I'm new there, and tried to research this subject before posting. My question is: What is real time and pain of assembling of F-craft Kahuna (if possible, with hatches and rudder)? Some info and background: Official specs quote 20 minutes (no indications whether it's basic or expedition model). Weight of basic Kahuna is 35 lbs. Expedition model (39 lbs?) adds rudder, 2 hatches and inflatable backrest. Some users report 30 minutes time (basic?), and one report was 1 hour+, including "adjusting" (looks like his first time). The kayak I'm using now is Russian Ladoga-1, bought because of: 1) Advertised 18 kg (39 lbs); in reality weight is 26 kg (57 lbs). 2) Compact single rucksack 110*40*40 cm (43*16*16 "); this is true. 3) $400 price at source in Moscow (add same amount for DHL shipping to Canada or USA, and consider that shop neither sells online, nor ship). Parts are cheap and available from dealer in Boston (kayaks too - but of course not for $400). There is enough on-line info about this kayak, both in English and Russian, and I may provide links. I will sell it this 2003 spring for reasons that may look like nothing to somebody else, but are important to me - like rudder system (I'm sailing often), weight, 60+ minutes assembling time and efforts etc. I have found out that my expedition luggage without food but including 57 lbs kayak and all gear (35 lbs sail rig, paddle, etc) weighs 170 lbs and needs 2 bags, approximately like largest hockey bags (one of which is the kayak 43" bag). I had some problems with getting on long-distance bus (too long bags), altghough nobody protested against 190 lbs weight including some food (additional $ for bus, but nothing for airline - surprise, considering 140 lbs limit). Airline also didn't worry about excessive size (official limit is 158 cm or 62" total of length+width+height of each bag). All other 15+ ft kayaks (but Kahuna) are either heavier, or too bulky when folded. There is also 12 ft F-craft K-light and Folbot Aleut, but I think 12 ft kayak isn't roomy enough for all my gear. I have also considdered 15 ft Klepper AE1. It quotes 15 minutes assembling time, users report about 20 minutes, but real weight is 78 lbs (official data is 60 lbs, which must be a *portage weight* of stripped-down kayak, without rudder, seat and bags), and it packs into 3 bags - that's too much. Not all airports and bus terminals have luggage carts, and it's impossible to load 78 lbs of 3 bags of Klepper AE1 together with 43" gear bag on any kayak or canoe folding cart. I know Klepper has some proprietary cart - haven't seen it; probably not light neither compact comparing to Primex cart, for ex. Any comments are appreciated. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
----- Original Message ----- From: "al.m" <al.m_at_3web.net> > > is: What is real time and pain of assembling of F-craft Kahuna (if possible, > with hatches and rudder)? Some info and background: > > Official specs quote 20 minutes (no indications whether it's basic or > expedition model). Weight of basic Kahuna is 35 lbs. Expedition model (39 > lbs?) adds rudder, 2 hatches and inflatable backrest. Some users report 30 > minutes time (basic?), and one report was 1 hour+, including "adjusting" > (looks like his first time). You can get assembly down to 20 minutes and even lower with practice. I know people who do it in about 12 minutes. I am more in the 18 minute range but since I leave it assembled (I have a storage spot) I don't have as much practice as those guys who use their Kahuna several times a week and need to assemble/disassemble it each time. Hatches will add to assembly time and are not worth having in my view because of that and the slight added weight. Same with a rudder...you absolutely do not need it in this model. I don't believe I have even seen a rudder on one and I have come across perhaps about 50 Kahuna owners. Save your money and dispense with rudder, hatches. Use it to get a good paddle. The inflatable seat is a worthwhile option...it adds nothing to assembly time beyond a few puffs of air. BTW, the true weight of the Kahuna is 35 pounds. Feathercraft does not fib about weight. The bag is around 4 pounds. ralph diaz *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
>I'm new there, and tried to research this subject before posting. My question >is: What is real time and pain of assembling of F-craft Kahuna (if possible, >with hatches and rudder)? Some info and background: I have both a K-Light and Kahuna. (No hatches.) I would guess that I average 20-30 minutes without killing myself. The Kahuna assembly has a few extra steps compared to the K-Light, but in practice they don't seem to add more than a minute to the overall time. However, there are those times when I'm "assembly challenged," (early in the morning, or when some onlooker starts with: "Oh, that's sooo cooool.") I usually allow myself an hour before departure just in case. Beware, the assembly is frustrating at first and requires concentration . (Nothing worse than ending up with the foot pegs in the stern!) I would second Ralph's opinion about the rudder. I've found edging and stroke adjustment to work quite nicely. I can't imagine the trouble of fiddling with a rudder installation to be worth the few times it might have helped. I've also never known anyone who bought one. By inflatable seat, I'm assuming you mean the "touring seat." Strongly recommended! It has an inflatable lumbar support as well as a contoured seat bottom. It's a big improvement over the standard pad on seat sling. There are also optional inflatable hip-fit bags. Another optional piece of equipment that may be useful is the Feathercraft carry cart. It puts the carry bag on two wheels and is made from lightweight aluminum tubes which easily fit into the kayak when disassembled. I would guess it weighs about 2-3 lbs. With the cart, I carry the kayak, PFD, 4-piece paddles, bilge pump, safety equipment, etc. all in the one bag. Makes for easy traveling. Rgds, Jeff *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> You can get assembly down to 20 minutes and even lower with practice. I > know people who do it in about 12 minutes. I am more in the 18 minute range > but since I leave it assembled (I have a storage spot) I don't have as much > practice as those guys who use their Kahuna several times a week and need to > assemble/disassemble it each time. > > Hatches will add to assembly time and are not worth having in my view > because of that and the slight added weight. Same with a rudder...you > absolutely do not need it in this model. I don't believe I have even seen a > rudder on one and I have come across perhaps about 50 Kahuna owners. Save > your money and dispense with rudder, hatches. Use it to get a good paddle. > The inflatable seat is a worthwhile option...it adds nothing to assembly > time beyond a few puffs of air. > > BTW, the true weight of the Kahuna is 35 pounds. Feathercraft does not fib > about weight. The bag is around 4 pounds. > > > > ralph diaz Ops... surprises begin. They didn't inlcude a 4 lbs Kahuna rucksack into 35 lbs weight. Thanks, Ralph. I will probably need at least a stern hatch for 2 reasons: 1) For easy loading-unloading. I hate this part of the trip :-), and would like to shorten it as much as possible (this was one of reasons to consider Klepper - it's wide, has huge cockpit and - not sure - perhaps hatch too in AE1). 2) To install a BSD sailing mast (people do that with K-1 and K-light, and I have done with Ladoga-1). F-craft rudder is something that I don't need, since Folbot rudder blade is much better for sailing. Kayak sailing is now my new whim - I'll see if I'll get satiated with it. BTW, regarding seat - I am always happy when I find a "double use" for anything, and I've recently used a folded (not rolled) foam sleeping pad for both seat and backrest (kinda "Crazy Creek" chairs). Buckled it to lower stringers with 2 bungey cords. Partly it was necessary (Ladoga-1 seat is a flat playwood), partly - for volume saving. But I have found it useful. Alex. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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