Just bought two K-Lights, really enjoy them, but have a few questions for those of you with more experience. How do you get the rudder to hang vertical, the bracket on mine tilts upward at the back and so the rudder will not go all the way down to vertical? The rudder pedals will not stay up where the balls of my feet are, they rotate on the tube they are attached to down to the bottom of the kayak and are useless there. Did I miss something in the instructions on how to jam the tubes together so they will not rotate or is that just the way they are, really didn't need the rudder on the first paddle on a flat lake yesterday, but may what it out on the Sound? There is a cinch (SP) strap about 12 in. ahead of the stern going across the boat. It's very nice, but I have no idea what's for. Any help. Is there a secret to getting the rudder cables to stay out of the way of the alum. Stern section while you push it in, they seem to wrap around the stern plastic peace and make it just stop short. And lastly, should you roll the skin up differently each time you put the boat away to avoid creases and is it OK to leave the boat in the back pack for long periods of time or should it be assembled most of the time. Thanks to all, and even though I'm a lurker on the list, I really benefit from all the knowledge on this list, stuff you just would never think about, thanks to all! *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
JorgieJ_at_aol.com wrote: > > Just bought two K-Lights, really enjoy them, but have a few questions for > those of you with more experience. > > How do you get the rudder to hang vertical, the bracket on mine tilts upward > at the back and so the rudder will not go all the way down to vertical? I never use a rudder on a K-Light. You should really ask the company about this. You may not have the rudder on properly, the rudder lifter cord may be set wrong or too tight. Any of a number of things. > > The rudder pedals will not stay up where the balls of my feet are, they > rotate on the tube they are attached to down to the bottom of the kayak and > are useless there. Did I miss something in the instructions on how to jam > the tubes together so they will not rotate or is that just the way they are, > really didn't need the rudder on the first paddle on a flat lake yesterday, > but may what it out on the Sound? Again, I don't use a rudder but, even when the pedals are used just for a good braced position, they do tend to fall down. In my case, since I don't use the pedals as a rudder control and keep them in one spot, I make certain that the airbag in the bow comes up snuggly to the pedals and hold them in position. But that won't help you. > There is a cinch (SP) strap about 12 in. ahead of the stern going across the > boat. It's very nice, but I have no idea what's for. Any help. I don't know what that is officially for; have been meaning to ask the Feathercraft people anytime they are here visiting but forget to. Ask Feathercraft. There is a small strap closer to the stern but you probably know it is used to hold part of the rudder apparatus. > > Is there a secret to getting the rudder cables to stay out of the way of the > alum. Stern section while you push it in, they seem to wrap around the stern > plastic peace and make it just stop short. Again get in touch with Feathercraft or with whom you brought the boat from. > > And lastly, should you roll the skin up differently each time you put the > boat away to avoid creases and is it OK to leave the boat in the back pack > for long periods of time or should it be assembled most of the time. I tend to roll it up tightly the same way all the time and it doesn't cause any damage. In reality, you never get it quite the same each time. You might try alternating a bite by starting one time at the bow and the next time at the stern. You can leave it in the bag for years if you so wish. And you can leave it assembled for 4 months or so at a time, depending on where you last paddled, how well you lubed the joining points, etc. Store it upside down and let some air out of the sponsons. For ease of assembly times, and if you can, leave any new boat assembled for a few weeks, if at all possible. This will get everything nicely stretched out and the tubes will take a slight helpful set. ralph diaz > > Thanks to all, and even though I'm a lurker on the list, I really benefit > from all the knowledge on this list, stuff you just would never think about, > thanks to all! > *************************************************************************** > 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/ > *************************************************************************** -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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/ ***************************************************************************
JorgieJ_at_aol.com wrote: > > Just bought two K-Lights, really enjoy them, but have a few questions for > those of you with more experience. > > How do you get the rudder to hang vertical, the bracket on mine tilts upward > at the back and so the rudder will not go all the way down to vertical? I never use a rudder on a K-Light. You should really ask the company about this. You may not have the rudder on properly, the rudder lifter cord may be set wrong or too tight. Any of a number of things. > > The rudder pedals will not stay up where the balls of my feet are, they > rotate on the tube they are attached to down to the bottom of the kayak and > are useless there. Did I miss something in the instructions on how to jam > the tubes together so they will not rotate or is that just the way they are, > really didn't need the rudder on the first paddle on a flat lake yesterday, > but may what it out on the Sound? Again, I don't use a rudder but, even when the pedals are used just for a good braced position, they do tend to fall down. In my case, since I don't use the pedals as a rudder control and keep them in one spot, I make certain that the airbag in the bow comes up snuggly to the pedals and hold them in position. But that won't help you. > There is a cinch (SP) strap about 12 in. ahead of the stern going across the > boat. It's very nice, but I have no idea what's for. Any help. I don't know what that is officially for; have been meaning to ask the Feathercraft people anytime they are here visiting but forget to. Ask Feathercraft. There is a small strap closer to the stern but you probably know it is used to hold part of the rudder apparatus. > > Is there a secret to getting the rudder cables to stay out of the way of the > alum. Stern section while you push it in, they seem to wrap around the stern > plastic peace and make it just stop short. Again get in touch with Feathercraft or with whom you brought the boat from. > > And lastly, should you roll the skin up differently each time you put the > boat away to avoid creases and is it OK to leave the boat in the back pack > for long periods of time or should it be assembled most of the time. I tend to roll it up tightly the same way all the time and it doesn't cause any damage. In reality, you never get it quite the same each time. You might try alternating a bite by starting one time at the bow and the next time at the stern. You can leave it in the bag for years if you so wish. And you can leave it assembled for 4 months or so at a time, depending on where you last paddled, how well you lubed the joining points, etc. Store it upside down and let some air out of the sponsons. For ease of assembly times, and if you can, leave any new boat assembled for a few weeks, if at all possible. This will get everything nicely stretched out and the tubes will take a slight helpful set. ralph diaz > > Thanks to all, and even though I'm a lurker on the list, I really benefit > from all the knowledge on this list, stuff you just would never think about, > thanks to all! > *************************************************************************** > 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/ > *************************************************************************** -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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/ *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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