Can we drop back for a moment?  When I first got into racing offroad triathlons one of the first things I did was wax my kayak thinking that anything really slick would be faster.  Then like a lot of things I do,I started looking into what wax would be the best and came across many discussions about waxing and polishing.  In general most agreed that waxing a hull was a bad thing to do, actually slowing the hull down because water doesn't act like air.  So while I think the polished boat looks super cool, does polishing/waxing help or not?   Is it different for a metal boat (aluminum) vs.  a kevlar/carbon/gel coat boat?  Does polishing leave anything on the hull or does it just actually smooth the metal.   So-o-o-o many questions.   Wally are your fingers too tired to answer this one?

Yankee clipper, Wally "Mastodontico" Werderich is right you are a little wierd. Do you see disease and mayhem in everything?  It reminds me of Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady. 
However, your advice, much like professor Higgins, is very applicable and will be put to good use.  I think the "Los Humungos Paddleos" are unique as well. Come to think of it all "river rats" are...that means I am one of them . But I am going to do this Hepburn style. 
How do you order seats and pieces from Wenonah, I didn't see them as a seperate item on the website?

Jack Spencer makes carbon fiber tractor seats with the slider tubes incorporated into the mold. Pretty cool, but might be more than is needed for a rec boat. --West

Just you wait Henry Higgins just you wait... 

JeenniferMarie, to check out the parts on the website for Wenonah, just go over to the column on the left hand side and click on the accessories link.  I did not see the seats on there though.  You can call them on the phone here: 1-866-wenonah.  As Charlie said above, you can then ask for someone who deals with parts.  Tell them Mastodontico sent ya...ah uhm...on second thought, better not.   

Jimmmmaaaaa, Charlie gives good advice.  For speed, do not wax a composite boat.  Sometimes I wax them, but it is just to bring the shine back.  I use NuPolish. 

As far as aluminum boats go, to be honest, I do not know if waxing will help the performance.  I do know that shiny boats give you mucho machismo!  Chica's dig it.   We polished the crap out of ours before nationals, but that is only because we were trying to look fabolouso!  Can you guess which canoe is ours?

another

another yet

Nice and shiny!  The mochoness is mighty with that one! and I can't wait to see the post results from the ubbershine proccess.
Thank you for posting the picture of your padded seat.  That give us some grand ideas.

I went out last night with my partner awe are testing things out and gathering ideas for how for our rigging/  Your pistures and the posts on here are giving us great idas.  This will be our first race togeather so the better prepared we are the better..  Thanks All  and Keep posting this is a great fountain of knowlegde/experience from those that have been there before.

For the drink systems, I would recomend using a bite tip or surgical hose clamp on the hose.  Those work best.  To hold the drink container to the bottom of the boat, I use ethafoam.  To hold the ethafoam to the bottom of the boat, use contact cement.

For a place to purchase any or all of the above (including the whole drinking system - cooler, clamp, hose, ethafoam and all), lighting systems (bow lights and nav lights), seat pads, and any other outfitting stuff check out Double Check Outfitters.  They do not have a website yet (I have been on them to get one up).  Drop me a line at walldozer(at)aol.com and I will get you connected.

 

Speaking of the Charles River canoe and it's use in Deliverance....

I always make a habit of watching Deliverance before a canoe trip....my 12 year old son said he was "twitchy" on the Buffalo river passing by those big bluffs after watching the movie the night before.  I'm such an awesome Dad!

guess I'll be watching it in KC the night before the race...look me up at the hotel if you want to sit in and listen to the banjos.

Joe

Alright I finished HOURS of sanding & polishing, lightly waxing & buffing   the "lead sled." It may not have a mirror finish like what we were trying for or like wally's, however my husband, the dog and I am very pleased with the results. I don't think it has had any "love" like this since 1980, at least.   Hopefully you can see the before & after difference and it still looks good for the race since there will be no other chance before the race; between, many 10 miles lake runs, a 146 mile pratice river run and studying & taking the NCLEX ( state boards) to complete my RN.