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

Dave Flory wrote:
> 
> plus 3~4 gallons worth of
> > weight.
> 
> 1 pt. of fresh water is a pound, gallon is 8 lbs. so 3-4 gallons is 24-32 lbs.
Thanks, Dave.

HTERVORT_at_aol.com wrote:
> 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?

My weight (at the time) was 165 lb.  The boat weighed in at
47 lb.  The gear load minus the boat which I packed over to Japan was in
the range of 40 lb.  To that was added about 3~4 lb. of food, 3~4
gallons of water/beverages (24~32 lb.as stated by Dave Flory), about
2~3 lb. worth of camp stove, fuel, and camera.  Don't remember the other
odds & ends added there.  About 250 lb. total weight for that trip.

BTW, the 3 gal. water bag was strapped between the chine bars to the
keel as ballast.
Also, my paddle jacket and hat were shoved in opposite the bilge pump
along the sides of the seat in the cockpit, I think.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

>  Vince Dalrymple wrote:
>  > 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.

HTERVORT_at_aol.com wrote: 
> 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.

I was referring to the original no-sponson Khats (what Ralph referred to
as their prototype).  My standard (small sponson) Khatsalano sits pretty
flat with almost no air in the sponsons.  The Khats S would only sit
flatter still.
This was my first time in the Khatsalano series and may have been my
first time in a hard chine design.  Paddling the standard Khats (sm.
sponsons) immediately afterwards, it felt as though the (no sponson)
prototype original Khats was slightly narrower with a more pronounced
v-bottom.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wendy,

_If_ you decide on the Khats and are currently comfortable paddling w/o
a rudder, you might want to consider ordering the boat
"clean"(rudderless).  The Khats has almost no use for a rudder for a
paddler of my size and weight (180 lb. _at_ 6'), and would still have
little use for a rudder (as opposed to the removable skeg) for a paddler
of your size and weight (going out on a limb here - i.e.., guessing).

The up sides to the rudder are: you don't need a partner to deploy it,
and you don't need an extra "rip chord" strung down the rear deck to
pull it off yourself for surf or shallows landings.

The down sides to rudder are:
an extra $150 (someone correct me if I'm high),
the windage when not deployed, 
the annoying tendency for the rudder pedal knobs to slip loose (and
eventually off),
always having to keep track of the rudder cables when assembling the
boat (not to 	allow them to slip up around the gunwale bars or get
caught on the stern 	section while assembling),
the rudder (or "V"-stabilizing piece on the rear deck if rudder is
removed) 	constantly tangling lines off the stern such as during tows,
and the possibility of leakage where the rudder lines punch through the
rear deck.
And, as I'm sure you well know, it does add drag.

My advice (for what it's worth); go with with F-craft's removable skeg. 
It's cheap and effective in most windy condition situations. 
Admittedly, I still need to work out some bugs on fore/aft skeg
placement after a windy paddle a couple of weeks ago.

BTW, if you have the time and inclination to travel to Maine in order to
try both Khats, the K1, and the K-Light back to back in various sea
states of your choosing, you might want to consider getting in contact
with Ken Fink, Poseidon Kayak Imports at www.nvo.com/poseidonkayaks
(800) 206-3780.  He's a good friend and eminently knowledgeable and
experienced paddler/racer.  Even if you can't get to Maine, do contact
him regarding your F-craft questions.

Just my 3 or 4 cents worth,

Vince
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