Comfortroll / Flatfoot

[Rick Perez]

I would like to get some feedback from folks that have the Comfortroll or Flatfoot and if you are getting any benefits from having them. I'm considering putting one in the boat but I don't think I could bring myself to making the first cut. Who's out there doing installs of this product.

thanks in advance.
Rick

[bahlzar]

ha ha, i had the same worries......I have a fish & ski that came with a hand twist motorguide.......So i installed a 82lb thrust 24 voly motorguide ....I bought the comfortrol from c&c marine,,took it home and stared at it for a while and then just went for it...it comes with a template so you really cant go wrong...when its all done youll love it, the pedal is nice and level with the deck, takes alot of pressure off the back leg.........I will admit that first cut was hard to make!!!!!!

Good Luck

[Mike]

I too installed a comfortroll in my Ranger. It was easy. The toughest part is getting the peice if decking out after you cut out the template. It is stuck in there by the foam, so dont panic like I did when it wouldnt come out. I got a 2" wood screw and screwed it about 3/4" from the edge of the cut out section and used a claw hammer to pry it up, then used the claw to chip out a hole in the foam for the pan to sit in. There is a 1" lip around the comfortroll, so it will hide any over cut or rough edges.

[Norv]

Rick,

I installed one on my Triton 190FS and the first cut was the toughest. I didn't have any cross supports or compartment walls that interferred so it was an easy install. The benefits are terrific. Much more comfortable and no more sore legs or back. It's also much easier to move around in the front without worrying about tripping on the foot pedal.

[BB]

I am curious to know if anyone has put one in a Tracker or similar aluminum type of boat, and if so, how did it go and what should a potential user be aware of before installing one? Just looking for your thoughts, advice and input. Thanks in advance.

BB

[Slippy]

Rick

I have a old Jig saw and some beers.... lets do this!

[Mike]

I tried the jigsaw, it was ok for the round cut at the bottom, but a sawzall works a lot better for the strait cuts. That plywood is about 1" thick and is hard to cut with the jigsaw.

[Ken C.]

Rick, what boat do you have? I installed a FlatFoot in my Skeeter last year. Best thing I ever did to my boat. Getting the testicular fortitude to make the cut is the hardest part. Just take your time, measure twice, then check it one more time again before you start cutting. Here is a link to a write-up with pictures I did of my installation:

Recessed Pedal Tray Installation

If you have a Ranger or an aluminum boat you are likely going to find floatation foam under the deck as Mike did. That foam will need to be dug out under the area of the pedal. Some folks recommend sealing the face of the cut-out foam so it won't soak up water, but that's up to you! In some cases (Rangers mostly) you will be cutting into a front storage box or possibly a livewell. My Skeeter is all 'glass on the deck, I think Tritons are the same. After going through a stack of metal-cutting jigsaw blades I found a carbide blade that cut it like butter.

It's not hard to do, but if you'd rather have someone else punch the hole, depending on where you are located you can find someone to do it. Gene at the Hook does them, Inland Marine in Antioch, C & C Marine or Galaxie Marine will take care of you as well.

Before I put mine in I was good for about 3 or 4 hours before I had to lie down for a bit because of back problems. After the install, we spent 3 full days on Clear Lake and I only had problems late in the third day! Your back will love you for it!

[350V RGR]

I was just woundering, Why don't the Boat manufacters install these foot pedals off center?

I don't want to be funny. But it would more comfortable to me if I wasn't having to put my foot strait out in front of were my seat is.

Even when I stand IF I had a OFF-SET foot control. I could stay in the center of the boat. Insted of standing off to one side.

I dont have a cut out for my foot control so I always set it off to one side. I guess, Im just woundering if any body else has the same thoughts in this matter.

Yea, I know about rod lockers and storage. It wouldn't have tobe that much to make a big differance.

Anyway, just something I have been thinking about for awhile and this seemed like a good post to bring it up.

Will Mathers

[Mike]

Dont you change feet when you change directions? I do, and "think" that why you would want you pedal in the center?

[Ken C.]

Then you'd have to get into "Lefty" and "Righty" boats. And how much offset is good for everyone?

Mine is in the center and I change feet for comfort, not necessarily when I change direction. I will also change feet when a wake or wave is going to bounce the boat from one side or the other so that my "planted foot" is away from the side the wake/wave will hit...

[350V RGR]

Mike,

Man you had me thinken there for a minute. I never really thought about changing feet. But for me, I don't change feet.

Ken yea, I know it would have to be an "option" on Boats. Lefty-Righty no big deal just look at our Reels these days. Heck it wont take to much to make it more comfortable. Just remember where you had your foot control before you cut a hole. 3"-5" would be all that is needed to add comfort.

Im just saying, I have never put my foot control directly infront of me.

Will Mathers

[marklar]

I am curious to know if anyone has put one in a Tracker or similar aluminum type of boat, and if so, how did it go and what should a potential user be aware of before installing one? Just looking for your thoughts, advice and input. Thanks in advance.

BB

i have a comfortroll installed in my tracker pt 175. i installed mine as far forward as possible. The front edge of the comfortroll sits flush with the bow panel. the only problem i encountered was from the front storage box. i had to cut a section off the top edge of the storage box so the heal edge of the comfortroll would sit flush with the deck. as far as the foam goes there wasn't any that i needed to cut in order to get a proper fit.

[skeeter195]

the comfortroll is awesome i would recomend it.

[MIKE VAN WAGNER]

Comfort troll works really well in the 520 we have installed quite a few it works best with the Minnkota trolling motor.
Give me a call if you have any questions Rick.

[Rick Perez]

na

[mark poulson]

I put a Flatfoot in my Tracker 175. Mine is an '04. The Flatfoot has a sloped rear end, so it cleared my storage locker. I pulled off the front panel that has the trim controls mounted to it, so I could look underneath the deck before I cut to see if anything was in the way.
Turns out there are two aluminum support bars running from side to side. The Flatfoot fit perfectly between the two bars, with no room to spare. It did line up with the edge of the front panel.
The foam was low enough to allow clearance.
I cut the carpet off the area first, using their template, and then used a skill saw to cut the deck, being careful not to run my cuts past the corners. I use a jigsaw to cut the corners, and it was done. The plywood decking is pressure treated, but, when I installed the Flatfoot, I sealed the plywood cuts with silicone sealant (Clearseal) and also use the silicone to seat the Flatfoot, just to make it really solid.
It has been a lifesaver. No more back spasms on the way home.
I used part of the deck that was cut out, with another layer of 3/4" plywood, to space the pedal up enough for it to feel really comfortable for me. That's a personal preference thing. Just be sure to mount the pedal as far back in the recess as you can, so the cables aren't pinched in front. The front of the recess is square, and the back is sloped, to let you have full range of motion of the pedal, even though it's recessed.
While I had the panel off the front, I made my rod locker big enough to hold 9' rods. The original rod locker ends in the bow with an aluminum sleeve that is closed by bending the bottom up and back onto the rod sleeve. I bent that carpeted aluminum finger down until it was flush with the hull, and then glued some indoor/outdoor carpet onto the inside face of the hull where the rods could touch. It was easier to do than it is to describe.

[Hitman]

Rick, My only regret was not doing it sooner!!!! It's pretty simple once you get up the nerve to make the first cut. It took me about an hour and a half to complete my first one. I later helped my team partner do his in an hour.

BTW I went with Comfortroll

Hitmam