In a message dated 5/26/00 5:24:22 AM Pacific Daylight Time, mslammers_at_earthlink.net writes: > > 1. K-1 arrived in near perfect shape. Mel, Good to hear that you have finally had the pleasure after all that waiting. I read your comments with great interest because I've just started acclimating to my new Khats (standard). I had mostly the same feelings you did about the new construction, as you'll see below. > 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. I've only assembled my new Khats once so far, but I agree. The Khats S Hypalon that I recently sold took about 45 minutes, from bag to ready to launch, with all flotation inflated and sea sock on (and I do several things to the boat that aren't called for in the instructions). I assembled the new sealskin boat under the lights outside the store after closing, while reading the instructions. The standard (vs the S) is supposed to be harder to assemble because of the tighter skin, but It only took me an additional 15-20 minutes for this initial assembly. The extra time I chalk up to reading while I worked and the difficulty of getting the new, flat, double or triple-thick keel strip to bend around the keel bar while keeping the skin from slipping off center. I'm certain that, once the skin has taken a curved shape on the keel line, my time will be below that for the Hypalon hull. It is soooo easy to move the frame inside the skin and rotate the frame bars when necessary to align parts. This was one of the hardest parts of assembling my old S. > 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. I've been out 3 times. I loved my Khats S, but this new boat seems noticeably lighter, faster and sexier. It is definitely more tender in initial stability, but the secondary is great and the sharper chine gives a more positive carved turn than the S version. I opted no-rudder as with my S, but I bought the strap-on skeg. The first paddle was bare-boat and it had manageable weather helm, as it should (perhaps less than on the S). Second paddle I started bare-hull then attached the fixed skeg. The skeg seemed just about right, dialing out most of the wx helm in bumpy seas and 5-10 kts wind. The third paddle I left the skeg off and instead installed a water sack with about 12 lbs of water behind the rear hatch, like I would do with the S (only less weight), and this also trimmed the boat just fine. > 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' 6", 145. And yes, the Khats is a close-fitting boat (sorta the Mel-in-KLight feel) 8^) In the S I used to install a ThermaRest back cushion. The new seat back is nearly as comfortable and a lot easier to deal with. I love Doug Simpson -- always improving a great product. > 6. If you are looking for . . kayak which <snip> will be very dry Yes. What a pleasant shock to go out and bash through waves, do radical braces, and come back to the beach with NO water inside a rag boat! Not the way it was with the older construction. Even after seam-sealing, the S would have had a liter or so sloshing around in the bilges. The standard sea sock being heat-tape seam-sealed is another improvement since my first boat which was a pleasant surprise. >. . . (the new welded urethane covered nylon hull and deck is a > superb piece of technology) . . . And to think I was worried when they changed. > I don't work for Feathercraft or sell kayaks > but maybe I should > Well, O.K., so when I'm not out on the water, I do occasionally sell kayaks, including FC, Klepper and about 70 of their hard-shell brethren. But I still get to have my opinions, don't I? 8^) Harold So Cal Who would like to sell his FG Sealution (w/skeg) to pay for the new Khats. *************************************************************************** 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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