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? 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? Tony Niilus Upland, CA *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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 -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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/ ***************************************************************************
On Sun, 29 Aug 1999 rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com wrote: 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. I can't imagine needing a rudder on a K-Light. Pat and I had ours out yesterday morning, and marvelled at how any boat could both track so well, and turn so easily. I still don't understand it. e Elaine Harmon - eilidh_at_dc.seflin.org - eharmon_at_cs.miami.edu *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Sun, 29 Aug 1999, Elaine Harmon wrote: > I can't imagine needing a rudder on a K-Light. Pat and I had ours out > yesterday morning, and marvelled at how any boat could both track so well, > and turn so easily. I still don't understand it. e I just realized, the good tracking is at cruising speed in open water, when the bow wave must help do that hull compression - the wee concavities between the stringer tubes (?) - whereas the turning was done at low speed in a mangrove channel, where the hull might take on a more chineless shape. Is that it? e Elaine Harmon - eilidh_at_dc.seflin.org - eharmon_at_cs.miami.edu *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
It is because of the short length (turns easier) but plenty of stern keel (tracks well) Matt Broze http://www.marinerkayaks.com -----Original Message----- From: Elaine Harmon <eharmon_at_cs.miami.edu> >On Sun, 29 Aug 1999 rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com wrote: > >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. > >I can't imagine needing a rudder on a K-Light. Pat and I had ours out >yesterday morning, and marvelled at how any boat could both track so well, >and turn so easily. I still don't understand it. e > >Elaine Harmon - eilidh_at_dc.seflin.org - eharmon_at_cs.miami.edu *************************************************************************** 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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