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From: Matt Broze <mkayaks_at_oz.net> subject: [Paddlewise] Commercial enthusiasm on Paddlewise Date: Thu, 12 Sep 2002 20:11:26 -0700 · This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:31 PDT

To the paddlewise list bosses and concerned paddlewisers:
Would it be okay for me (a manufacturer and dealer of hard body kayaks--as
well as a dealer of some limper ones) to become effusive over all of rigid
kayak's many advantages over those kayaks requiring a degree in Erector Set
Technology to use? (That is, if I don't promote my own particular brand?).
Or is this advertising right only reserved for the more downtrodden or
persecuted branches in the kayak realm that suffer from the largest
inferiority complexes?

Doug, let me second your comments on (and recommendation of) John Lull's
"Sea Kayaking Safety and Rescues"

RalphH: wrote:
 <SNIP>>>>>>Oh, I don't know about that: Ralph Diaz has done marvelous work
over
the last decade to reinstate the respect that "folding" boats deserve and
traditionally commanded! And while the term "folding" may be somewhat of a
misnomer, it seems to have stuck happily enough.

Also, as the intended showing of so many different makes and models of
folders on the beach at the WCSKS proves, "folding" boats are clearly making
a commercially increasingly successful comeback, which might just be taken
to
indicate a renewed respect for the type!

A WaveLength Magazine article of mine, which was published early last year,
amongst other things points out the improvement in modern materials, which
brings with it amazing and formerly unknown new and exciting possibilities
in
the engineering of folding boats. Bergans of Norway, in their Ally line of
folding canoes, pioneered the development of aluminium frames and
Feathercraft pushed this a very long way further. Pakboats (better known in
insider circles as builders of extraordinarily rugged folding expedition
canoes) prove, in the shape of their lightweight Puffins, just how lightly a
well designed boat can be built and still retain amazing functionality. The
Kiwis at FirstLight recently introduced to the USA concepts in folding boat
design that might almost be termed revolutionary! Folbot brought to the
market a business model, which greatly reduces the initial investment of the
would-be foldboater ... I could go on.

"Foldboats: All the inherent advantages of skin-on-frame craft married to
the
benefits of indefinite maintainability!"

:-)

Yeah, I get a little enthusiastic at times.

Best regards,
Ralph

Ralph_at_PouchBoats.com
www.PouchBoats.com<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The earliest reference I have found to Ally/Bergans  (Norway) is 1984. Does
anyone know when they first started making aluminum framed kayaks?
Feathercraft has been doing so since 1977. The Klepper Vagaband had an
aluminum frame by 1975. I know Folbot used aluminum stringers on wood
bulkheads much earlier than that. I have one of them.
Hart (Germany) used aluminum in their Eski model possibly as early as 1927
(can someone translate: "2 mittlere Spanten aus DUR-Aluminum".
Stiener (Germany) apparently had an aluminum frame in their 1926 Alu model.

Matt Broze
http://www.marinerkayaks.com
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