After reading what Sandy Kramer said about her experiences with folding boats (Folbots specifically) I'm now leery of purchasing one. Maybe I should buy a hardshell. I don't want to be left behind. I was thinking of buying a 15' 1" Nautiraid1, but now I fear it might be too slow. (Walt Levins) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Walt342_at_aol.com wrote: > > After reading what Sandy Kramer said about her experiences with folding > boats (Folbots specifically) I'm now leery of purchasing one. Maybe I should > buy a hardshell. I don't want to be left behind. I was thinking of buying a > 15' 1" Nautiraid1, but now I fear it might be too slow. (Walt Levins) Her experience is anomalous. I'm a very happy Greenland II owner (fourth season). She allows in her postings that she is NOT mechanically inclined. Lots of others like and use successfully folding boats. Folbots cost half that of Kleppers, and about 1/3 the cost of equivalent volume Feathercraft. Not as fancy, but they work. Sample the dialog on the Folbot Forum (http://www.folbot.com/yak.htm) to see what others think. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Dave Kruger wrote: > > Walt342_at_aol.com wrote: > > > > After reading what Sandy Kramer said about her experiences with folding > > boats (Folbots specifically) I'm now leery of purchasing one. Maybe I should > > buy a hardshell. I don't want to be left behind. I was thinking of buying a > > 15' 1" Nautiraid1, but now I fear it might be too slow. (Walt Levins) > > Her experience is anomalous. I'm a very happy Greenland II owner (fourth > season). She allows in her postings that she is NOT mechanically inclined. > > Lots of others like and use successfully folding boats. ><SNIP< > > Having owned 4 folbots(still have 3)over the past 20 or so years, I have to add that I also like them. Slow? I guess so, but when I go out I'm not in a hurry so speed is not on my mind. My 17' super has over 3000 miles on her, and all those miles have been at a pretty laid back pace. Ralph Diaz is right about the little aleut being a putt about kayak, however, if it wasn't for running out of storage room, there isn't many places I wouldn't take mine. Bare in mind that this is coming from someone that don't use good paddle strokes, push with the feet, and paddles all winter without a dry suit(and didn't know I was doing all this wrong, until I joined this list) <G> Good luck with your choice! <hint> get what you like and let your friends make camp if they get there first. james *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Walt342_at_aol.com wrote: > > After reading what Sandy Kramer said about her experiences with folding > boats (Folbots specifically) I'm now leery of purchasing one. Maybe I should > buy a hardshell. I don't want to be left behind. I was thinking of buying a > 15' 1" Nautiraid1, but now I fear it might be too slow. (Walt Levins) I think you might want to look at all of what Sandy said. She had trouble assembling the boats but confuses to being mecanically deprived. She also was paddling in a Folbot Aleut. She went on to say that when she called me I told her something along the lines of oh yes the Aleut is a slow boat. It is quite slow. I am not sure I could keep up in one with good paddlers in either other folding kayaks or hardshells. The Aleut is a great boat for puttering around in a lake or river for fishing, bird watching or photography or just hanging out. But it is not a good boat for paddling with others unless they are all in similarly slow boats such as plastic Keeowees or have made clear they just want to drift and go slow. There are a range of foldables that will keep up with people in longer boats unless they are really intent on going all out. That Nautiraid Raid 1 you mention can keep up with just about anybody. I have one as my own personal boat and I know it is never left behind. While I have been around paddling for a while, I am 60 years old and not particularly muscular or very strong. ralph > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ > *************************************************************************** -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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