James Lofton wrote: > > *************************************************************************MCLAURY_at_aol.com wrote: > > > >(SNIP) > > Also, just bought Ralph Diaz' book on folding kayaks (thanks for all your > > input on this list Ralph - very helpful) and look forward to learning about > > them. I had never considered a folding kayak - sounds like a great idea, but > > from the little I know at the moment, it appears to be out of my budget > > (around $1200 for my first kayak) > > What good luck! :-) > Folbot is having a one day sale on their folders, on the 15th of this > month. The 15' Kodiak is on sale then for $1195.00, and shipping is free. > http://www.folbot.com/ > > James That sale is a good deal as all models are reduced by something like $300 or so. The Kodiak is a particularly nice boat, which I reviewed favorably earlier (I can still email that review if you contact ASAP). A couple of things to note about Folbot customer policy that rivals anything else in the folding or rigid kayak field. Stack your own kayak manufacturer's policy against this: 1. Its customer satisfaction guaranteed policy. Fairly simple. Receive shipment of one of their kayaks. Test it out for a few weeks. Assemble it at home or in the field. Get it wet. Paddle it (it's not like buying hiking boots, which are yours once you step off the store's rug). If you don't like the boat, return it no questions asked (other than marketing type ones that you don't have to answer). No need to make up stories about contacting a fatal illness backed up by a note from your minister, priest or rabbi. No restocking fee. You are out only the shipping (UPS average of around $40 or so coast to coast). 2. Its lifetime waranty. Break any part of the frame at any time, even through complete dumbness on your part, and all they ask is which model and year. Your invoice comes back with a big N/C on it for no charge. Hull situation is subject to normal wear and tear provisions. But if say a seam comes apart in say 8 years, which is not supposed to happen, you get it repaired free of charge. Needless to say, I do not work for the company and have no affiliation with it. And, at times in the past, they have considered me a bit of a persona non grata because of a bias they preceive I have toward other makes. I even got into a conflict with their Canadian rep over this nonsense (He called Folding Kayaker, The Rosenheim Times; Rosenheim is where Kleppers are made). Sometimes they have dragged their feet in letting me see a new model, etc. So the relationship is certainly very arms-length. Speaking in their defense, I think some of their sensitivity comes from the tendency of people to unfairly look down on Folbots in general because of their basic designs and earlier reputation decades ago for inconsistent workmanship. I think they are good enough boats for many paddlers and have stellar customer policies and service ...said with absolutely no bias. 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 - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Fri Nov 12 1999 - 08:29:02 PST
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