HTERVORT_at_aol.com wrote: > > Karen, > > Glad you had such a good time. > > A couple suggestions for further consideration. > > All the Feathercraft *except* the K-Light have color-coded parts (with the > assumption that the Light is so easy to assemble). Even so, I've added > additional color coding to my Khats to help eliminate the backwards / backup / > redo syndrome. I agree with Harold on the suggestion of marking everything with tape although I have not yet done it with the K-Light. Since I find myself talking with people a lot when assembling this boat, I have made every mistake in the book. For example put the frame halves in the wrong halves of the hull. Same with the direction of the seat. Distraction usually causes this, but it is hard not to be social, and besides, if the great guru I am supposed to be can make a mistake, it makes others feel better...at least that is my excuse. :-) I was surprised to see that you (Karen) felt that the K-Light acted like a slug when loaded. My own experience with it loaded with up to six days of stuff and water was quite surprisingly fast. On one such trip, I wound up starting off the trip with a fellow alongside me in a fiberglass boat and he only loaded for a day trip. The guy commented on how fast the K-Light was moving. I think you may have to work on improving your paddling stroke for power and efficiency as well as get the assembly down pat. You said you may want a hardshell the next time but my suspicion is that you would find even a hardshell slow when loaded with gear. > Also, since I don't assemble my Khats all that frequently, I will review the > tape and instructions and assemble the boat once or twice before a trip to re- > familiarize myself and hopefully avoid beach frustration. This shakedown > assembly also provides me with an opportunity to perform a complete > inspection, cleaning and lubrication of all components. It is surprising how assembly becomes second nature if you do it a few times. My problem sometimes is that I deal with so many different models of boats that I tend to forget the order in some places. Also a boat like the K-Light has gone through quite a few iterations since introduced in the Spring of 1993. I had ingrained in me little quirks that were different and sometimes I slip up with the newer versions. For example, on the first iteration you put the beefy deck bar under the bow deck and not the stern deck. Also, you got on the coaming (it was made of aluminum tubing then) before even extending the keel (otherwise you could never put in the coaming). They introduced that velcro holding strap on the keel piece, and I invariably try removing the frame half and wonder why it will not pull out (the velcro strip is holding it down). The K-Light can be made in an honest 15 minutes by anyone. Perhaps you might want to plan your next camping trip to New York City and I will show you how. Sometime in May I am planning an assembly clinic on all folding kayaks...the K-Light is one of the easier of the boats. I will post the day, time and place (likely the Downtown Boathouse in Manhattan). ralph diaz > > Happy travels, > 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/ > *************************************************************************** -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Mar 31 1999 - 11:52:42 PST
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