In a message dated 3/16/99 6:34:11 PM Pacific Standard Time, magpi_at_access1.net writes: << Please someone, design a folding boat that doesn't require so much muscle! >> Karen, if it's taking muscle, you're not doing it right. There should be little effort needed for most assembly or disassembly procedures. I'm not sure what your exact complaint is about getting the end assemblies out of the skin, but since you mention strength, I'll assume you mean that the bow and stern sections are sticking in the ends of the skin. If this is the case, don't try to muscle them out. Instead, try this: 1. kneel at the end of the boat, facing the cockpit; 2. grab the bow (stern) at the very end with your right hand, then grab the keel line of the skin with your left hand (palm up) back about 12 to 16 inches from your right; 3. with the heel of your right hand against the tip of the bow (stern) give a quick, short, jabbing push back toward the cockpit. This will usually cause the skin to buckle a little between the opposing hands and break the end of the frame loose from the inside of the skin, allowing it to be pulled easily out from the cockpit opening. Has the boat been left assembled for some time, or disassembled each time it is used? It could be that grit and salt are contributing to the problem. If the former does not work, I would try spraying some water inside. While my Khatsalano is harder to build and take apart than the K-Light, the former technique always works fine and doesn't really take lots of strength. I find it even easier on the K-Light. <<While getting the big struts INTO place is the sticking point when I put it together . . . >> Again not enough info to tell me exactly what the problem is. By "struts" do you mean the tubes or the ribs? If you are having problems slipping the sleeves over the center section tubes to join the front and rear assemblies, (not uncommon) the answer again is not to muscle it. 1. Position yourself on the side of the cockpit opposite the tubes you are joining (don't attempt to work on the same-side tubes -- its just too frustrating); 2. grab the sliding sleeve in one hand - palm down, and the matching tube with the other hand; 3. gently pull both tubes back toward you, away from the skin, bending the tubes slightly to align the ends; 4. when you have the tubes aligned, slide the sleeve hand toward the opposite hand to slip the sleeve onto the matching tube; 3. if any excess friction is felt, try realigning the tubes slightly and wiggle the tubes lightly. This should not take muscle. Do make certain the tubes and sleeves are free of grit and have a light coating of the lubricant supplied by FC. Hope this helps. If I had more info, I might be better able to describe the process. Some of the little tricks that Doug Simpson of FC uses to make the assembly go easier are not real obvious from the video and instructions. And while the assembly may not be as easy as for some of the other folders out there, the K-Light's a great little boat and I think the performance is worth it. Good luck, and have a great trip. <<Are any women on the list . . . >> Ooops! Not quite a lady, :-) Harold *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue Mar 16 1999 - 22:15:38 PST
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