I’ve been fannying around with this back rake issue on and off all day as it’s the only thing that bothers me with the X-Lite.
I’ll leave the maths to the boffins but it seemed that a lift of just 5mm at the base of the backrest resulted in the top of the backrest moving forward around 2” which was just about perfect for me.
I toyed with the idea of building up a stack of metal washers and screwing them into the plastic end caps but didn’t like the idea of all the weight bearing down on the frame through the screw head, I then mucked around with varying gauges of tubing from old chairs with a view to making an insert extension or collar for the seat frame and in the end I’ve decided on the easiest idea of all…
Take two brolly/bivvy pegs and slide ‘em under the backrest just before settling it to its maximum position, the T part of the peg sits nicely on the bracket without the danger of falling off and the angle is perfect… It’s non-permanent too so if you do want to recline a bit it’s still an option.
If you want something more permanent just cut a couple of two inch sections from a peg and tie wrap ‘em on, due to the washers on the insides of the bracket there's plenty of room for the tie wrap to go around.
Simples
On the general good idea front, I much prefer banksticks as discussed in another thread but if you are struggling then have a look at the various Ultimate I-Range universal attachment arms, they’re light and reasonably cheap, with the rubber insert collars they will fit just about anything and If like me you’re a complete and utter tart they’re also green and you don’t feel like you’re surrounded by a tangle of scaffolding!
If you add an angle-tilt to the front there are infinite options on height and rake to cover all angles of rod from butt to tip touching the water regardless of the drop to the water just by where you position them on the main frame…
Animals not included.
I know that Climax stock the I-Range stuff, I’ve just checked their website to include a link and it looks like it’s a new site and it’s a right monkeys breakfast, I can’t find anything.