Jason Cole kindly agreed for his Jackson Kayak Backrest upgrade guide to be included on Unsponsored. It looks like it could be a very worth while upgrade for older Jackson boats.
On numerous occasions I’d been at Lee Valley, with the backrest pulled in tight, thinking, “wouldn’t it be nice if it was just a bit bigger?”. It also kept slipping down, which I’d mitigated by fitting toggles, but it was still not 100%.
The other day I visited WWTCC and sat in a new Jackson Karma, bloody huge boat! But I was really taken by the new-style backrest – which are sold as kits. They didn’t have any in stock at WWTCC so got one from Squarerock as I was in a hurry to get one.
Pilot hole, drilling *very* carefully to only go through one layer. I used a centre punch to mark the position of the hole and to prevent the drill from slipping later on.
5.5mm drill bit was used.
Finishing with a countersink.
Attaching wire to the rope, so that pulling it back through isn’t a nightmare.
Wire pulled through.
Threading the new bungee cord through the holes. Again made easier with wire.
Feeding through the tiny channel above the rear pillar.
Rope now attached to the backrest and fed through the cleat.
All in place, tightened up. And it doesn’t sag like the old one!
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