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. 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. 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. 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). 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. 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> 7. The end since I am planning to write a full review after a couple of more months experience. =^..^= --Mel-- Mel Lammers E-Mail: mslammers_at_earthlink.net Homepage: http://melskayakpage.homestead.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/ ***************************************************************************
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/ ***************************************************************************
I loved your report Mel! This is one of the kayaks I definitely covet (along with 5 or 6 others), and I really enjoyed hearing about it. As someone who plans to buy a new kayak in the future, I think it would be great to read people's experience with their new boats. Kinda gives me a vicarious thrill until that glorious day arrives... Josh in Ra`anana, Israel (who has been learning how to screw roll, and is slowly getting the hand of it, to the point where his hip flick is so strong that it throws him over the other side...) *************************************************************************** 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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