Re: [Paddlewise] Feathercraft Khatsalano, S and Expedition K1

>  Vince Dalrymple and ralph diaz wrote:
>  > >
>  > > I would agree with Vince only in part.
>  > > _Both_ versions, the standard (in which you can elect to inflate or not
>  > > inflate the smallish built-in sponsons, is in itself a compromise boat
>  > > that was redesigned up from the non-sponsoned version because paddlers
>  > > seem to want something very skinny but couldn't handle it)
>  > 
>  > Not so much the stability, Ralph, as getting used to a v-bottom hard
>  > chine design.
>  > Ken Fink "tested" me in the original Khats (and expected a quick
>  > capsize, I think), and the trick was to not fight for a vertical rest
>  > position, but to just let the craft settle over on a chine 'til getting
>  > under way.

One thing about the stability of various boats -- it depends upon your weight 
and how far above the waterline you carry it, which depends upon the height 
of the seat, your height and your height/weight distribution.  The Khats 
series *is* tippy compared to the K1 or a Chinook or a lot of other beamier 
and flatter boats, but Wendy is short enough that she should be fine, 
provided she is happy with the livelier feel of a V-bottom.  This is 
something that her post doesn't really answer, and the reason I wouldn't say 
that the Khats - or even the Khats S is definitely the boat for her.  Wendy, 
you need to determine whether you like the feel.  If you have a chance, test 
(in order of preference) the WS Sparrow Hawk or Arctic Hawk, and/or the 
Eddyline Falcon 18 (not 16).  These will give you an approximation of the 
feel of the Khats series.

I personally didn't feel the Khats S tipping hard onto one chine the way 
Vince describes, though I know what he is saying -- I felt the same thing 
with the Nordcapp and could never warm to the boat because of that feel.

>  > Vince:
>  > The price paid for those training wheels comes in the form of difficulty
>  > righting the boat if it should go over.  The same force that once kept
>  > you upright is now working against you to keep you inverted and the flat
>  > Greenland style deck will not help matters any.  I have yet to try
>  > rolling with a full camp load (sponsons fully inflated), but presume it
>  > might be easier than without such a load.  I did experiment with keel
>  > ballast, though.  Better kept in round hull, round deck boats.  With its
>  > flat deck and some air in the sponsons, the Khats becomes very difficult
>  > to initiate the roll (up to the 90 degree mark).  The only benefit
>  > (besides the obvious force against initial capsize) was easier roll
>  > finish.

I would agree, but I never capsized inadvertently in my Khats S because of 
the secondary stability, and I only remember practicing rolls once in it.  It 
was slower, but didn't alarm me enough to do repeated rolling practice in it.

>  > 
>  > > The trouble in the Khats is not so much the high rear deck but rather
>  > > the high seatback.  It is relatively easy to resolve this...cut down 
the
>  > > plastic board used for back support within the seatback cushion.

Yes.  And stabilize the seat bottom with the straps supplied with the boat to 
hold the skin tightly rolled.  Run the strap across the seat crease, down 
around the rib behind, back up across the seat crease, down around the rib on 
the opposite side, then back to the buckle.

>  > >Ralph:
>  > > Incidentally, at your weight and need for stability, you may want to 
opt
>  > > for the K-Light even at its present 13 foot length.  It is a speedy
>  > > enough boat, very agile and sporty feeling and accelerates well.
>  > > Sometimes smaller paddlers actually can do better in a smaller boat 
than
>  > > a longer boat.  At least give it a try.

I agree that this is a wonderful little boat for Wendy for short trips in 
relatively mild conditions, but I don't feel is an expedition quality boat, 
and is therefore not suited to the uses Wendy described.

>  > 
>  > Something I forgot to address in the last e-mail to Wendy (and list) is
>  > the ease with which the K1 and esp. the K-Light set up due to their
>  > simplicity, especially when compared to the Khatsalano, a boat which
>  > wears me out just putting together (which explains it being on my car
>  > rather than in it).

The newer K1, if you use the brace kit, may take nearly as long as the Khats 
S.  It took me 45 minutes to assemble the S from having the bag sitting on 
the beach to fully ready to go, with sponsons and all standard and optional 
flotation inflated and the sea sock installed.  Not easy, but look at the 
results! 

Vince also described paddling in conditions which made the Khats sound like a 
sub rather than a kayak.  Vince, I suspect that you had the boat really 
heavily loaded.  Can you tell us what the weight of paddler and gear was 
during that trip?  One thing that can help with proper tracking and to keep 
the bow from diving is to load the Khats series with a heavy weight-biased 
towards the stern (much more weight in the rear, much further back than you 
might expect).  But, yes -- the boat is wetter, a price you pay for the more 
traditional performance.

Wendy, are you totally freaked yet?  Wendy?

Good comments everyone.

Harold
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************