Re: [Paddlewise] K-Light assembly

Guess I'm a little late for this thread.  Been busy .....

I think the K-Light might just go down in the history books as the best
folding
kayak ever invented.  Yes there are a number of steps to get the thing
assembled, but there are a lot of advantages to a folder (first and
foremost:
they fly -- albeit in the baggage compartment).  I didn't read all the
posts on
this thread but my two cents is to get the hatches -- both forward and aft.
They can be added on at the factory.

Megan and I bought our K-Lights about a year and a half ago.  I saw the
advantage to getting the rear hatch because it would aid in stuffing gear
into
the stern area.  She opted for a forward hatch in addition to the rear
hatch.
I couldn't see the point (who needs a hatch when you don't have bulkheads?)
and
opted to save $50 or so by leaving it out.  After a couple trips with the
boats
I air shipped my boat back to Vancouver to have the front hatch installed
(cost
me $100, but it was well worth it).  Besides the obvious reason to have
hatches
you also get the ability to move the bow and stern frame pieces into
position
much more easily.  You can also get at the air bags much more readily, and
it's
easier to connect the final frame tubes into the fore and aft frame
structures.  And the hatch design is totally cool.  No way water's getting
in
that way.

A couple other points.  There is a little velcro strap along the keel seam
both
fore and aft.  I find if I strap it loosely around the keel tube when the
frame
pieces are still about 6 or 8 inches from their final destination it helps
to
guide the frame into place and keeps the skin symmetrical side to side.
Also,
if you are following the instructions, I believe you install the frame
behind
the seat last.  Getting the shear line tubes up and into place could be the
hardest part of the assembly, especially the very last one.  What seems to
work
for me is to grab the back of the coaming in one hand and the frame behind
the
seat in the other and push down on the frame while pulling up on the
coaming.
In this way you sort of ooch any slack in the skin up toward the top of the
boat.  Be gentle but firm.  After doing this, the last tube seems to
eagerly
jump into place.

The K-Light is an amazing boat and defies all reason as to why it is so
fast
and fun to paddle.  If you're in the market for a folding boat give this
one
serious consideration.  Standard disclaimer:  I have no affiliation with
Feathercraft whatsoever except that I am a satisfied customer.

Hope that helps.  Ralph, if any of that made sense, you have my permission
to
use it in your folding kayak newsletter.

"Karen H." wrote:

> I just compared written assembly instructions to the Feathercraft video
> assembly and notice that while the coaming is installed as step 9 in the
> written instructions (before the large crossribs are installed), the
> video version installs the coaming at something like step 13.... AFTER
> the crossribs are installed. I have been following written instructions
> exactly. I wonder if that might be contributing to the difficulty I have
> getting the crossribs in place? I will try next assembly as performed in
> the video....
> Karen
> --
> Karen Hancock
> San Clemente, CA
> magpi_at_access1.net
> 949/487-2602
> ***************************************************************************
> PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
> Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
> Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
> Website:         http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/
> ***************************************************************************

--
find web solutions at
http://www.digitalnature.net/

***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/
***************************************************************************