Using an Adapter Block to Rig a Falcon Sail on a Kayak Without a Flat Deck

Download a pdf copy of our deck measuring tool.

Most kayaks do not have a flat deck. So a Falcon Sails rigging kit includes a pre cut deck and under deck adapter block that matches your kayak. This makes rigging a sail easy and solid.

In the picture below you can see how an adapter block is used to transition from the non-flat deck on a kayak to the Falcon Sail deck plate (the black aluminum piece with the Falcon Insignia laser inscribed on it). There are more examples below.

The adapter blocks being made of soft plastic is great because they will gently and solidly engage the deck of your kayak. In addition to that they will conform to imperfections. When you order a Falcon Sail, we will provide the closest matching adapter block that fits your deck. Our adapter blocks are easy to reshape with sand paper, so you can adjust them to perfection if you like with just a minute or two of sanding. They are similar in density to balsa wood. In the picture below, you can see a standard pre-cut adapter block kit along with the deck plate and deck support strut assembly. A pre-cut adapter block kit includes a deck adapter block (shown in black) and an under deck adapter block (shown in white). All these parts are included when you buy a Falcon Sail with a rigging kit. The assembly includes the aluminum deck plate (the part with the falcon graphic inscribed on it) and an aluminum under deck plate. Your deck gets sandwiched in the middle of this assembly. When you purchase anything from Falcon Sails, we ask what kayak you want the parts for, so we make sure you have the parts you need for a fast and solid rigging job. If we are not sure which adapter blocks will fit the best with your kayak, we will provide a collection of adapters so you can use the one that fits the best. Every Falcon Sail rigging kit includes a minimum of 1 deck adapter kit. If you do not let us know what kayak you will be rigging your sail on during the purchase process, do not worry. We will make every effort we can to make sure we find out what kayak you plan to rig the sail on before we ship your rigging kit. We maintain a kayak database that includes rigging plans and rigging parts list for over 2,000 different kayaks. On a rare occasion, we may not have all the information on a specific kayak. If this is the case, we will send to you a PDF copy of our deck measuring tool. Click here to download a copy of it now. Our deck measuring tool shows the shape of all our standard pre-cut adapter blocks and makes it very easy to select what pre-cut adapter block is best for your kayak. Before you select what pre-cut adapter block is best for your kayak, you will need to determine where you will rig the deck plate / the base of your mast. You can call our shop or email us and we will quickly figure out the best place to locate your mast. Or you can use our instructions on deciding where to locate the mast. We will work with you until we have a rigging plan with a thorough and complete parts list for your kayak.

Some kayak decks are a bit more complex. In that case we will include some 2-part filler and instructions to make sure your adapter block is a perfect match for your deck.
If you like, you can make your own adapter block it. Some people prefer to do this so they can have one made out of teak, or make it special somehow. On your request, we can provide teak adapter block blanks for you to cut into shape. A contour gauge can be handy to measure a kayak deck. You can use a contour gauge to measure your deck and compare it to our deck measuring tool. You can also use the contour gauge to help you make your own adapter block. As of writing, basic contour gauges like you see in this picture are available on Amazon for under $10. This kind of tool is available at most hardware stores, home improvement stores, and flooring suppliers.