanks for the quick reply. When I was a kid, I busted a seam in a canvas inflatable raft by letting it sit in the sun while I had a nice lunch on the beach.So, I had a suspicion that PSI would be equally important in a yak.
tanyar9 not a Dumb question there’s really no dumb questions but what you do is you pull the stock floor out and replace it with the drop stitch floor Hope that answers your question thanks for watching
@@DaleMrDSimmons yes after I posted this I watched another of your videos where you take the standard floor out. I am taking my sport out tomorrow with the drop stitch floor, first time with the new floor. So did a set up this afternoon to install in. I will let you know how I get on. Thanks so much, love your videos.
I have an AE Sport and chose the backbone attachment over the dropstitch floor. It also requires careful centering, but it improves tracking significantly. The standard floor over the backbone is comfortable unless it loses pressure, as mine seems to be doing now however slowly. I'd check it for a leak, but I don't paddle the Sport much since I got an Itiwit x500 earlier this year.
Thank you so much for putting this video together. It is so helpful. I especially like the tip of flipping it over to check alignment while practicing. I made several mistakes on my maiden voyage with the dropstitch floor. I'll use your techniques and practice a few times before my next trip. I'm much more confident that I'll get it right next time. Thanks again! Keep up the great work!
Treasure Pirate , I’m glad you liked the video. My viewers are very important to me and when a question arises that I feel warrants a video I will produce it. Also, it will help others having the same problems. I know you will nail it the next time you go out.
Thank you! I had trouble getting it centered on the maiden voyage. Thought maybe I should have stuck with the standard floor. This helps so much.
You are so welcome
Yet again, your videos are a great resource! I purchased a convertible about a year ago, and TBH it's been a pain to use with the dropstitch floor in solo mode because it constantly tracks to the right or to the left since it's hard to get the floor straight. The instructions say to fill the outer bladders until there is structure, then the DS floor, then the inner bladders. But this almost always leaves the DS floor askew somehow. Plus I've found that the fin can get bent over time since it's literally where you need to fold the kayak for storage in its bag. It will probably straighten up on its own if left unfolded for awhile, but I really wish they'd moved it forward or back about 6 inches so it was away from the folding point. Combine that with the DS floor being out of whack, and it is hard to control - and that's a big boat to constantly have to correct. I totally agree with the question asker's experience of paddling once on the right for every two to the left, or whatever. It definitely makes for a bad experience.
I'll try filling the convertible up without the floor next time, and add it after and see if that makes a difference. If it's really that simple, it could really make me use the boat more often. As of right now I mostly keep it stabled except for tandem fishing trips with a buddy since we don't have to move it much once we get to a fishing hole.
You're videos have been so helpful for researching a gift for my wife. Thanks Mr. D. You're great
Corey Horning I’m glad I could be of service. Thank you for watching.
great video, I am waiting for my sport with the optional DS floor to arrive and meanwhile I am schooling myself :))
Congrats, thanks for watching.
Keep up the great videos! Thanks for all the great content!
You are welcome. That’s why I do these.
Nice to see you still putting out videos. I'm surprised no one else has problems with the inflation of the DS floors. As I mentioned in one of your other videos, routinely, when I disconnect the hose, the air will escape. Generally takes me two tries: maddening.
Bruce Wayne , Hi Bruce, here is the secret. On your adapter that little triangle that strings the connectors, place your thumb on that and use that to twist it off using the adapter triangle piece as leverage. Try that and get back to me. If that doesn’t work for you I will shoot a short video on how to do it.
@@DaleMrDSimmons I'll give it a shot.
Dale, I may have posted a comment on another video. I have the tandem & remembered you had a video on aligning the DS; something else to try :)
I had the same problem with my dropstich on my Solstice kayak. If it works the same the valve should be up to start. The connector will push the valve down to let air in and then it should automatically pop back when you take it out. You have to untwist the adaptor in the opposite direction that you twisted it on. Mine don't like to pop up now because I left the valves down too many times and the springs I think got weak.
@@Carlb328 Funny you mention this as I've been deliberately making sure the value is up. I use to assume that if it was down then it was ready to fill. So making sure the value is up & using Dale's trick with the triangle has really helped. As it is, I have a leak in the DS Floor that I have to fix :(
Very helpful! Thanks! Lets see how I go with my AE1007.
You’re welcome and thanks for watching
Explained well 🚣♀️
I appreciate your thorough, enthusiastic videos! Very helpful. Can the DS floor be deflated and left in the boat when folding/storing it in the carry bag? REI lists DS weight at 4#6oz, and the single kayak backbone at 2#14oz - so just 2#8oz more. Not bad, but darn, I was so pleased that the boat only weighs 26 pounds. I pick it up from REI today ;~) Thanks.
Awesome happy for you and yes I leave mine in all the time. Thanks for watching
Has your floor held up over the years? Considering buying it but read mixed reviews online
I’ve had mine over 5 years with no problems. Way better than stock floor in the sport
Here's one for you....I recently fitted the dropstitch floor to my ultralite and was wondering how much extra weight could I carry as the buoyancy is increased???
probably close to the regular sport allowance, I would guess 220-230.
Good morning, where can I buy a floor like this for an Advanced Elements Lagoon? online, thank you.
You can’t. Not made for the Lagoon 1
😥thank you@@DaleMrDSimmons
Any worries about inflating a kayak on a warm day, then launching into cold water? Do I need to check the air pressure in the chambers very often?
James Reasoner Hi James, yes in warm weather what ever your main chamber recommends cut it by a 1/4 pound. Example; max main chamber 2lbs, fill to1.75lbs in hot sun or hot days. During your paddle the water temperature will equalize the expansion. Don’t keep in direct sunlight (not on water) as expansion will be greater. When I’m at a camp site and my yak is inflated I will cut the main chambers by 50%. I top off at launch. Hope that helps.
@@DaleMrDSimmons Thanks for the quick reply. When I was a kid, I busted a seam in a canvas inflatable raft by letting it sit in the sun while I had a nice lunch on the beach.So, I had a suspicion that PSI would be equally important in a yak.
Hi Dale dumb question, with the drop stitch floor do you still use the original floor or put drop stitch floor directly in.
tanyar9 not a Dumb question there’s really no dumb questions but what you do is you pull the stock floor out and replace it with the drop stitch floor Hope that answers your question thanks for watching
@@DaleMrDSimmons yes after I posted this I watched another of your videos where you take the standard floor out. I am taking my sport out tomorrow with the drop stitch floor, first time with the new floor. So did a set up this afternoon to install in. I will let you know how I get on. Thanks so much, love your videos.
Thanks Mr D.!
What's the reference for this drop stich floor? ( fitting the AE sport model)
Thanks
CM
Don’t understand “What’s the reference?”
@@DaleMrDSimmons product # (ID #)
@@arqcm AE-DS 1012