Philip M. Green wrote: > > I'm thinking of buying a Feathercraft K1 Expedition. What are the > opinions of the experts out there about this boat and how do you think > it compares with the newly designed K1 for 1998 (with the upswept bow). > Thanks, > Phil I haven't seen the 1998 one, even in prototype. But I can comment on the K-1 older version. It tracks extremely well and doesn't need a rudder under any conditions if you have any paddling skills at all in keeping a boat going straight (such as a bit of body lean, chock up on paddle, such fine tuning paddling technique). It is pretty fast. Despite all the hoopalah about the Khats, the sleek sister Greenland Feathercraft model, the top speed difference is not all that great. The K-1 holds a ton of gear (well I don't literally mean a ton, but certainly all you will ever need to bring on an extended voyage). It doesn't weathercock. It is just a very fine boat. >From the foldability aspect, however, it is among the slowest in assembly time for singles. The deck material (until now) has been cordura nylon which has a range of shrinkage and stretch that can give you trouble. The technique is to pour water on the deck if you are having any problem with extending the frame halves in the boat during assembly. This works like a charm. What also takes time is the fact that you have to do a levering action at five points in the frame, and sometimes repeat the process a second time at at least three of those spots. That is what takes time. best, ralph -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net ***************************************************************************Received on Thu Feb 05 1998 - 06:55:13 PST
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