Re: [Paddlewise] Folding Boats & Their Owners

Reeves, Debbie (Debbie) wrote:
> 
> Due to the big email/Internet virus my email server has been unavailable.
> Today I can send messages but I still can't receive them so I don't know if
> anyone has reported back on the Paddlesport show.  Thus, I would like to
> provide the following observation:
> 
> Folders love their boats (no, Ralph did not pay me to say that)
> 
> I feel qualified to say this because of the many conversations I had with
> show attendees; one gentleman confessed to owning his boat for 45 yrs!!!
> (yes, that's 45 yrs); another couple 32 yrs.  In fact the couple was not
> even sure the Folbot was still on the market and were quite surprised when I
> told them it was still a very popular line.  After this happened 3 or 4
> times it caused those of us behind the table to wonder whether this is
> generally true - that folders keep their boats and hard shellers frequently
> change out their boats.

I have run across this phenomenon too.  I am not sure that folding
kayakers hang on to their boats longer...they just last longer!!  Both
the boats and the people. :-)  The boats themselves are made in such a
way that the frames can last 60 years and the hulls about 25 to 30
years.  As for the people lasting longer, there is a lot to be said
about the mental dexterity that goes into assembling a folding kayak,
keeping all the steps and parts in order in your head.  Also the many
body movements and twists and manual dexterity that are part of the
assembly process keeps a person nimble.  The mental dexterity and the
orchestrated movement of the body/hands are similar to what a musical
conductor goes through in leading a symphony; these factors it is said
contributes to the long lifespan seen in that profession.

Afterall, what goes into paddling a hardshell?  Put it on a car roof,
take it off a car roof, sit in the right hole (the one in the middle of
the boat).  I mean, for god sake, how much brain cell goes into that! 
:-) 

The average age of the readers of my newsletter is something like 78 and
they pay for their subscriptions with their social security checks. 
Honest.

ralph diaz   
-- 
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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."
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