Well, bought my boat a couple of weeks ago and set it up. Settled on the Khatsalano S. I was debating between the Khatsalano and the S, but what made up my mind was the price. I was able to get the S (sewn sealskin version) for about $2,000 cheaper at Mountain Co-op since they were getting rid of last year's models to make way for the new welded sealskin kayaks (they did not have the Khats regular). This was even cheaper than what they sold them for a few years ago -- this is new and last year's model. Very nice boat, like the low deck so you don't bang your knuckles, although I did enough banging of the knuckles while setting it up. Space didn't seem to be a problem, although I couldn't fit my -30 sleeping bag in -- I put that in someone else's kayak while I took the tent. Normally, wouldn't use that bag but decided I wanted to be cozy and comfortable in the -2-0/30-32 degree temperature at night and I knew storage wasn't a problem. Seems like I could pretty well pack my kitchen sink with me. I had my large end bags blown up all the way. I wasn't quite sure how much you can deflate them to stuff more gear in. What would be reasonable, halfway blown up if you wanted to stuff in more gear? Boat is very, very stable. Forgot at first to blow up the sponsons and the boat dragged but still very stable. Boat seems to track very well but in a wind and trying to turn took a lot more effort if you weren't using the rudder. Getting in and out was a little difficult. I usually don't follow standard entry/exiting. Just shove one foot in and sit down, let the other hang out, paddle out a bit, and then eventually put the other leg in. So, I guess I will have to practice safe entries and exits. Part of the problem was trying to locate my foot pedals as I would be rummaging inside the seasock, but I rewatched the video feathercraft sends and realized I didn't "burp" the bag which may make a difference. Had a great weekend paddling the Cathcart Islands in Georgian Bay which is located 2 1/2 hours from Toronto, south of Parry Sound. For those who know the area, you can put in at Parry Island Marina and there is camping facilities next to the marina. You can also camp pretty well anywhere on the outside islands. I believe this is part of the 30,000 Island chain but it's more like 50,000 islands as the water levels have been low and a lot more islands have been popping up. Good for kayakers, bad for boaters. You won't see boaters in this area since it would be too dangerous with all the rocks. If you'd like to see some pictures of the trip, here's the website address. http://communities.msn.ca/WendysGorp2Pages ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 4/27/0 7:28:49 PM, wendy_ogaki_at_hotmail.com writes: << I did enough banging of the knuckles while setting it up. >> We call those "feathercraft knuckles." If you didn't want for space in a khatsalano, you must not have been going out for more than a week. And you must not have had to carry all your water. If you put your food, clothing and gear in dry bags, you don't have to worry about flotation bags. douglas montgomery sfo *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
DMon707_at_aol.com wrote: > > In a message dated 4/27/0 7:28:49 PM, wendy_ogaki_at_hotmail.com writes: > > << I did enough banging of the knuckles while setting it up. >> > > We call those "feathercraft knuckles." I used to refer to the skinned knuckles as an international sign of recognition among Feathercraft owners. But there are ways of making these boats that completely eliminates the skinned knuckle effects. One of the key ways is the Remote Solution Principle (one of six I have come up with for making a folding kayak and which are over and above the instruction sheets and video for any of the boats). This principle holds that sometimes a problem one is having in assembling a folding kayak is because of something that needs correcting away from (or remote from) where you are having the problem. A corollary to this principle is that the solution may also be by doing some action removed from the immediate area. You get skinned knuckles in certain Feathercraft because you are trying to turn some of the side tubes into position on crossribs and to do so you are squeezing your hands between the inside of the hull and the work area thus skinning the knuckles as you turn or place the tubes on the ribs. The solution is a remote move. All of the tubes in question are also involved in the extension of the frame and have those little black fixtures (I call them licorice nuggets) that are used in levering the extension of the frame but you can also use the licorice nuggets to also turn the tubes. Instead of getting your knuckles caught next to the inside of the hull, take the shortest lever rod, insert it into the licorice nugget and turn the tube from there. You will still have to do a bit of guiding at the crossbar to get the tube to position there but you will largely avoid getting the skinned knuckles. The factory workers at Feathercraft picked up on this idea separately from me. They make the boats all the time. In order to avoid skinned knuckles they do pretty much what I do except they have made a special short piece that resembles the levering bars, i.e. with a point that fits smoothly into the licorice nugget. It's about six inches long and fits handily in a pocket. Of course, you could continue doing it the old-fashion way and have skinned knuckles to show that you are the proud owner of an elite Feathercraft. The skinned knuckles may also come in handy if you found that you have walked into a rough saloon by mistake when seeking a brew. Bar flies seeing the skinned knuckles might assume you got them in bar brawls (which you did in a way...brawling with the bars on your Feathercraft:-)) and hesitate to pick a fight with you. Hmmm another undocumented advantage of owning a folding kayak :-) 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/ ***************************************************************************
At 08:20 PM 4/27/00 PDT, Wendy Ogaki wrote: > >If you'd like to see some pictures of the trip, here's the website address. > >http://communities.msn.ca/WendysGorp2Pages Great photos, Wendy! Hope to get up that way this summer sometime. Enjoy your new boat! -- Wes *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
No, just a three-day trip. And it's fresh water here so we can just pump. wo ----Original Message Follows---- From: DMon707_at_aol.com To: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Feathercraft Purchase & Paddle Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 01:40:31 EDT In a message dated 4/27/0 7:28:49 PM, wendy_ogaki_at_hotmail.com writes: << I did enough banging of the knuckles while setting it up. >> We call those "feathercraft knuckles." If you didn't want for space in a khatsalano, you must not have been going out for more than a week. And you must not have had to carry all your water. If you put your food, clothing and gear in dry bags, you don't have to worry about flotation bags. douglas montgomery sfo *************************************************************************** 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/ *************************************************************************** ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
On Thu, 27 Apr 2000 20:20:32 PDT, Wendy wrote: >Well, bought my boat a couple of weeks ago and set it up. Settled on the >Khatsalano S. I was debating between the Khatsalano and the S, but what >made up my mind was the price. I was able to get the S (sewn sealskin >version) for about $2,000 cheaper at Mountain Co-op.... Trailhead in Toronto (416) 862-0881 is currently having a no-tax (15%) sale. I just purchased a Current Designs bent shaft Edge. I am happy. :-) If you know what you want, it might be worth a call. They are very kindly mailing me the paddle for (seemingly) the cost of their postage. Happy+. --- cheers, Stephen *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 4/28/0 2:22:39 AM, rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com writes: << Instead of getting your knuckles caught next to the inside of the hull, take the shortest lever rod, insert it into the licorice nugget and turn the tube from there. >> Another way: Turn the rotating licorice nugget to create a lever. This problem usually only occurs at the gunwhales, where it's difficult to reach with hands OR levers. Cotton garden gloves are another way-- they give you maximum confidence. douglas montgomery *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:13 PDT