Re: [Paddlewise] Folding kayak assembly time.

Niilus_at_aol.com wrote:
> 
> Ralph Diaz wrote:
> >
> >2. Assemble boat at launch site:  15 minutes
> >    (I won't own one that takes more than that)
> >
> 
> Ralph,
> 
> I believe your own fleet includes a Klepper Aerius II, Nautiraid Raid 1, and
> a Feathercraft K-Light.
> 
> Which other folders would meet your 15-minute or less limit?

I think I mentioned that in the earlier post, all Folbots, all Kleppers,
basically all Nautiraids, and the Feathercraft K-Light.  You need to
help things along though.  For example, in the Kleppers no part comes
pre-attached to any other part; you find quite a few sub-assemblies of
parts in other brands.  To help assembly along in the Kleppers you
should mark each part with color tape, for example, all parts toward the
bow mark with a piece of red tape and toward the stern with green tape
(this color pattern follows one the company uses in a very limited way
for a few parts).

Also I am using a 15 minute limit that I know most people could achieve
if they practice a half dozen times so they don't have to consult the
instructions PLUS they use the Six Principles of Assembly (and things
they themselves learn about the pecularities of their individual boat;
the Six Principles are mainly guides to some basics and eyeopeners to
bad technique) that I worked up five years ago after lots of experience
of my own plus looking at hundreds of people struggling through the
assembly process.

Some people will do a lot better with some of the boats.  Some boats
cannot be made in less than a half hour.  Feathercrafts will take that
long and more, except the K-Light and possibly the Short Touring.  A
Feathercraft that has greatly improved is the K-1 since the 1998 major
changes in that model.  It was a most certain 35 minute plus job for
just about anybody and I know many people took a lot more.  It now can
be gotten down to below 25 by the average Joe or Jane and possibly to 20
minutes for some.


> 
> Does this limit refer to assembly of the kayak only or does this time limit
> also include inflation of sponsons, insertion and inflation of floatation,
> adjustment of foot braces and rudder pedals, and insertion of sea sock?

Depends on the boat.  With any of the Kleppers you could do all of the
steps mentioned above including putting on a rudder, etc. and have time
to eat a donut and swig down some coffee (the Kleppers don't have sea
socks; so the donut/coffee is a substitute time handicap element :-)). 
The Feathercraft K-Light would be the basic boat with sponsons inflated,
footpedals adjusted but without the inflation and insertion of the extra
flotation nor the sea sock; I have never seen a K-Light with a rudder on
it although I know from phone conversation and email that a handful of
paddlers install one.  Folbots could be done in that limit or close to
it doing all the steps and the same with the Nautiraids without the time
for the extra flotation.

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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