Congratulations on an insightful initial report. A few comments. Mel Lammers wrote: > > Short note: > > 1. K-1 arrived in near perfect shape. Minor fabrication problem with the coaming in that the grove seemed to be a little large on the left side, allowing the rubber gasket piece to come out easily. I asked Feathercraft for advice on keeping it in place and they said "no problem, we are shipping you a new coaming which should arrive in a couple of weeks" (some paraphrasing here). It did and fits perfectly. They didn't even want the old one back. I am keeping it for a spare in case of accident in lugging the K-1 around the country in airplanes. ME: The coamings that the company introduced around 1997 or 1998 are much stronger than the earlier ones and have not reported any breakage in air travel as far as I know. In any case, you can insure against any possibility by using pipe insulation (the kind sold in 6 ft sections at hardware stores that comes in tubes with a longitudinal slit meant to easy placement on a pipe but works equally well for the coaming). > > 2. I have now assembled K-1 and compared it with assembly time for my K-Light (Hypalon version) and I really think I can beat my K-Light time. The new Seal Skin hull and deck are VERY good and the fit is just perfect. ME: You are reporting what I am beginning to hear from people, i.e. the new skin arrangement is easing assembly. > > 3. I have paddled the K-1 4 times at 3-4 hrs each time in no wind, light wind with gusts, and one memorable 20-25 knot (first time out) blow on a small lake which whipped up some formidable waves. Each time was a joy. The K-1 tracks well without the rudder and (anti-rudder fanatics can stop reading here) in that stiff wind and when paddling a very twisting lake extension (read: river) going very slowlly, with rudder it is highly controllable. The rudder is easy to deploy or not from the cockpit and I think I will be a "mixed" rudder/no-rudder user. With rudder, it turns in about the same way as K-Light but easier on the paddler. In high wind, the controllability was markedly increased. I will have to remember to keep the cables and assembly well Boeshield coated. ME: The boat is so easy to keep on track and to lean turn that it is worth really working on getting the sit-of-pants feel and body english to avoid rudder usage. The boat doesn't need it. > > 4. Since I am 6' 3" and around 200 lbs, the K-1 rides better and the new seat with inflatable lumbar section and form fitting seat section is very comfortable and customizable (on the fly, or Paddle). ME: Don't forget that the seat is provided with side straps that make it a great substitute for a Crazy Creek chair while on land. At your weight, you were at the margin of use of the K-Light. It is better for a person under 180 or 190 although people of weight over that do quite well with the K-Light. > > 5. The boat is very fast with little paddling effort. One friend here in the D/FW area who has a hardshell, was pretty tired after our 4 hr session and I was still fresh. (maybe the thrill of a new boat though) I went from "I can keep up, to having to worry if others could keep up with me." That is a new sensation. ME: The bigger sister to the K-1, the Khatsalano, is only about 4 or 5 percent faster top speed than than the K-1 and is considered one of the top half dozen production seakayaks (rigid or folding). So the K-1 is a speedy enough boat. I often argue with people that they would be better off with the K-1 than the Khats...but they don't listen :-) > > 6. If you are looking for a 16' 6" kayak which can be paddled anywhere, is easy to get there (even a high mountain lake if you can back pack 51 lbs), will be very dry (the new welded urethane covered nylon hull and deck is a superb piece of technology), be comfortable, not require learning how to roll to stay alive, and be the envy of all your kayaking friends <grin>, then you should try a Feathercraft K-1. I don't work for Feathercraft or sell kayaks but maybe I should <2nd grin> ME: There is a folding 2 pound cart that is meant to fit on the kayak bag and works well for hauling the bagged boat on solid surfaces; and it also can be used to pull the assembled boat. I don't work for them either but having visited the factory, knowing some of the staff well, and seen the lifestyle up in the Northwest, I am often tempted to go knock on their door one day. > > 7. The end since I am planning to write a full review after a couple of more months experience. ME: Look forward to it. 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 May 26 2000 - 06:21:17 PDT
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